If you’ve ever been to Covenant Pines, you’re familiar with the drive in. You take a right on 245th Place and drive down that beautiful road past a few mysterious houses that you think belong to camp staff.
Your first real glimpse of camp comes when the road curves left and you turn to face the Retreat Center. Our prayer for everyone of you is that this first view fills you with a sense of warmth and belonging.
That first view has changed a bit since camp’s founding in 1954. Guests in the very early days would have just seen a grassy hill. Campers in the 60s and 70s would have seen the Rec Hall on their left and the Dining Hall straight ahead. Folks from the early 80s and on have gazed upon the Retreat Center. But one thing that has been constant over the years is that same patch of grass that was there in 1954; what we now call Fireside Lawn.
This simple patch of grass has been trampled by joyful and excited campers for over 60 years. It has served as a central meeting space to give rules, start games, and perform skits. It’s patio has hosted countless games of foursquare. It’s deck has held up the weight of thousands of campers, anxious to buy candy from the Canteen. This place that we call Fireside Lawn has given us so much over the past 60 years that we feel it’s time to give it an upgrade.
For the past few years, Covenant Pines leadership has been tossing around the idea of building a new patio on that spot. Overtime that idea turned into a solid plan. Now that plan is in progress. Below you’ll see some blueprints designed by Jim Sirilla for the new patio. We’ve already started the creation of the patio by cutting down the large Oak Tree that was in front of Fireside Lounge and mapping out the placement of the patio. It may be hard to picture now, but the patio will be raised off the ground and have stairs that lead up to it from the ground level. There will be ample space for foursquare, fire pits, skits, or simply basking in the sun.
This new patio will be completed by the start of our youth camps this summer. We’re eagerly anticipating the new view our guests will have as they make that left turn into this amazing place. We hope that this change of scenery will only enhance the feeling of warmth and belonging that our friends have known for so many years.
Want to donate to this project? Click here and select “other.” Just specify in the comments that the donation is for “Fireside Patio.”
Check out the gallery below to see historical pictures that catalog the evolution of “Fireside Lawn.”
Lars and Whitney will work with our Program Director, Holly Larson (who is a former SPD herself!) This team of three will lead the summer staff and oversee the implementation of the summer program.
Lars and Whitney are both seasoned staff members, and they will use their experience, leadership and creativity to provide a positive environment for both summer staff and campers. Lars and Whitney spend a good chunk of time on planning and coordinating each week’s schedule, but the majority of their responsibilities come down to relationships. The Summer Program Directors’ are encouragers, cheerleaders, counselors to the counselors, homesickness experts and wild morale boosters. A day never looks the same for these two University of Northwestern Seniors. God has prepared them well for this summer, and they will carry out his work!
Lars and Whitney have each written a little bit about themselves and their excitement for this upcoming summer.
Whitney Jenelle Sorensen is going into her fourth summer on staff at Covenant Pines, and her first summer as the Female Summer Program Director. She has served as a counselor for the last two summers and was in the kitchen her first summer on staff. Whitney grew up coming to CPBC as a camper and was involved in SWEAT and LIT. Camp is where she learned how to passionately serve and love God no matter where she is or what she’s doing. When she is not spending her summers running around with paint proudly on her face, she is studying Health Sciences at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul. One day she hopes to be a physical therapist, but until then she will have to continue sporting neon shorts, playing volleyball with her family, and choreographing dances with her best friend.
Lars Bradley Markson is going into his fourth summer on staff at CPBC, and second summer as the Male Summer Program Director. Lars has grown up going to camp every summer, and attributes his passion for the Lord and kids to all of his experiences in chapel, speakers, and devos from CPBC. When not at camp Lars is studying Youth and Family Studies at the University of Northwestern St. Paul, throwing a frisbee, eating Taco Bell or playing board games with his pals. And last, his favorite movie quote is: “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart kid.”
