2004 Summer Camp a Success!

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="1b9005a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Arial" >Living Hope Christian Fellowship</FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Living Hope Christian Fellowship"><B>Home</B></A></div> <div> Back to  <A HREF="ch_life.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Life"><B>Church Life</B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="32ac8043.jpg"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="135" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#000066" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFCC00" FRAME="ABOVE" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC00 HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <B>Announcements:</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="children_s_corner.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Childrens Corner">Children's Corner</A></div> <div> <B>2004 Summer Camp</B></div> <div> <A HREF="2003_summer_camp.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2003 Connecticut Summer Program">2003 Summer Camp</A></div> <div> <A HREF="open_house.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Open House Potluck">Open House</A></div> <div> <A HREF="church_yard_sale.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Blessing Makes Church Yard Sale A S">Church Yard Sale</A></div> <div> <A HREF="women_luncheon_03.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2003 Womens Ministry Fellowship Luncheon">Women Luncheon 03</A></div> <div> <A HREF="30_hr_famine_2003.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="30 Hr Famine 2003">30 Hr Famine 2003</A></div> <div> <A HREF="bowling_party.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Bowling Party">Bowling Party</A></div> <div> <A HREF="discovery_wknd_02.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2002 Discovery Weekend">Discovery Wknd 02</A></div> <div> <A HREF="pancake_breakfast.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apple Pancake Breakfast Community Social">Pancake Breakfast</A></div> <div> <A HREF="women_luncheon_02.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Womens Ministry Fellowship Luncheon">Women Luncheon 02</A></div> <div> <A HREF="children_s_party.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Childrens Party">Children's Party</A></div> <div> <A HREF="9_11_remembrance.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9/11 Remembrance Service">9/11 Remembrance</A></div> <div> <A HREF="memorial_day_2002.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2002 Memorial Day Weekend">Memorial Day 2002</A></div> <div> <A HREF="our_move.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Move to the Gales Ferry Community Ce">Our Move</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="32b00042egerdp.jpg"> <div> <I><B>2004 Summer Camp a Success!</B></I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="598" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#000066" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFFFFF" FRAME="BELOW" RULES="ROWS" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1058 WIDTH="598"><div> <I>by Jeff Broadnax</I></div> <bR> <div> "God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!"  This is the reflection of Omar Bin Safir,  2004 teen outstanding camper, as he considered the week at Camp Mattatuck in central Connecticut.   We had a wonderfully blessed week of worship, personal achievements, new beginnings and renewal of friendships for our 100+ campers and 70 staff.   </div> <bR> <div> The theme for this year’s camp was “Real Life in Jesus”.  Whether at the climbing wall, volleyball, archery, swimming, arts and crafts or any of the other activities offered, our young people had many opportunities to experience everyday life with Jesus.  Chapels were led by Pastor John Halford, who actively engaged the teens and preteens in timely and relevant interactive discussions regarding living life with and in Christ. But the most dramatic demonstration of God’s power and love came in a way that none of us could have expected.  </div> <bR> <div> For most of the week we had gorgeous weather – not too hot, not too cold, but with just enough variety to allow our mainly inner city campers to enjoy a week outdoors. But on the last full afternoon of camp, as we prepared for the final banquet, the clouds gathered, the sky grew dark, and then a massive storm hit the camp site. In the space of a few minutes our peaceful location was transformed, by torrential rain, hail, 70+ mph winds, tornado activity and almost continual thunder and lightning strikes. The storm knocked out the power for several hours and downed at least two dozen trees. Flimsy tents were shredded and blown away. Camper’s belongings were strewn all over the landscape. </div> <bR> <div> But not one of us – camper or staff member – received so much as a scratch!</div> <bR> <div> Touring the campsites next morning, I saw trees on top of tents, empty platforms where tents used to be, tree blocked roads and other results of the lightning strikes and severe weather.  As we prayed, we thanked the Lord that not one of our campers or staff was injured.  This was truly a miracle.  One tent that had housed two of our girls was now the resting place of a lightning stricken tree. Miraculously, the girls had just left for the bathhouse.  God is good!</div> <bR> <div> Needless to say, the storm altered our plans for the Final Banquet, but it didn’t ruin them. We moved into emergency mode, Kim Jenner and  crew put on an elegant  banquet despite the fact it was held under emergency generator power.  Following the banquet, we danced the night away.  </div> <bR> <div> Before the evening concluded, we gave honor to Pastor Steve Botha, who after 37 years of directing camps, is retiring. He will truly be missed among us at SEP CT. That evening he was serenaded by the children, honored by staff and campers and presented with small tokens of our love and affection for him. Pastor Jeff Broadnax sang “Someone Special” as a tribute to Pastor Botha and his impact on the camp. </div> <bR> <div> That evening, with more severe weather threatening, we all bunked in the dining hall on Friday night. Everyone cooperated, and our staff handled the crisis brilliantly (it is so great having spiritually and emotionally mature staff).  Thanks to Dale and Sybil Martin and crew, we once again were able to enjoy the best camp food on the planet.  As an added bonus, three of our staff are professional dessert chefs (Oliver Bradford, Avery and Lydia Johnson). They offered baking classes to teens and preteens.  </div> <bR> <div> We were also joined for a day by Ted Johnston, National Youth Ministry Co-Director and DS for the Northeast.  Pastor Ted delivered one of the chapel messages, mingled with staff and campers and spoke to the staff about the future of SEP CT (announcing Pastor Jeff Broadnax would become the new Regional Camp Director).  It was a pleasure having him.  </div> <bR> <div> Outstanding campers this session were: Omar Bin-Safir (teen male), Tasia Sealy-Browne (teen female), Jason Ekonomakos (preteen male) and Michelle DeRobertis (preteen female).  Two young men, Matthew Jenner and Naji Tobias, made the decision to be baptized but the storms forced us to postpone the ceremony. </div> <bR> <div> This year’s camp was spiritual enriching, physically and mentally empowering and will engrave in us lasting memories of God’s love for us even in the storms of life (Matt 7:24; 8:23-27; 14:22-33). </div> <bR> <div> There was nothing more clearly understood at the end of the session than the fact that our Lord loves us, protects us, empowers us and celebrates with us.  Jesus was present and real in every day at SEP CT and we couldn’t be more grateful.  Many thanks to the staff, who year after year volunteer their time to serve in this vital youth ministry.  We truly couldn’t do it without their support.  </div> <bR> <div> We are looking forward to what the Lord will do in our lives and through our camp next year.  </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#BBBBBB HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="598"><div> <B>Updates</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="598"><div> - none - </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Copyright © 2006 Living Hope Christian Fellowship  -  All Rights Reserved</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>