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). 

Let's do it!

Photo thanks to Luk Brazle

Monday, June 13 was the annual Spring fellowship of the Dutch-speaking churches in Belgium and the Netherlands. held in The Hague. This is always an opportunity to meet and encourage one another through word and song.  The theme this year was based on the Acts of the Apostles – how can we “act”-  do and live as christians, not simply say that we are.

The lesson brought by Ruud Verheijen encouraged all to make their faith active, to allow the word of the Lord to live in their lives in reality. This was followed by a quiz on the book of Acts. Teams formed loosely from the congregations “competed” against one another on their knowledge of the the truths in Acts, the things we could learn from those first Christians. And there was still plenty to learn, but everyone seemed ready to try. A jury made up of Ruud Verheijen, Roy Davison and Jim Krumrei not only made sure that difficult questions were answered correctly, they also gave important background information.  This was a fun and informative way to dig into the word of God.

To encourage all to understand the concept of a living body, tasks for the day were spread out among members from the various congregations. Brothers from 5 different congregations led the group in song and prayer. Helpers from other congregations made sure the youngest children were cared for during the quiz. And everyone brought their own lunch – and more (there were about 80 people from 8 different congregations present). This cooperation was exciting to see. When we remember whose children we are, when we are challenged to live as such, we do just that!

There was more than enough food for all present. There were more than enough helpers to set up and clean up afterwards. There was an abundance of activity from a real body on that day. We are so thankful  for how God can work through us and look forward to continuing to be active as His body wherever we go.

See another report of the day here. 

New life!!

Many of you have been praying for the people in our lives here - for their growth, their struggles and their joys. We have mentioned Isha and Valéri - two of our teens - and their search for and desire to know the Lord. They both went with us to Marseille at the end of June and have been talking and praying sincerely for the last weeks.

On July 27 Isha decided to give her life to Jesus, dying to herself, being buried in baptism and raised in life with Christ! She was with her family at home, but now she has a larger family - and that includes many of you! We are so excited for her and her new life. She has also not been able to stop smiling. What a wonderful joy and what a wonderful sister she is already becoming.

On the same day, but down at camp (which is where we were when we heard the news about Isha), David van Ginneken - one of the teens who regularly attends our youth weekends and Bible camp as well (they are members in Ghent) also decided to give his life to Christ. You can read more about his decision and see some pictures over on Luk Brazle's site.

Thank YOU for being part of this wonderful family, for sharing in this joy with us, and for taking part in the growth of these two young people. Continue to pray for them and for the church here in Belgium and the Netherlands as God does mighty things - changing peoples' lives.