“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms.” John 14:1-2
Everyone is welcome in God’s Kingdom. As Jesus says in the passage above, God’s house has many rooms. The way you might hear us say it this summer is “Our King has a giant castle!” We like to connect the summer theme of CPBC to the theme of Day Camp in a visual way. So we’ll be emphasizing royalty, castles, Kings, Kingdoms, etc. at our Day Camps.
Our King desires for all of his children to find their way to Him. He has prepared a room for every single person on this planet, no matter who you are and what you’ve done. No one is beyond grace and redemption. All you need to do is believe in Him and His Prince, Jesus.
More than that, we are excited to talk about being welcoming and hospitable. These are concepts that are all over the Bible. In Scripture we see Jesus spending time with outcasts, traitors, and enemies of his people. We want students to know how to live out that hospitality in this world. One of the ways we do this is by sharing the amazing gifts God has given us.
searching for a day camp staff
We are in the process of hiring for this upcoming summer. We are looking for 4 exceptional individuals to run our Day Camp Program. The positions available are:
- Day Camp Director
- Day Camp Assistant
- Worship Director
- Activities Director
A description of these jobs can be found here.
Each year we hold an Annual Meeting for Covenant Pines Ministries. It’s a time for friends and participants of all 4 Ministries to share a meal together and hear stories. Every Annual Meeting has a different ministry focus. Last year we focused on Adventurous Christians. This year we are very excited to emphasize Silver Beach Family Area.
Silver Beach became part of this family of Ministries in 1992. For years, Silver Beach was a family resort that resided next to our McGregor property. Over the years, the staff at CPBC developed a relationship with the family who owned the resort next door. In ’92 they felt that it was time to move on and offered to sell the property to CPBC. The Board of Directors discussed and prayed. They felt God’s call to purchase the site. Since then, God has used that space to bless families and bring them closer to one another.
We are very excited to reflect on God’s work in this ministry and look ahead at what’s in store for it’s future. Please join us at the Annual Meeting!
Where: Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN
When: Thursday, April 20th at 6PM
RSVP by emailing office@covenantpines.org
be a delegate for your church
There is some formal business that takes place at this meeting. Each owner church may send 2 delegates who are able to vote on official matters. More than 2 people from each church are welcome, but only 2 may vote.
Planning your retreat for a youth group, church or organization can be a challenging process. Whether you are planning a getaway weekend for relaxation and reflection or a session-filled spiritual retreat for your church group, there are a lot of factors to consider. Covenant Pines has put together a few steps to help you choose the best facility for your group’s retreat.
Purpose
When planning your retreat, start by determining your purpose. This will help when choosing a facility to host your group’s retreat. Think about your group’s needs, what goals you want the retreat to achieve, and things you want to include in the experience. Once you have determined your plan and purpose for the retreat, there are several key factors to consider when selecting a facility.
Location
Where is the facility located? You will want to find a facility within a driving range that is reasonable for your group. However, it should be far enough away to avoid the temptation to go home or to the office during free time. The distance to the facility has the possibility of deterring participants if they are driving by themselves. If you are transporting participants, distance won’t matter as much but be sure to take transportation into consideration. Covenant Pines Bible Camp and Silver Beach are about 2.5 hours North of the Twin Cities. Adventurous Christians is about 5 hours North of the Twin Cities.
Accommodations
What type of facility best accommodates your housing preferences? There are numerous different types of facilities where you could host your group’s retreat. Are you looking for something unplugged, relaxed, and rustic? Or are you looking for Blacklight Dodgeball and a lots of space for huge games? Or maybe your group needs hotel-like accommodations and lots of space for breakout sessions. There are camps/retreat centers out there for all tastes. At Covenant Pines, we have a wide variety of housing accommodations. Adventurous Christians offers rustic lodging that is heated by wood-burning stove. Silver Beach offers luxurious and comfortable housing for families and small groups. Covenant Pines Bible Camp offers comfortable, year-round lodges and cabins at an all-inclusive rate.
FOOD
Be sure to ask about food as part of your research. Does the camp include food in their rates, or is that an extra fee? Some camps/conference centers serve food cafeteria style, others buffet style. Still others might have a server deliver your food to the table like you’re at a restaurant. Ask about their dining facilities.
Be sure to ask about their experience with special diets. Odds are, you will have someone in your group with an allergy or other dietary need. At Covenant Pines, we pride ourselves on accommodating dietary needs by providing high-quality alternatives. We try to learn the faces and names of those with special diets so that, when they come through the line, we have their plate ready for them.
Staff
Another important part of a potential facility is the staff. Staff members are there to help you out. Your first impression of the facility starts when you call them to get details. How they treat you on the phone and in your initial interactions as you acquire information is a good indicator of how you will be treated once you arrive at the facility. Once you have selected the facility, begin the process of communicating information to the staff in a timely manner. Speaking from our experience, the earlier a facility is able to have your information, the better they are able to accommodate your needs and desires.
These questions and ideas are just a few items to consider when planning your retreat; we hope you are able to use these tips to make your retreat planning process a bit less stressful. As you consider different facilities for your group’s retreat, check out what Covenant Pines has to offer by emailing our Guest Service Director, Angie, or by giving us a call at 218.768.2610.
We want to hear how Covenant Pines Ministries (CPM) has impacted your life. Your story is important. Your story is meaningful. Your story is why these ministries exist. AC, CPBC, Silver Beach, and Day Camp are meant to be a part of your journey with Jesus. We want to hear about that part of your journey. You may think your story is simple and unexciting, but every story about someone’s walk with God is worth telling.
So here’s what we’re asking: write down your CPM story and send it to us. The winner will receive $100 of their next registration for ANY event or rental at ANY CPM ministry. We will also declare 4 runner-ups in 4 different age categories: 3rd – 5th Grade, 6th – 8th Grade, 9-12th Grade, and Adults. The 4 runner-ups will be awarded $50 off their next CPM registration.
Essay Rules
- By submitting an essay, you agree to let Covenant Pines Ministries redistribute it in whole or in part for promotional purposes. If you prefer to remain anonymous, please indicate that when submitting your essay.
- When submitting the essay, please indicate your age.
- Essays must be at least one page in length, using 12 pt font and 1.5 line spacing.
- Essays must be submitted NO LATER THAN MARCH 1ST.
- Submit essays to tate@covenantpines.org
Essay Guidelines
Below is a suggested outline to help tell your CPM story:
Write about what your life looked like before camp.
Write about your experience at camp.
Write about what your life looks like after camp and how your experience changed/shifted your life and brought you closer to God.
TOTAL FUNDS RAISED: $80,383
Campers come to camp expecting to move… walking between buildings, running during games, swimming in the lake and paddling in canoes. Movement is foundational to what camp is. Campers are continuously on the move…one step after another…
But a different type of movement is also occurring – a movement of the heart. In ways we can’t understand, the camp setting is often the place of decision in a person’s life. It is the place where campers take a Next Step in their faith journey. For some, the Next Step is a first step in response to the gospel message. For others, the Next Step is furthering their call to be a Jesus follower. No matter where campers fall on the continuum, camp calls them to take a Next Step.
It’s now your opportunity to take a Next Step. I ask that you take the Next Step to financially support Covenant Pines Ministries. Your gift ensures that campers will be challenged to grow in their faith…to take a Next Step as they grow in their understanding of Jesus. Your gift will support the counselors, staff, trail guides and speakers as they come alongside campers. It is my prayer that all campers will take a Next Step.
Dave Cairns
Executive Director
We have set a goal of $75,000 to be raised for Covenant Pines Ministries prior to Dec. 31st.