In Testimonies

As many of us know well, it's way too easy to get caught up in the hectic pace of today's wired-in lifestyle. We get so focused on the next meeting, the next phone call, the next tweet or status update, that we forget the things that are really important.

Many times what gets forgotten, or pushed to the side, are our families. The following post was written by John Ashman. John is currently the Executive Director of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions and prior to that was a VP with Christian Camps and Conference Association.

As you read it I would encourage you to think about your own family. Do you need to take some time out and renew your relationships. As you'll see from this mom's perspective, family camp is a great place to do just that.

Camp is a refreshing stream along life's journey...

Laura eased open the screen door and stretched out in the rocking chair, favorite book in hand. Out on the lake, silhouetted by Monday’s sunrise, the canoe carrying her husband and two daughters glided silently through the water. A smile spread across her face as she imagined their conversation.

An earlier rain had refreshed the forest and the fragrance brought back some wonderful childhood memories. Overhead, two squirrels debated the ownership of a cache of acorns. The family from the cabin next door waved good morning and wandered off along the path to the point.

This placid camp setting was a welcome contrast to her familiar suburban scene. She glanced at her watch. Still 40 minutes ’til breakfast. She took another sip of coffee and closed her eyes. This was going to be a wonderful week.

At the urging of some friends from church, Laura’s family had decided to spend these six days at a Christian family camp. The place offered cabin or lodge accommodations, three family-style meals a day, horseback riding, biking, hiking trails, a challenge course, dirtboarding, fishing, canoeing, swimming, beach volleyball, a well-known Christian band, an impressive list of speakers, and more.

But the part of the brochure that caught Laura’s attention was “time out from the rush of life for spiritual renewal.” She needed that, and so did her family, much more than anyone knew.

Finding Time
These days, few of us wash dishes in the sink and ponder the world through the kitchen window. Instead, we stack the plates and utensils in the Maytag and rush to the next task. Come end of day, rather than sit on the front porch and contemplate, we click the mouse or remote and “process.” We live in a hurried, harried world. Freeways, cell phones, business appointments, micro-waves, school functions, online transactions, late-night news, and alarm systems form the borders of our behavior.

Our children aren’t strangers to stress, either. Pushed by parents or peers to perform beyond their years, they’re rushed into maturity by Madison Avenue and the media. It’s no wonder many kids emerge from their teen years frustrated, fearful, and fatigued.

Just over the hill, across the meadow, or through the woods, Christian camps are offering experiences that can arrest our runaway routines. Spending a week at a Christian camp, or conference center, will not immediately unbundle the anxiety of the twenty-first century lifestyle, but it will provide a refreshing break with a chance to relax, reflect, recreate, and re-evaluate priorities.

Time, which seems to be a rare commodity in the “real world,” is abundant at camp. There’s time to eat together, play together, and talk together. Parents can use time to assess family progress and form new goals. Kids can spend time enjoying the miscellaneous pastimes of childhood. So much can get done when there’s nothing pressing to do.

Finding God
At camp, God does not hide in the chapel, waiting for the evening service so He can reveal Himself. His presence permeates the program and property. God speaks on the ropes course, helping people discover the truth about trust. He’s present on the trail, teaching people through the intricacies of nature. He’s there in the person of a child’s counselor, bringing peace through the demonstration of patience. The messages spoken and songs sung from the platform are just added benefits.

Chuck Swindoll, author, radio pastor, and chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary, has long been a supporter of Christian camping for the entire family. Some time ago, he spoke about the value of total family involvement.

“All the Swindolls have enjoyed and benefited from Christian camping for many, many years,” he said. “In fact, I can’t recall an unhappy or unrewarding experience that we’ve ever had.”

When families get together in a camping situation, they relate eye-to-eye, maybe for the first time in months, without the distraction of television, radio, or phone in the background, he observed. They have time to think through their values and their priorities. And they have the opportunity to establish or strengthen their relationships with Jesus Christ.

The testimonies around Friday night’s flickering campfire stirred the hearts of the households gathered in its glow. Tears welled up in Laura’s eyes as her own husband of 16 years stood to his feet and uttered soft-spoken words of recommitment to Christ and family.

