Planning ahead for Camp

Every January we are required to hold a meeting of the commission that runs Ardennen Bijbelkamp - our Bible Camp. Our club is officially known as “Shield bearers of the Faith”, but in short we always use “ABK” which is an abbreviation of Ardennes Bible Camp. This official meeting is necessary to do all of our official stuff, but we also use it as a time to encourage one another. 

This year we are looking ahead to some bigger changes. As always we encourage everyone in the church in Belgium and The Netherlands to remember that camp belongs to all of us. Until recently, everything that was done at camp was done by members. Even the renovation in 2012 was financed by gifts from the various churches. So we want to continue encouraging one another to take part in this mission and opportunity. 

In 2024 we expanded the number of camp events held at the camp and made some of the camp moments formally a part of camp. We have 4 weeks in the summer (3 youth weeks and a family week) and two weekends - one in the Fall and one Winter camp. But we have added two weeks of VBK (Vacation Bible Camp) and a week for young adults. It is exciting to see how camp can be used. 

Some quick stats on 2024: camp was used 30 times with 463 campers and 1372 overnights. There were 39 volunteers helping with the various activities. Although the number of campers and times camp was used ar not records, everything has been steadily increasing throughout the years (even the years of corona rules). 

One of the challenges continues to be how we can encourage use of camp while keeping it accessible for all those who want to come and still cover the costs for running camp. Last year, with high energy costs, we were quite a bit behind covering costs. This year we have gotten closer after raising our prices (which had not been raised in more than 10 years). In the coming year we will continue to see how we can best serve the churches and Christians in Belgium and the Netherlands. 

One of the biggest bits of news this year concerned our plans for further renovation. We plan to tear down and rebuild anew the kitchen and bathroom section, bringing everything up to modern standards. This section of camp was the first section to be an actual building. Since ABK started in 1965 - his building has been serving quite some time. 

But the city had at first blocked our plans. They do not want tourism growing any bigger than it already is and feared that we might be growing too large. After first finding a good translator from the church in Verviers who could help with the meeting being held in French, we were able to explain things and move forward with our plans. It may be this year that we finally get to get going on this renovation (which has been in the planning for 3 years). But we may wait until 2026. We would love your prayers for these plans. 

Camp remains an amazing way to help our young people, reach out to families, train members of the church, and offer opportunities to encourage one another and serve. Many of you have helped in various ways throughout the years with this wonderful place. Thank you for your prayers, your financial and physical help and your participation in so many ways. 

You can always find lots of pictures of previous years at our site. 

And you can see even more at the camp website (in Dutch, but you can figure it out): www.bijbelkamp.eu

Talking to God

This past week we were down at camp with the teen group looking at how to swim against the tide, or live upside-down. This was based on the various things that Jesus teaches in Matthew 5-7, including talking about telling the truth, how to treat others, dealing with anger or desires, and how we look at what is most important in our lives.

The group of teens we had were a real encouragement to us all, really getting into the lessons and putting them into practice each day with one another. The full week of (mostly) rain couldn’t stop the fun. In fact, they even had a water-fun day in the middle of the rain. They were already wet, after all. 

We also talked about prayer during the week and had plenty of opportunity to put the things we learned into practice. During the week one of the campers fell and broke her collar bone, but it was fairly late. We had to wait the night out and she was able to go home in the morning to be treated. We also practiced being kind to one another and worked on how we use our tongue. 

During this week, I went off for the afternoon to lead a funeral in Eindhoven of a dear sister in Christ. We were able to share time looking at her life and combining two families: her blood family and her church family. We were so thankful to be able to share what she had learned in her life with Christ and to see how God had used her characteristics in her new life. Her family (who are not believers) were pleased to see that her church family also knew who she was. 

When we got home from camp and were able to catch our on emails and messages and more (there is no internet at camp and poor reception), we were confronted with the news that our young nephew (25) had passed away, leaving behind his wife, son and son-on-the way as well as his parents and brothers. We are so thankful that we know that God not only hears us, but is very much aware of what is happening and what we need. 

This is also what we are talking about this week down at Family Camp. I will be teaching one of the lessons based on “Give us today our daily bread” but am also teaching the teens every day for the second lesson of the day. Today’s lesson was on God’s kingdom. It is thrilling to see how these young people are willing to examine what the Word says and to talk about how God can be part of their lives. 

