Camp meeting and new beginnings

Every year in January we hold an official meeting for our Bible Camp. This is required by law, but it is also a time to get together and encourage one another. Camp has always been an amazing opportunity for the various congregations in Dutch-speaking Europe to work together and grow in faith. 

This year is one step in several that we are taking toward the future of Ardennen Bijbelkamp (ABK). For one, we are trying to instill some changes in the commission that runs the camp non-profit. Although we have a newer member of the commission, most of the members have been around for some time. To make sure that there is a future and that we do not keep doing things just “because that is how we always did it”, we want to make sure that everyone knows how things work. We also want to plan for a younger commission. 

Although the commission this year will remain the same, we are looking at getting newer members in while continuing involving all congregations and members in how camp is run. The camp leaders, cooks, counselors and teachers all come from the various congregations and give freely of their time to ensure that young people and church members are built up in faith. 

One of the other purposes of this formal meeting is that it is a place to formally announce plans for the future of camp. It was good to hear at this meeting that camp is being used more and more by more of the congregations, even outside of the usual camp week. The past years have also seen several new regular activities. This year will see another training session for camp workers as well as a first aid course so that all will be prepared for any problems. 

In addition, we heard about the renovation plans that are coming up. The first big renovation was done in 2012 when the “hall” was built. A further renovation of the dormitory was carried out before 2020. Now we will work on the earliest building that was built at camp. The kitchen and bathroom section was the first real building, built in 1968. It had been updated lightly through the years, but it was time to bring it in line with the rest of the building and open up new possibilities. We have planning permission and are now in the process of finding contractors and time to build. Next year may see the first use of the new building. 

In the meantime, we continue with plans for camp activities in 2026. I will be leading the Benjamins this year, learning from the gospel of Luke. That will be at the end of July, after we return from our Home Assignment in May-June. We look forward to another busy year in which God can use so many different people in the churches here.

(Photo of what the building will look like)