Following the service, the girls ran ahead to the cabin to pack for departure. Taking the long way back, Laura and her husband walked hand-in-hand, then arm-in-arm, speaking without talking. It was a wonderful week. Spiritual renewal did indeed take place. God’s voice was heard.

It wasn’t that He spoke any louder in the serene camp setting. For some reason, it was just easier to hear Him.

What about you? Has family camp played a part in your family's heritage? If so, would you mind leaving a comment and sharing it? If not, I encourage you to consider attending a Christian family camp this summer. You won't regret it!

What do you get when you put a group of guys from Canada, a speaker from Texas, students from across the Southwest, and frigid temperatures with snow together?  FUGE Winter Camps at Glorieta!
 

Over the week of the New Year’s holiday, students from various states gathered to spend four days worshiping together, growing in their relationships with God, playing in the snow, and having a blast with their friends!  Cold temperatures didn’t stop students from spending their afternoons at the snow tubing hill, playing paintball and laser tag, building sculptures in the snow, and so much more! 

Morning Bible Study, led by staff from all over the country, focused on “Live It: Tell It” – sharing the story of what God has done in the lives of students.  Bryan Bailey, camp pastor from Odessa, Texas, and Atlantic, the worship band from New Brunswick, Canada, led students in worship throughout the week. 

A big highlight of the week was the running of the “First Annual Human Dog Sled Race.”  Each church provided a homemade sled equipped with four “dogs” (aka students pulling the sled) and one “musher” (aka a student in the sled).  This offered a great time of competition between the church groups, not to mention a great laugh for everyone involved!

As a director, one of the most memorable things from this year’s first FUGE Winter Camp was watching students ring in the New Year in worship!  With New Year’s Eve hats on and confetti flying, students were able to enter into 2010 praising God!  What a beautiful picture of starting the new year off on the right track!

Life change happens at camp – this week proved no different!  Many students professed Christ as their Savior for the first time.  Others surrendered to ministry and made other commitments for their new year. 

And, FUGE Winter Camps aren’t over yet – we have two more sessions in March.  The first is March 9-12, followed by another session March 16-19.  Groups can choose to stay on campus during the day or go skiing at Ski Santa Fe.  We will work around your schedule!  There is still room available – so register soon!

This post was provided by Camp Director Becky Suggs

The Texas Baptist Men’s Furniture Building Ministry has been at Glorieta since August stirring up large amounts of sawdust as they custom built many needed pieces of furniture for Glorieta. From bunks and dressers to a custom designed oak and Brazilian walnut board table for the new executive board room, each piece is made with love and the utmost attention to detail. One volunteer, Melvin, is 88 years old and has been volunteering since 1986. He is the designated cross maker for this ministry and painstakingly makes hundreds of wooden cross plaques by hand. Some of these plaques are featured on furniture pieces like bunk beds and others are given away as gifts to those who minister on campus. Seeing a cross plaque or the Texas Baptist Men’s stamp on a piece of furniture on campus is an assurance of the quality and love put into that piece. As the Furniture Builders pull out of campus this week, they leave us with many beautiful and needed pieces of furniture and a deep sense of gratitude for all they gave.

The Oklahoma Campers on Mission have been on campus helping us with our renovations in Rooms K, L, M and N. These gentlemen have been working hard on the demolition and reframing of these rooms and having a grand time doing it. And while one of their favorite jokes is about how they never get any work done in the midst of all their fun, their progress is evidenced by dramatic, daily changes in the construction zones. Their skill, work ethic and sense of humor are all impressive. Their efforts are invaluable to us as we seek to upgrade these rooms.

This post was written by Glorieta Intern Mindy Cook.

Volunteers are key to Ridgecrest being able to effectively serve our guests. For much of Ridgecrest’s history, men and women of God have brought an incredible heart and passion to our volunteer ministry. Bringing a cheerful smile and helping hands to the various hospitality needs on campus, these volunteers have left a lasting impression on literally millions of guests.  I hope you enjoy this story from just one of them.