Thank you for you prayers and blessings for my birthday, for the messages we have already received about our family, and for the prayers offered for our camp weeks. We are so thankful that we have these opportunities to share what God has brought us and taught us. Know that God knows who you are and is listening. Now we need to ask ourselves if we are willing to listen top Him. 

The language of love

We are back in Belgium and are thankful for our own bed - although we are also thankful for having had the chance to be in so many other places and seeing so many people. We arrived Wednesday morning and tried to stay awake all day - to beat the jet-lag. It didn’t work. We crashed for an hour in the afternoon. 

But we were able to hang on in order to share the Bible study that evening online, which meant that we stayed up at least until 8 pm, making it almost a normal day. More importantly, we were able to share thoughts about some of the Psalms, which is what we have been studying on Wednesdays. This time it was Psalm 42 and 43, a song of the sons of Korah. Looking back on this weekend, this Psalm was a great preparation. 

On Saturday as many from the congregation in Maastricht as could went down to camp for a day together. We spent the morning looking at the ‘Bible that Jesus Read’ and then shared lunch together with some from the church in Liége and some young folks from Harding University (who also speak French). We sang together in Dutch, English and French. We stood and talked in various languages about many meaningful things, and we shared a walk up to the ‘Love Tree’. 

What hit me was how good it is to have any language to talk about God and His goodness. We had people speaking in French, English, Dutch and Russian. Our conversations were about how God has blessed us in the last time, about how we can reach out to those around us with this wonderful message of true life and eternal life. 

When we made it up to the ‘Love Tree’, it became clear that the idea of ‘love’ can be varied. The ‘Love Tree’ is a tree at the top of the mountain into which young people have carved their names (the tree behind the group in the picture). You know the sort of thing: M+C surrounded by a heart, perhaps with an arrow through it. I personally know that several of the initials are the same person, changing partners year after year. Is this love? 

The next day we were finally able to be back together with the family of believers in Maastricht to worship the King of kings, our gracious Father in heaven. We were reminded how good and important it is to remember that only in Christ do we have salvation. How important it is to remember that we can only be with Him if we listen to Him, disregarding all other sounds around us. 

These are words of love. God wants us to come to Him and He has made it possible for us to be with Him eternally - if we obey Him. If we try to do it on our own - like Korah in his rebellion - then we meet death and disappointment. But, just like the sons of Korah, we can be different and put our hope and trust completely in doing what God says, as He says it. 

Our songs on Saturday and Sunday, our conversations on both days (again in various languages), reminded us once again that it is GOOD to be in Him, no matter where we come from. But that we want to be IN HIM. If I am not telling someone how important it is and how good it is to be In Christ - perhaps because I am afraid that it might come across as not loving - then I have not understood love. 

The language of love is not transient, like the wounds made on that tree. The language of love is eternal and is willing to speak truth that is sometimes hard to hear - in any language. 

Have you thought about your identity? Are you in Christ? That is the only identity that matters and is only according to HIS will, not mine. We are thankful for those who spoke to us in love so that we could find grace and joy in Jesus. And we pray that we, along with those we work with, will continue to speak in love in every language we use. 

A Campful Summer

Bible camp was a major influence in my path to faith in the Lord. That is why we are so thankful that we have the opportunity here to be involved in Bible camp with the youth of Belgium and the Netherlands as well as church members and families. As we returned to Europe we were just in time for several challenging and amazingly encouraging weeks of camp. 

Just two days after returning from our travels in the US, we were headed down to the hills and forests of the Ardennes for our first week: Jongerenkamp. This is the week for those 15 and older. Scott was to share camp director duties with two young men learning to be directors, but Ivo ended up welcoming his second child to this world – a much more important event compared to camp. 

That meant that Scott shared directing and teaching duties with Gijs Bardoel. On the mornings that Scott had the lessons, Gijs was director and vice-versa. Talking about the reliability of the scriptures led to wonderful and open conversations with the campers. It was so encouraging to see how everyone not only struggled honestly with the information presented, but that they were also willing to ask questions. 

Every evening we gathered around a fire outside and discussed difficult questions that came up during the day from the lessons, or just questions that popped up in normal life (like how to deal with a broken leg just before planning on helping with a week of camp). Everything was on the table. This was a group willing to consider and reconsider, willing to listen and willing to help one another. 

