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RENDEZVOUS

Some give, some go...

Enthusiasm and a spirit of love and cooperation runs deep among members and friends of RMBM churches as the summer Bible camp season unfolds—and that’s even before the campers arrive! Well over 200 volunteer staffers served (some more than one week) the 650 campers at the two camps, Elohim and Utmost. Both camps ran at full tilt, battling high temperatures with well-received water sports. Coordinated chapel programs and Bible teaching sessions set the stage each day for young people to know the Truth of God’s Word and His Son as well as opportunities to act upon the choice such information demands.

Little would happen, even with the best intentions, without those who pray for these campers, and without those who give for maintenance costs and directors’ salaries. Any camp staffer can yell, "Play ball!" But few are as privileged as those who say, "Open your Bible to...."

Some take campers to camp...

Jim Hunter, director of Pathwalkers and pastor at Hot Springs

Summers keep getting shorter and shorter, or so it seems. Heat, wind, fires, and forest closures almost eliminate August from camp planning. School schedules for teacher training and early sports practices have ebbed their way into the month as early as the 14th! Has it always been this way?

In any case, we still have a window through which we pour prayers and efforts to evangelize and disciple. In June we took a small group of teens camping and focused upon whether or not we were "really" motivated by our love for God, to do the things we do. Several Bible studies, extended prayer sessions and small group discussion times help us see how poorly focused we are on God’s love. Leaders and campers were equally challenged. And hey, the fishing was pretty good too!

Later in June a group of six from Hot Springs went to Kooskia, Idaho to help a couple of friends put on a Pathwalkers camp. The 100+ temperatures were a factor but not an obstacle. The local church folks had done some excellent planning, and we hope a regular weekly club will begin this school year. Several kids put their faith in Jesus and a few were baptized after camp. We plan to return next year to help the summer camp and perhaps extend the outreach to some other communities a few miles away.

While the July Hot Springs camp was a bit shorthanded, the ministry didn’t suffer in the least. In fact most felt it was one of the best camps ever. Most of the kids came from Hot Springs but we also had a few from Ronan and Elmo. I don’t know how many accepted Christ, but several were new to the gospel when they arrived and all claimed faith in Jesus when they left. Our Sunday morning closing program is fantastic and a great community witness.

In addition to camps, we have been able to send some Pathwalkers’ materials to Native ministries in Minnesota and Canada and Pathwalkers’ stories are being used in a local (non-Christian) children’s program in the park and a new Native church Sunday school class in Polson. OH, I wish we had one more month of summer!

... and some campers write a book!