Close your eyes and picture yourself this summer. Where are you? What are you doing? Who are you with? Are you working for God’s Kingdom? Is your summer extremely fulfilling and eternally significant? About 30 young men and women from all over the midwest know exactly where they’re going to be: working at Covenant Pines.
They will be working to change lives. They will be with their soon-to-be best friends. Their work days will be characterized by long hours and exhausting tasks. Every night they will go to bed with their tank at zero. Every muscle will be sore and every bone will ache. Their patience will be tested. Perhaps their sanity will be as well.
Why would anyone subject themselves to such arduous work? Despite everything that’s difficult about the job, our summer staff will mark these 12 weeks as the best summer of their lives. Why? Because it is Kingdom Work. Each and every one of our staff know that they are making a difference in the lives of everyone who comes onto our campgrounds. You can join them. You can complete our team. We promise you that your summer will be extremely fulfilling and eternally significant.
We’re looking for male counselors, people to work in the kitchen, and a Ropes Director. If you or anyone you know is interested, visit our Employment Page, fill out an application, and contact our Program Director, Holly Larson.
On April Fools day we posted a spoof article about hiring the famous actor, Tom Hanks, as our new Executive Director. Below is the article. Enjoy the humor!
After months of searching, praying, and debating, the search committee has finally selected a new Executive Director for Covenant Pines Ministries (CPM). This candidate was one of many quality candidates that spoke with the committee over the past few months. The search committee members would just like to take this time to thank all of the wonderful candidates that were in the running.
And now, we are pleased to introduce the next Executive Director of Covenant Pines Ministries. Mr. Tom Hanks. You may not know this, but Tom grew up in the Evangelical Covenant Church. He attended First Covenant Church in Oakland, CA as a youth. He also worked on summer staff at Mission Springs Christian Camp & Conference Center in Scotts Valley, CA. His experience on staff there was life changing. After following God’s call into show business for many years, Tom says he is feeling God calling him to “give back to the ministry that changed [his] life.”
The full time staff of Covenant Pines Bible Camp and Adventurous Christians met with Tom last Thursday. During the meeting the staff expressed their excitement to have someone on board with so much diverse leadership experience. Tom has not only worked as film director and producer on dozens of films and documentaries, he also has a wealth of fundraising experience at over twenty charitable organizations including the Elevate Hope Foundation, and the Madisons Foundation. Hanks has demonstrated his fundraising abilities and love for children through organizations like these for more than half his life.
If all that experience isn’t impressive enough, Mr. Hanks has also overcome quite a bit in his own life. At our staff meeting, Tom shared story after story. Tom was born with strong legs, but a crooked spine. He had to wear tough leg braces through his adolescence. Then, he spent a few years working at a toy company when he was only 12 years old. After being a private in the Vietnam War and a captain in World War II, he decided to become a commercial sea captain. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when his ship was captured by pirates and he was stranded on an island where his only friend was a volleyball. He eventually found his way off the island and tried to find a quieter life working for the FBI, tracking down check counterfeiters. After that did not turn out to be the quiet life he hoped for, he felt that he was simply made for adventure. And so he joined NASA and attempted to go to the moon. It was after this failed mission when he felt God’s call into camping ministry.
Tom’s first move as Executive Director is to make the camp coffee shop, Covenant Grinds, into a national franchise. Tom believes that taking Covenant Grinds to the corporate level could increase the overall CPM profits tenfold. The first Covenant Grinds location will be 4648 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN. We hope our friends at Minnehaha Academy and the Northwest Conference office will be there for the grand opening in June.
We asked Tom to write a little something to introduce himself to all of the fans of Covenant Pines Ministries. Here’s what he had to say:
“I’m very excited and honored to be in this position. You know, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. If you would have told me a year ago that I would be the Executive Director of Covenant Pines Ministries, I would have said you were crazy. I wouldn’t have believed it. Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see. God had this train ready and it was headed for McGregor, MN. The Lord told me to climb aboard. One thing about trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. But there’s something about Covenant Pines. I knew it the very first time I stepped out my car in the parking lot. It was like coming home…only to no home I’d ever known. It was like…magic. I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is. And I love Covenant Pines. Occasionally you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens. Even I know that ain’t somethin’ you can just find around the corner. People tell me that this job is going to be hard. To them I say it’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great. I know what I have to do. When it gets hard I know I gotta keep breathing. I have to get out of bed every morning… breathe in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won’t have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breathe in and out… and, then after a while, I won’t have to think about how I had it great and perfect for a while. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring? That’s all I have to say about that.”
