Your Gift Will Help Send Kids to Camp! If you want to participate in the 2018 5K, click here.
The Story
I was running the other day and an image popped into my head. The image was of a dad running his kids to camp. They were on his back and he was literally running them to camp. I felt like I knew this fictional dad; his entire backstory. I knew that he and his wife worked very hard to provide for their kids yet struggled to make ends meet. I knew that the growth and happiness of their kids was the highest priority to him. It was clear that this dad was motivated. He was willing to do whatever it took to get his kids up here for a week at Summer Camp.
The image didn’t pop into my head out of nowhere. I decided to start running up here a few months ago. I was inspired by a few friends and family members that ran the Twin Cities marathon last October. I was playing around with the idea of running a marathon this summer. But I knew that I wanted to run for a reason. As I prayed about a cause that I could run for, the only thing that struck a real chord was camp scholarships.
“I knew that I wanted to run for a reason. As I prayed about a cause that I could run for, the only thing that struck a real chord was camp scholarships.”
When I was 7 years old, my two brothers and I boarded a school bus to camp. My mom had packed our stuff. I had packed my stuffed elephant (pictured right). That was the first of many weeks I would spend at camp. The next summer, I committed to being a follower of Jesus. A few years later I made my first video during skill time. Later, I developed a genuine love for God’s word. In my High School years I learned the value of open and real conversations. On summer staff, I felt God calling me into full-time ministry.
“Camp changed my life… None of it would have been possible without camp scholarships.”
Camp changed my life; in huge spiritual ways that shaped my whole worldview, and in smaller ways like watching a counselor play drums and wanting to learn. None of it would have been possible without camp scholarships. Sending 3 kids to camp would not have been possible for my family without the generosity of scholarship donors. The dad from my image is fictional. But I know there are many parents out there who would literally run their kids to camp because they believe in the power of this place. There are parents who want to invest in the spiritual development of their children. There are parents who are doing whatever it takes to get them here.
“I imagine that every step I take out on a run is literally bringing a kid one step closer to camp.”
So I’ve decided to run the Minneapolis Marathon and raise scholarship funds throughout my training. When I’m not motivated to run or it’s difficult and I want to quit, I imagine that dad. I imagine that every step I take out on a run is literally bringing a kid one step closer to camp. Will you give to this cause today? Will you help those parents who want nothing more than to give their kids a one-of-a-kind experience with their Creator? I ask you to prayerfully consider giving towards this marathon. Your gift will change lives.
$2,300 Raised
Wear Your Camp Swag. Get $100 off Summer Camp.
Do you have some camp swag? Do you still have the theme shirt from your first summer at CPBC? Do you proudly sport your volunteer T Shirt? Do you have several versions of the classic, “Covenant Pines” crew-neck? We want you to show us how die hard you are!
Spring Break season is upon us. Many of you will be traveling to far away places. Some of you are staying home. Regardless of how you’re spending your Spring Break, be sure to pack your CPBC Swag because you could get $100 off the cost of a summer camp session.
HOW TO PLAY
Take a picture of you wearing your clothes. Post it on Instagram, Twitter, or facebook and using #CovPinesSwag. That’s it! The winner will be selected based on creativity and cool landmarks in the background. If you’re staying home for Spring Break that’s fine! There’s still plenty of ways you can be creative here in Minnesota.
ADDED INCENTIVE
If you win and you bring a CPBC First-Timer to camp this summer, then that friend gets $100 off too!
We will announce the winner sometime in mid April.
The sun beats down on your face. You stop paddling for a quick break. The sudden lack of motion causes a soothing silence. You take sip of water from your Nalgene. The silence gives way to the sound of waves gently bumping into the metal canoe. Birds chirp overhead. The persistent buzzing of summer insects makes it’s way across the lake. You’re warm. You’re sweaty. You’re exhausted. And you’re 100% in the moment. Thoughts of school, sports, and all things routine are far from your mind. All you’re thinking about is your canoe, the lake, the trees, your trip companions, and the God who created it all. That is The Crossover.
We are very excited to offer this trips-based camping experience at Adventurous Christians for the first time ever. For 6 days you will experience the Power of God and the Love of Christ as you canoe through the Boundary Waters with your group. You sign up as an individual just like you would when registering for a Junior High week of summer camp. You’ll get on the bus, travel to CPBC, and have lunch. From there you’ll hop in a van and drive up keep driving up to Adventurous Christians, just north of Grand Marais, MN. You’ll spend the first day on site. You’ll get to know your traveling companions and go through some basic orientation. On day two the group sets out for the most memorable week of your summer. The trip guides at AC will be there for guidance and expertise. The staff will not only provide camping guidance, but spiritual wisdom. The staff does all of this for one reason; to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ.
