Training

One of the joys and challenges of our work in Belgium and the Netherlands is working with young people and those wanting to learn more. The body of Christ is just that - a body. The church is made up of all sorts of people and God can use us all in many ways. Buut we learn from each other how we can be used to help others. That is part of what we are doing, helping to train and mentor others to become leaders and helpers. 

This past weekend we offered a day of training for those wanting to work with the Bible camp. It was Inspiration for Aspiring leaders, so we called it “Breathe”, knowing that it is the Holy Spirit who prepares us and forms us in our tasks. Last year we held this day at the church building in Antwerpen because that was more central, easier for people to reach. But we have wanted to hold it at camp itself so that the prospective leaders can see in person what they are working with. So this year we met down at camp. We are thankful to be able to do this with good colleagues (Luk Brazle). 

It was great to see the willingness of these few young people to learn and be aware of the responsibility of leading a team for a week of Bible camp. This is a time of reaching young hearts with the truths from God’s word and putting those into practice every day for a week before they return home. It is a time when many young people from the churches in Belgium and the Netherlands see friends from around the country or make new friends. This is all facilitated by good camp leaders. 

We are also helping to mentor some of our couples and singles in Maastricht. We meet on Mondays to study and talk about situations in leadership. On Wednesday afternoons we have a Bible study in English for some of our young people where they can ask questions and get honest answers. It is exciting to see how the members of the congregation are maturing in Christ and stepping up to new challenges in their daily Christian life. 

In April we will also be taking part in a First Aid course for those who work down at the Bible Camp. This is another aspect of learning and teaching. The Red Cross will offer the course and we are thankful for the various people who will attend, including several from the church in Maastricht. We are learning how to use the spiritual muscles God has given us and feeling the challenge of using those abilities and trusting in God’s strength and leading. 

(Here are some more pictures of the training day at camp.)

Planning for the future

Ardennen Bijbelkamp (Ardennes Bible Camp in English or ABK for short) has been active in Belgium and the Netherlands since 1965 when a group of brothers and sisters bought land in the village of Solwaster, n9t far from the tourist town of Spa, Belgium. In all those years dedicated brothers and sisters have made good use of the location and the ever increasing facilities to spread the gospel, train up young men and women and have a place of growth for the churches in both countries.

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.)