My first contact with the camp was in 1981 when we first visited during a campaign from York College. In the two years I worked as an apprentice for evangelist Jim Krumrei (1982-1984) I helped as a counselor, teacher and organizer of camp activities. When we returned to Belgium and the Netherlands (in 1991) we jumped right into working with every opportunity we could at camp, including Fall camps, summer camps or maintenance of the grounds and buildings.
At some point I also stepped into a role helping design curriculum and then into a position on the board. ABK is an association set up with the various congregations in the Netherlands and Belgium. The association, with members and a board, helps to run the camp administratively and meets every year for a formal meeting in January. This year was no different except that we had a change in the board. This is a big thing, because the board has been the same for quite some time.
The president of the board is my colleague, Ruud Verheijen. He has noticed his health causing him some problems the last years and, looking to the future, knew that it was time to pass the baton. So he stepped down and we welcomed a new board member this past weekend. Robin Huyghebaert has been active in camp activities since he was 16 when he planned the first Winter Kamp. He also keeps up the website and directs camp regularly.
At this formal meeting (which is held in an informal manner, as you can see in the picture), we looked at how things went in 2023 and looked ahead to 2024 and further. We discussed one of the difficult decisions we have had to make in raising prices. Camp has always been focused on making sure that all can attend, and thankfully we can still do just that - even while raising prices.
It was exciting to have several of our young people at the meeting who are also very active in camp and youth activities. There is a dedicated group of brothers and sisters throughout the congregations who remain interested and active in ABK. This year we look forward to the normal camp weeks (3 youth weeks and a family week) as well as 2 VBK weeks (for 8-14 year-olds) in the Spring and Fall, a normal Fall weekend and hopefully a new camp week for 20+.
We are also looking at some major changes in the facilities as one of the first actual buildings will be demolished and replaced by a better building which will house new bathrooms and rooms for the team members who come to help run a week at camp. Although the renovations will not begin this summer, we hope that they will be finished by next summer’s camp weeks.
Camp remains an important part of mentoring, training, encouraging and teaching young people and all members of the congregations in Belgium and the Netherlands. In the beginning years it was also used extensively by the French-speaking churches. We continue to pray that this will return. In the meantime we are thankful that the French-speaking churches are still able to attend the Family Day organized every September. This year the congregation in Maastricht is organizing this special day at camp.
What are some of your memories of Bible camp? What place did Bible camp take in your spiritual formation?
Interested in photos from camp? Look here. (Choose a year to look at and click the green button. Check out 1983 for fun.)
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