SPACE IS VERY LIMITED.
Start your adventure today.
Senior High Trip: July 25-30
14 SPOTS LEFT
Junior High Trip: Aug 1-6
11 SPOTS LEFT
Recharge is a one day conference for youth and children’s ministry leaders. Hundreds of people from a variety of denominations attend to get “recharged” for their ministry. Dave and I set up an AC booth at two of these Recharge events over the past month, with a third planned for later in February.
We had great conversations with a lot of new folks about AC Canoe Trips and Wilderness Retreats. We had a drawing for a free Scout Pack from Duluth Pack for anyone who was willing to throw their name and email into the jar. The free prize seemed to draw a lot of people in and we were able to tell them all about AC! If you’re interested in an AC Canoe Trip or bringing a group up for a Wilderness Retreat, give us a call! Mike & Nicole Nelson would be happy to talk to you about what AC can do for your ministry, family, or friend group. Their number is 218.388.2286.
We were also able to connect with plenty of old friends from many different Covenant Churches around MN. The picture above was taken at the Covenant Lunch gathering that took place at the Eden Prairie event.
Pray that God would use our conversations to bring more people to AC this year!
-Tate Randall, Marketing Director
“Four year old Annika wanted to do the zip line at the top of the climbing wall. We all watched in awe as this little girl scaled a huge wall to fulfill her dream. No one pointed out the times she was pulled by the rope instead of her own arms. No one told her to hurry up when she had to pause to find her brave. This group celebrated her first step and cheered each of her victories along the way. They affirmed her strength when she wasn’t sure she could go on. They patiently encouraged her when she felt stuck. And when she finally took that leap off the platform? They celebrated as much as if they had been the ones to achieve their dream. What a picture of community. This is what church can be. Our kids are often our teachers. They inspire us through what they do. They pull us to be our best selves as we watch them.”
~First All-Church Retreat, Genesis Covenant Church
As summer wraps up Retreat Season comes in full swing for us here at Covenant Pines Bible Camp. Retreat season brings a big variety of rental groups here to camp. From first time All-church Retreats like we just experience with Genesis Covenant Church, a year old church plant in the Twin Cities, to confirmation groups like Church of Epiphany a Catholic Church in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and mid-week Sabbath Retreats for Pastors in the Covenant Conference. Each one different, all planned by God to be here and we couldn’t be more grateful and blessed to host them.
Eric Duffy, High School Youth Minister at The Church of the Epiphany, had this to say about his Confirmation Retreats at Covenant Pines Bible Camp.
“For many of us youth ministers, high school teens in our programs spend on average one hour a week in church. For even the slightly more engaged teen it may be an extra hour at most a week (not including school holidays and sports events). In a given school year, when you take out school holidays and everything, that is roughly only about 20 hours, give or take, where they spend time praying, or even just thinking about Jesus.
At the Church of the Epiphany we have recognized that 20 hours in a given school year does not stack up against the multitude of hours spent elsewhere. So we have based all that we do around the amazing experience that is retreats. On a retreat, the average teen will spend more time, praying, thinking, and discussing their Faith and the eternity that they should seek then they will at everything else we do with them all year. Retreats, especially weekend retreats, are integral to the formation of Catholic Christians. The great multitude of things that come with the retreats, the planning, expenses, set up and teardown, make many Churches shy away from that type of commitment. Covenant Pines Bible Camp has made it affordable, fun, and easy for our volunteers and staff to spend a beautiful time away from the hectic city life and to truly center our hearts on Him.”
In this Retreat Season, as we enter into November, we deeply desire to express our thankfulness for this area of our ministry. Gratitude for those that have come and the honor it is to serve them. Thankfulness for all that God has planned for those that have already set this time aside to come to camp and for the continued plans He has to grow and expand this area of our ministry. Consider using Covenant Pines Ministries for your next retreat.
Whether it’s your small group spending a weekend in our new Lakeside Cabins at Silver Beach (pictured right), a group of students from your school or sports team coming up for a mid-week winter getaway, the leadership in your church retreating in White Pine to plan what God is bubbling up in your church, or an All-church Retreat this spring as a way build up your community in this beautiful place. We would love to have you here!
– Angie Sampson, Guest Services and Silver Beach Director
CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT ALL RETREAT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH COVENANT PINES MINISTRIES