Covenant Pines is debt free for the first time since 1980! Praise God!

A symbolic burning of the mortgage was performed by our Chairman Derek Jones and Treasurer Geof Woodberry at the recent Covenant Pines Ministries Annual Meeting.

Here is a piece of Bruce’s report that speaks to this.

“Back in 1980, Covenant Pines took out a loan to build the Retreat Center. As funds were raised to pay off the $400,000 loan, the board decided rather to build the gymnasium, then Bald Eagle Lodge, then purchased Silver Beach, and finally the Dining Hall, Guest House and Backwoods Cabins. The loan grew to a high of $1,200,000 in 2001. This year, the last payment was made in March to pay off the loan. This results in the camp being debt free for the first time since 1980! All of this is possible ONLY through the generous donations of faithful individuals. It also sets the stage for camp to begin fundraising for a new Worship Center in the near future. The current Chapel is deteriorating, is too small, is not winterized and has no bathrooms. Please be prepared to support this new effort when the time comes.”

Click here for a full report of the Covenant Pines Annual Meeting.

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After 37 years of faithful service, Bruce Peterson will be retiring at the end of 2014

Here is what Bruce shared in his report to Annual Meeting delegates and attendees:

“After serving Covenant Pines since the fall of1977, I informed the Board of Directors in January that I will be retiring at the end of 2014. My years at camp have been a huge blessing to my family and myself. It has been a privilege to work alongside of so many quality people that have poured themselves into camp and our family. I can’t begin to thank the many volunteers, board members, staff, both full-time and summer, and guests for the blessing they have been to me and my family. The real joy of working at camp has been watching people meet Jesus, grow in their faith and then share that faith with others. I am confident that as the board searches for a new executive director, God will lead a quality person to fill this position. Thank you all for your love, support and prayers.”

The Board of Directors is currently working on updating the job description and job requirements with a July 1 date as a goal to complete that work. A search committee will be formed that will include Board Members and others. If you have questions about the process contact the Chairman of the Board Derek Jones. To view the summary of the Board annual meeting click here.

Stay in the loop on all Pines news by visiting our news page and signing up for our E Newsletter.

As summer is fast approaching we are getting more and more excited to learn about God and play crazy games with campers!

We can’t wait for the Day Camps we have scheduled in McGregor, at Crossroads Church in Cottage Grove, Community of Hope in Rosemount, Bethlehem Covenant Church, Faith Covenant Church, and Plymouth Covenant Church. Click here for details for those locations.

There are still 2 weeks that are available for Day Camp this summer!

The weeks of July 21st – July 24th, and July 28th – July 31st. At Day Camp, campers will have a 4-day “camp” experience at their local church!

Day Camp activities include big games, camp style worship, skits, crafts, Bible lessons, cabin challenges, cabin devotions, a campfire, a carnival, field trips, a service project and much more!

Our theme for Day Camp this summer is Ocean Commotion. Our Biblical message comes from Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The Bible is full of stories about storms. Biblical writers use the image of a storm to symbolize the trials of our lives. But the Bible contains a promise; God will always be with us through the storms of our lives! We are excited to teach students that they can always lean on God. He will always be their refuge.

If you are interested in hosting a Day Camp at your Church, please contact our Day Camp Director, Tate Randall.

“This summer changed my life.”

“Why can’t we just do this all year round?”

“Best summer ever.”

These are common phrases uttered by Summer Staff at the end their employment here at Covenant Pines. My personal favorite came from a first-year counselor on his last day:

“This is what a true Christian Community looks like. This is what I want when I go back to College.”

There is something truly miraculous about working a summer at Covenant Pines. You experience the kind of community that Luke describes as “one in heart and mind.”¹ Everyone on staff, from counselor to maintenance worker, is motivated by a single purpose: to help campers experience the love of Christ. The staff supports each other, motivates each other, and holds each other accountable. In this kind of community, miracles happen on a daily basis.

If you work at CPBC this summer, you will walk alongside young people on their spiritual path. You will witness youth making eternally significant decisions.You will make life-long friends. You will grow in your faith. You will put paint on your face several times a day. You will play ridiculous games. You will lose your voice every week. You will be sweaty and exhausted. At the end of every week, your bones will ache and your muscles will be sore, but that won’t stop you from staying up late and traveling to Duluth with your new best friends. Not a single person walks away from their twelve-week stint unchanged.

While there are still many jobs open, the jobs below are of special interest. If you are interested in any of these positions, please email Casey Kongla: casey@covenantpines.org

¹ Acts 4:32 (NIV)

In spite of record cold and snow, construction continues on the first of two cabins at Silver Beach. The electrical rough-in is completed, the plumbing rough-in is complete and wall insulation is nearly complete.  With below zero temps, windows will be in place the last weekend of February.  Then, with heat staying in the building, interior work can begin. Sheetrock and wood ceiling boards are next.  A list of the approximate dates and tasks are listed below.  Gather a team of friends and come for a few days to work. We will feed and house you, and provide leadership in the projects.  Call ahead for details and tools that may be necessary.  Scott or Matt at camp 218-768-2610 or Bruce in the Twin Cities 651-208-5776.

Cabin #1

• February 21-March 2: Insulation
• March 7-16 : Sheetrock and wood wall cover
• March 21-30 : Tiling and sheet rock taping
• April 4-12th: Painting
• May 2-11: Cabinets
• May 2-17: Trim, counter tops
• May 23-25:  Carpet
• June 6-8: Final Clean

Cabin #2

• Mid March the snow will be removed and framing can begin (hopefully!!) Call camp for updates on conditions