Fresh Peaches was written by Ridgecrest Volunteer - Ann Maniscalco

 
Edith weighed in at about 85 pounds, and her age probably wasn’t too far below that. She was one of the first energetic seniors I met when I began a two-week volunteer stint at Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center*. Upon learning that I had arrived by plane, she eagerly volunteered to take me along whenever she drove into town for needed items. Somehow, she learned my name wrong, and occasionally from behind me, I’d hear her calling, “Hey, Betty”, as she scurried to catch up, checking on me and telling me of excursions she had planned.

As schedules for our volunteer responsibilities varied, I wasn’t always able to take advantage of Edith’s transportation offers, but she didn't forget about me. One afternoon as I walked down the hall to my room, I could see something on the floor by the door. As I approached, I found a huge, luscious fresh peach lying on a napkin. Later that evening, Edith sidled in next to me at dinner. “Betty, did you find the peach I left for you?” she asked, giving my arm a quick squeeze. She and some other volunteers had taken a trip to a nearby farmer’s market, and since the peaches looked so good, she decided to pick up some for her friends. Later that evening, as the copious sweet juice dripped down my chin, I savored the delicious fruit as well as thoughts of my tenderhearted new friend!

“Then the Lord said to him [Moses], ‘What is that in your hand?’” (Exodus 4:2)

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was
always doing good and helping the poor.” (Acts 9:36)

A peach - just one peach - but that simple act showed tender love and a desire to share, to brighten another’s day. Acts of kindness, so easy to do; they don’t have to cost much, nor need they be time-consuming to be valued. Even now, when I bite into a succulent, juicy peach, I recall Edith’s act of Christian caring, and pause to pray that I might have that same desire and willingness to serve others. Perhaps the “seeds” of the gospel can be spread through the seeds of some fresh fruit. “What is that in your hand?”

Related scriptures for further study: Galatians 5:22-25, Romans 12:9-13, Matthew 6:1-4, 2 Peter 1:3-8, Galatians 6:9-10

(*The facility is now known as LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center. It is nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, not far from Asheville, NC. I wrote these devotional thoughts years ago when I first had the opportunity to experience the divine blessing of volunteering at the Center.)

As many of you who have stayed at Ridgecrest or Glorieta before already know, we send out an electronic guest survey to all of our guests for whom we have an email address. This survey asks for feedback on the entire guest experience and we are constantly utilizing this constructive feedback to improve our service. 

Of all the questions the survey asks, this is my favorite:

"Beyond the facilities and service, it encourages us to hear how the Lord worked in your life during your stay at our conference center. Do you have a comment, testimony or experience you would like to share with us?"

Every month, when I'm reviewing our service scores, I love to take a few minutes and read how God worked in the lives of our guests. Below is a sampling of the responses we received for the month of May. I found these to be a blessing. Hopefully you will as well.

• I went to the prayer garden for the first time and really felt the presence of God there. I was able to open my heart, then to really "be still and know" He is God and was there.
• Whenever I come to Ridgecrest I find God's peace there. The surrounding mountains, the calm and the opportunity to hear from God without a whole lot of local traffic and people who have other priorities than Christ makes it a place I'll come to again and again.
• Being among friends with whom I worked in Africa was a highlight of this year. It refreshed my soul hear how God is working in difficult places around the world.
• It is very spiritual there. You can see and feel the Holy Spirit working in the staff. The Rally 2 Ridgecrest event was a life-changing event for me.
• My wife and I were extremely blessed by our stay. The atmosphere is conducive to prayer and meditation. The campus offers an environment that makes one feel that God is all around them. We simply loved our time spent there.
• Personally, it was good to have a facility that took care of my needs and allowed time to reflect on my relationship with God and appreciate the beauty around us and the friendly inviting atmosphere. I have not experienced that anywhere else and I have been to lots of retreats over the years.

What about you? Do you have a Ridgecrest or Glorieta story you'd like to share with us? If so, click here!

Over Memorial Day weekend, Ridgecrest hosted the 4th annual Rally to Ridgecrest. This event is for Christian motorcycle enthusiasts and, as you can imagine, tends to draw a pretty unique audience. Personally, just the thought of riding a motorcycle scares me to death. So to me, anyone attending this event is unique...or crazy. Not sure which, maybe both!

