Monday Again
Super Saturday launched Beulah Family Camp 2018 with great weather, delicious food, a packed day of family activities, music concerts, and wrapped up with a truly spectacular fireworks show at the Beulah beach. Friday night’s Prayer Covering was a powerful time of intercession. I was privileged to share in a prayer triplet with someone who was attending their first Beulah Camp as a new cottage owner and with Vesta Mullen, our Curator for the Mullen Heritage Archives which will be open this week Monday through Saturday from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Vesta has attended Beulah Family Camp for 91 consecutive years – amazing!
The practical and engaging messages of Kyle Ray on the theme of our “Prenatal Purpose” will continue through Wednesday evening as he passes the baton to Mike Hilson for the remainder of the week. A detailed schedule of all events is available online and camp handbooks may be picked up from the Beulah Office.
It would be nearly impossible to express thanks to all those who make this unique and effective Kingdom experience possible. The picture above captures the spirit of these leaders as Denn Guptill (Cornerstone) concludes 22 years of service as Rooms Coordinator (booking onsite accommodations during Beulah Family Camp). Denn followed Bruce Cheney’s (Caretaker) 11 years in this position. They are gladly passing the baton of this key role to Greg Hanson (Kings) and from the look on his face, he has done the math and is trying to figure out if he just committed to a 33-year (plus 11) or a 44-year (x2) numerical sequence in this life sentence!
As stated in a May edition of IMA, the future of camp ministry is in question in many places across North America – but not on the Atlantic District! And apparently not for the fastest growing church in America either. I was privileged to be with the DS’s at a WIF sponsored event last September at Crossroads in Cincinnati. With attendance approaching 37,000 weekly (source CT), Lead Pastor and Founder Brian Tome had this to say about the power of camp ministry, “In 2017, Crossroads purchased 400 acres of land to host camps for men, women, couples, and teens. We believe in great weekend services. But pound for pound – nothing matches the bigger impact of getting people outside their normal rhythms in the camp context.” Thanks, Brian. We’ve known this since 1894 and we couldn’t agree more!
- A very important feature of Beulah Family Camp begins this morning with the introduction of the first two of six District Core Values (Exploration Essentials – pictured above) as identified through a year-long process and approved by the DBA. These will be presented in the Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday mornings (two per service) by myself, Seth Fancy (Kings), Mark Brewer (Crosspoint), AJ Plaizier (Yarmouth), AJ Thomas (Deep Water), and Denn Guptill (Cornerstone).
- The DBMD Executive conducted three final Zoom interviews this week, including the new Children’s Ministry Director at Deep Water – welcome Jacqui Hill to a great team and an amazing church.
Love is in the air! Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell & Breanna (Woodstock) DeMerchant on their June 23rd wedding!
Thot: Don’t shout that you are “pro-life” when you are really “pro-birth” – every life has a prenatal purpose for a God-appointed assignment (Kyle Ray)
Kingswood Strawberry Shortcake Reception
Come and enjoy a free Strawberry Shortcake on Thursday evening of Beulah Family Camp (July 12) following the evening service in the grassed in the area below the Tabernacle Main Entrance. Those in attendance will be able to hear an update on several Kingswood University initiatives including KU Extended, purchase KU branded items and enjoy great fellowship.
Raising leaders matters. This value will receive special highlight on Friday, July 13, at 1:30 p.m. during Beulah Family Camp. This 1.5 hour workshop will feature Duffy Smith in a session entitled, “Raising and Releasing High Capacity Kingdom Leaders.” As pastors we often fail to understand the best practices to engage and empower high capacity lay leaders for Kingdom purposes. Like the workshop with GS Wayne Schmidt last year, this is entirely optional. Duffy has a lifetime of marketplace influence and is deeply passionate about helping pastors experience the joys and impact of unleashing the Kingdom force often overlooked or unharnessed in high capacity lay leadership. You are encouraged to make plans on Ordination day to stay for this afternoon session and to invite one or two of your key lay leaders to share in this workshop.
For those who enjoy the summer ministries of Riverside Wesleyan Camp 2018 registrations are open and filling up quickly. Elementary School Camp is July 9-13, High School Camp is July 15-21, and Middle School Camp is July 22-28. Make note of the new Family Camp schedule, which is now Sunday through Wednesday starting July 29th (Mel Norton is Camp Evangelist). Visit www.riversidewesleyancampground.com for more information and to register online.
January 9-12, 2019
Orlando, Florida at The Caribe Royale
More than a minister’s conference. The Gathering is a reunion of ministry family and friends. A sabbath for our souls. Coming together to stop, rest, pray, play and thrive. A chance to celebrate what God is doing in our lives and ministry through meals, stories, inspiration and worship. We know this will be a gathering you won’t want to miss!
Wesleyan clergy & spouses are invited to register this summer. Registration opens June 1, 2018.
What an opportunity we have to partner with Craig Groeschel, John Maxwell, Erwin McManus, Danielle Strickland along with a truly impressive and diverse faculty of 15 speakers on what’s shaping up to be another amazing GLS. We believe that, as in the past, God is going to powerfully anoint and inspire through this event once again this year. So, if you’re looking for some fresh inspiration and highly actionable learning for you and your team this summer, I’d love to have you join us!
- Moncton (Hillside Baptist) on Aug. 9-10th
- Lower Sackville (Rock Church) on October 18-19
Kingswood Extended launched on May 1, 2018 as the newest initiative for ministry education from Kingswood University. Aimed at providing quality online ministry education at the certificate, undergraduate, and graduate levels, with the flexibility to accommodate the unique demands of work, life, and ministry, the program is proving to resonate with churches and districts across the Wesleyan denomination. In the first six weeks, over fifty students have enrolled in the certificate-level Flame and Correspondence Courses, which are ideal for those looking to further their ministry training or are pursuing ordination through The Wesleyan Church.