As a week at camp in the summer draws to a close, many campers begin to feel a bit sad. Perhaps it’s because they lost at Capture the Duck and they’ll have to wait a whole 360 days for a rematch.
Maybe it’s because they only went down the Zip Line nine times and their goal was ten. Or it could be that they made a new friend and just realized that he or she is on the other bus. But most often the reason campers come down with a case of “camp sickness” is because they’re going to miss their counselor.
The role of the counselor is the most important factor in making the camp experience positive and memorable. We take that very seriously and strive to hire the best. We pick the people that are good role models, great mentors, and lots of fun. One of my favorite things I get to do is listen to stories from campers through interviews, letters, or casual conversation. Sometimes the stories are silly. Sometimes they’re eternally significant. One consistent element in every story is the impact of the camp counselor.
One camper, Rachel, stands out to me. I asked her to answer this question, “How has camp had an impact on your life?” She had much to say. Of course she mentioned passionate worship and challenging messages at Chapel. She mentioned great conversations with friends and unforgettable adventures. But what she emphasized the most were her counselors. She told me a story about when she was in fourth grade. She was walking around her church when a woman stopped her and asked, “Rachel, do you remember me?” Rachel replied that she did not and the woman said, “I’m Megan, I was your counselor at Covenant Pines when you were in second grade.” Rachel was shocked that Megan would remember her when she couldn’t remember Megan. It turns out Megan went to her church (something we often do on purpose when creating cabin groups). Rachel is now in high school and Megan lives in a different part of the state. But Rachel says that Megan is still one of her biggest role models and is someone she still goes to for advice and prayer. That relationship all started at camp in second grade.
Rachel told me about another counselor she had in Middle School. Rachel stepped off the bus that week with no clue who her counselor would be. She sat on the grass with the other campers and watched as, one by one, the counselors got up to announce who was in their cabin. Group after group was announced. Some of the counselors that Rachel remembered from past summers had already come and gone. Some of her friends had been called and were already off bonding with their new cabin. Rachel began to worry. Until a bubbly blonde-haired gal with a cheerful smile got up. Her name was Sadee. This enthusiastic counselor was new to Covenant Pines so Rachel didn’t recognize her from previous summers. But when Sadee called her name, Rachel felt a sense of peace. Over the course of the week, Rachel and Sadee had lots of great conversations, some were light and casual, others were deep and meaningful. On Saturday afternoon, the busses pulled up and Rachel was ready to leave when Sadee pulled her aside and asked if she could pray for her. It was the first time in Rachel’s life that someone had prayed for her one-on-one. Sadee asked for God’s help and guidance over specific things that Rachel had mentioned throughout the week. Rachel was amazed that Sadee remembered all of those things and was touched by the way Sadee presented these concerns to the Lord. Rachel told me that she will never forget that moment.
These are two fairly small moments in Rachel’s life. She probably doesn’t remember whether or not the girls won Capture the Duck when she was in Megan’s cabin. Most likely she’s forgotten who the speaker was the week she was with Sadee. But Rachel will always remember these two small moments. She’ll remember because Megan and Sadee showed her that they love her. Through these women and these moments, Rachel experienced the love of Christ. That’s what we strive to do for everyone who comes to camp. Sometimes this happens through the big stuff like worship or sermons. And sometimes it happens in these small moments. We’re in the process of hiring our counselor team right now. Please pray for our future counselors that they would have the eyes to see these small moments and the wisdom to seize them. If you know of anyone who might want to join our team, tell them to visit our employment page and fill out an application.
~Tate Randall, Marketing Director