Anyway, for this year's event, our keynote speaker was Oliver North and he did a phenomenal job. The following is part of a first person account of the event sent to us by Dick Peterson, who was attending the rally from South Carolina. Regardless of whether or not you ride a motorcycle, I think you'll enjoy reading about how Col. North interacted with this unique group of Christian men and women.

   For Lt. Col. Oliver North, speaking to a “motorcycle gang” was a first, but judging from the welcome he received, it probably won’t be his last.

   North spoke during the Sunday morning worship service at Rally To Ridgecrest, LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center’s annual Memorial Day weekend invitation to bikers from around the country to gather in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. North talked about his faith in Jesus Christ, the senior officer God used to introduce him to Jesus, and how important it is to “know where you’re going and why you’re going there.”

    The theme of commitment to purpose as followers of Jesus Christ permeated the talk, which resonated with the more than 600 motorcyclists who at times interrupted the speaker with applause, cheers and a scattering of “hoo-rah” for the retired Marine officer.

     The bikers were there to encourage each other as they use their passion for motorcycles to tell other bikers about Jesus. North called them an “affinity group” that God could use to build relationships and ultimately win souls to Christ.

      North’s keynote speech followed an early morning parade of motorcycles to the veterans’ cemetery in Black Mountain where he recognized the supreme sacrifice of men and women in service to their country. However, North's speech was hardly the only highlight of the four-day weekend. Perhaps the most rewarding opportunity of the rally was meeting bikers from as far away as Texas, Maine and Florida, who love to ride and love the Lord. They rode on virtually every kind of bike and shared the joys and heartaches of ministry on the road with other believers.

Our thanks go out to Dick for taking the time to send this to us! 

As you may have heard, Ridgecrest Conference Center just opened Johnson Spring Convention Center, the last phase of their campus renovations.    I thought I would share with you all this sweet story we found about how Johnson Spring was originally named.

Written: circa - 1930's
Near the close of a beautiful day in August 1922, a little lad was walking with his father as they followed a mountain trail, near the current Johnson Spring pond.  There was dense undergrowth all around, and as he stepped slightly off the trail into a hole of water, the boy exclaimed rather excitedly, "Daddy, there is water here, it must be a spring.  Let's come down here in the morning and see if the water is good."

They did return the next day and with the necessary tools, cleared out the undergrowth, roots and other debris until a clear crystal stream was bubbling from its hidden source in the earth.  With all the ingenuity and resourcefulness of a ten-year-old boy, an improvised dam was built so that the water could be accumulated and made available for drinking purposes.  A larger area was cleared in order to make the spring accessible.  The boy was charmed as father and son worked together on their newly-found treasure.  During the morning, he said to his father, "Let's cut away some more brush and make some seats of wood, so when people hear the spring and come for water, they can sit down, rest and talk." Was he dreaming dreams and seeing visions?
 
At the end of the summer season, this lad and his family returned to their home in Camden, South Carolina.  He would not be privileged to visit the spring again.  Tragedy struck the little country schoolhouse the next spring as he with many others were lost in a fire.  His father, Rev. J. Jeter Johnson, a resident of Ridgecrest in later years, and others of the family continued to give almost perpetual care to the place so dear to the heart of the lad.  It was beautified and was one of the choice spots on the conference grounds for prayer and meditation.  Large and small groups gathered in the dew-laden atmosphere at morning watch and for evening worship.  The birds would add a note to the music being played in the services as devotional speakers directed their thoughts God-ward.  Johnson Spring, named for William Jeter Johnson by a past conference center manager, should always be a reminder of a little lad who loved God and nature.
 

In this video, Phil Berry (assistant director at Ridgecrest Summer Camps) talks about a rather embarrasing moment that happened the first year he attended Camp Ridgecrest for Boys. More importantly, he goes on to discuss the very positive impact Christian camping has had on his life.

In the 8 years I've been with LifeWay I have heard many, many stories about the life change that takes place every summer at Camp Ridgecrest and Camp Crestridge. I've also learned the same is true at the many fine Christian camps around the country. These camps make a difference in the lives of the children that attend each summer and I'm honored to be a part of this ministry.

From one parent to another, I encourage you to take a couple of minutes and listen to what Phil has to say about the value of Christian camping.