The end of the week was bittersweet as usual after such an encouraging time together. Shirley and Scott were thankful to have a week to recover from travels and a week of camp – even if the week at home meant temperatures well above 95 degrees inside the house. We just moved very slowly and tried to survive; not many have air conditioning here. Down at camp the Benjamins (8-11 year-olds), directed by Paul Brazle, also had to survive.  

The next week saw Scott at Teen camp (for 12-14 year-olds) teaching and sharing directing duties with Pieter Good from Ghent. As with the earlier week, a good team is invaluable. Although there were fewer campers at this week, the lesson material was challenging. We went on the travels of Paul through Acts to see what it should mean for us as followers of Jesus. Each day we actually traveled and discussed what we read in the text. 

The third week for us  (4th total week of camp) was Family camp, directed by Paul Brazle, and we were starting to feel the drain on our bodies. So we slept at home and drove down to camp in the morning (about 50 minutes away) to follow the lessons. Scott brought two days of lessons as well on the Gospel. This camp week is an amazing grouping of families, singles, young people, kids and even some dogs. Christians from various congregations and non-Christians were all there to hear what the good news really is. 

Although camp is open all year to all the congregations, the formal camp weeks are four weeks in July and August. But in September we also hold a special day: Family Day. This year it was organized by the congregation in Maastricht. Our colleague, Ruud, together with Gijs from Jongerenkamp, brought two lessons on Colossians 3. Scott led the children’s class and Shirley with the ladies from Maastricht took care of lunch, coffee and cookies. We welcomed people from all over Belgium and the Netherlands, including our French-speaking brothers and sisters for a truly family day. 

This coming weekend will see the end of the camp season: an evaluation and planning meeting. Here we evaluate the past weeks and look ahead to the coming season (starting with Fall camp at the end of October). Ardennes Bible Camp has been influencing people since 1965 and we are so thankful that we can be a part of this history. 

If you are interested in seeing pictures of the various camp weeks, check out our picture site, but you can also go to the official camp website (in Dutch) where we have tried to gather some of the pictures from various photographers through the years (including some really oldies but goodies). 

Finding Family

Isn’t it amazing what God creates? Look at the things we see in nature, the wonders of His creation. But look, too, at what he has created for us! We are made to be in relationship. We are made to be together – and when that is done as He has designed, it is amazing! One of those ways of being in relationship is family.

Family is God’s design. And God’s has created His family – the church. Just like with any family – we have only one thing we can do: accept it or reject it. When we decide to put our lives in God’s hands through the blood of Christ in the waters of baptism – God adds us to His family. Then we are brother and sister, children of the Almighty One who is sanctifying us daily through His Holy Spirit in our lives.

In August we were able to spend several days down at Family Camp. The nice thing about this week of camp is that it fits everyone – just like God’s family should. From the letters of 1st and 2nd Peter we learned about suffering, being used for good, persevering and the love of Christ in all we do. We spent time singing together, laughing and playing, and enjoying God’s creation all around us.

You can see some of the pictures from camp here.

Back in Maastricht we were so thankful to be able to meet again with our Maastricht family (who are actually from many places around Maastricht). We are not homogenous; we are a varied and mixed group, put together by the wondrous view of our Father, God. And sometimes it is not easy, but we keep trying to love one another, because we are loved by the One and Only, who has shown us that this kind of love really is possible.

This past Wednesday we had our first ‘First Wednesday’ again since back in May. This is when some of us from Maastricht get together with some of our family from Liége and sing our hearts out to our wonderful Father. Sometimes we learn new songs. Sometimes we just enjoy singing the songs we know (Merveilleux Amour). But always – always – we are amazed and overcome by the beuaty of God’s love in His family.

At the end of September we will get together with the family from Cologne and sing our hearts out again. Isn’t it great that God has even given us this way to put our hearts into words – together! Last year we met for the first time in Aachen (in between Maastricht and Cologne). This year we are allowed to use the garden of the museum where we met last time. As long as we have a place to be, it will be good. Because the people meeting, this family moment, is the most important part of the day. We are looking forward to taking some other members from Maastricht along with us.

And in the meantime, there are those who are considering what this family means. There are those we have been talking to, with whom we have been looking at the gracious love of Jesus, who are considering this choice we have to make. It is the only thing we can do – accept or reject. God wants us in His family and He has done everything necessary in Jesus to make it possible. All that is needed is a new birth. How wonderful are God’s creations!

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13