The transition between summer and fall is difficult for us all. Perhaps your pace and pattern of life changes a little bit as kids go back to school, sports startup, and Wednesday night Church activities are back in full swing. The transition up here at Covenant Pines is just as crazy. This fall has been a whirlwind of fun events already and we’ve only just begun! Here’s a look back at our September.
Guest Groups
After hosting a very large youth camp from Colonial Church in Edina, called Camp Pryo, we had a grand total of 4 hours before First Covenant Church of St Paul came up for their family retreat. First Cov kicked off our season of hosting guest groups. For those of you who don’t know, Covenant Pines is owned by about 40 churches from all over the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro. On any given weekend in the non-summer months, at least one of those churches is probably up here at camp. Our churches use this beautiful place in McGregor, MN to retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life and come up North for a brief breath with God.
In just one month we’ve already hosted First Cov St. Paul, Roots Covenant Church, Brookdale Covenant Church, and Crosstown Covenant Church. We also had the privilege of hosting the annual CRIM Retreat (Covenanters Retired in Ministry). The group was blessed to sign hymns and hear Jay Phelan speak on his book Essential Eschatology.
Program Retreats
In addition to hosting guest groups we also plan and run our own retreats. We call these our Program Retreats. This fall season is chalk full of them! We’ve already had our second annual Homeschool Retreat, Women’s Retreat, and Retired Adults Retreat! We put a great deal of energy and love into preparing for these events. Some of our best are coming up in the next few months!
MEA Fall Retreat is in Mid October. The Junior High retreat is the 15th – 17th and the High School retreat is the 17th – 19th. Students will have a chance to relax, play, worship, and grow closer to God. Kevin Farmer, the Head of Admissions and Family Ministry at Hope Academy, will be speaking to both age groups. He is passionate about seeing young people grow in their relationship with God. Click on either of those links above for more information and for registration. Check out this video to get a feel for what MEA is like
After our Youth Fall Retreat we have our wonderful Quilter’s Retreat. Women from all over Minnesota come with all of their Quilting supplies and creative passion. For 4 glorious days these women get to do something they often can’t; be messy. When quilting at home you have to worry about what’s going on in the rest of the house and the cleanup of your project when you’re done. At the Quilters Retreat, we take care of everything and you don’t need to cleanup until you go home at the end of day 4. So come and let your mess spread! The retreat is November 6th-9th. Register online.
The weekend after Quilters Retreat, November 14th-16th is Men’s Retreat – or Man Camp as some of the guys like to call it. This retreat is an opportunity to connect with other Men, worship together, and play in the great North Woods. It’s hard to find an extended period of time to simply relax and be vulnerable with other men. The core purpose of this retreat is to do just that. We’re excited to hear from the Pastor of Crossroads Church, Phil Print, and his son-in-law Sten Carlson. Sten is a Pastor at Cedarbrook Church in Menomonie, WI. When we’re not worshipping and listening to Phil and Sten, we’ll be trap shooting, hunting, grilling, reading, playing cards, climbing, playing basketball, and eating lots of bacon and steak. Seriously, the food is great. The more daring men have a tradition of going off our Rope Swing for a little polar plunge. Men’s Retreat is definitely one of the highlights of the fall. Sign up before October 15th to receive the earlybird discount. Register online!
In between all of our Guest Groups and Program Retreats, we’re finding ways to improve camp for all of the folks who come to experience the love of Christ with us. Believe it or not, we’re already planning for Summer 2015! We have a theme and a verse decided. Watch our Facebook page as we give clues about what the theme will be. The big reveal will be at the MEA Fall Retreat.
Thank you for caring about what’s going on up here at CPBC. Stay tuned for the October newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to really be in the loop with Covenant Pines news.
For the past several months Covenant Pines has been searching for a new Program Director to organize and lead the summer program as well as the Fall & Winter retreats.
Camp Director, Matt Braun, along with Executive Director, Bruce Peterson, have selected Holly Larson to fill this role. Holly says that she is “very excited and humbled about the opportunity I have to serve God, camp and people at Covenant Pines Bible Camp.”
The rest of the Pines staff are very excited to keep Holly at camp in this full-time role. The end of this summer as well as our upcoming retreats are sure to be a blast with Holly’s creativity, motivating spirit, and her amazing singing voice while doing dishes.
The Story
“Camping ministry over many years has become a huge passion in my life, and I am looking forward to continue to put my passion to good use.” ~Holly Larson
Growing up as Covenanter in the Twin Cities, Holly was all but required to attend Covenant Pines as soon as she was able to do so. In 1997, six-year-old Holly Larson stepped off the bus and into her first experience at camp. Her passion for this ministry has been growing ever since. She continued to attend every single summer and even applied for our Junior Staff program while she was in High School. Using her experience as a Junior Staffer, she applied for a Summer Staff position after her first year of college. After two summers of running the Craft Hall and two summers of being the Summer Program Director, Holly could not help but consider the possibility of full-time camp ministry after graduating from Bethel University. While praying and discerning about how to best use her degree in Education and her skills in programming, God made it clear that He wanted her to give camp a try.
For the past two years, Holly has served as the Assistant Program Director, learning the ins and outs of Covenant Pines and increasing her love for the ministry of both summer camps and retreats. When the Program Director position opened up, Holly once again turned to prayer in order to discern God’s desire for her life and the Camp leadership did the same. A few weeks ago, the decision was made.
In 1977 God called Bruce Peterson to serve as the Director of Covenant Pines Bible Camp. Since then, Bruce has poured his heart and soul into this ministry. After 37 years, Bruce and his family have decided the time has come to retire and seek out new adventures.
To honor and give thanks for what God has done through Bruce, we are throwing a party and you’re invited! Save the date for November 2nd at Minnehaha Academy to show Bruce your love and appreciation. The “ceremony” will begin at 5pm and food will be served after.
Many people have been impacted by Covenant Pines while the camp was under Bruce’s leadership. This party will also serve as a Covenant Pines reunion for former campers and staff members. Come join the party and share how this ministry has impacted your life! If you’re on facebook, join the event so we know you will be coming.
In Need of Photos and Video
If you have pictures and, or video of Bruce, please send them to Tate Randall so we can put together a video/slideshow of Bruce’s 37 years at Covenant Pines.
This summer, 46 summer staff and close to 1,500 campers have joined us here at Covenant Pines!
With numbers up from last year, we have had the privilege to serve more families and show the love of Christ to more students. We have been having a great time as campers enjoy their favorite activities around camp, including our newest additions: crate stacking and the big swing!
“Surf’s Up” is this summer’s theme, and speakers from all around the Midwest are preaching God’s word to these campers about the importance of an eternal life with Christ. Many students are committing or recommitting their lives to the Lord with enthusiasm. We have been very lucky to see God work in the lives of so many young campers!
There is still space for our August Family Camp, August 14-17. Kara Stromberg, Director of Children & Families for the Northwest Conference will be joining us to speak – it will be a great weekend! Register online while there is still space available!
Story from Summer
At one of our recent Trailblazer camps, a young 4th grade boy named Trevor came to Covenant Pines. Trevor had been to camp a few times before and the counselors knew him well. They knew him because he was a little on the rambunctious side. One of our counselors, Sam, remembers very clearly having to talk to Trevor about his temper. Sam recalls a time when Trevor yelled at the speaker in the middle of her sermon and had to be removed from Chapel. So Sam felt a little uneasy when he saw that Trevor had been assigned to his cabin again.
For the first few days, Trevor displayed some of his usual behavior. But Sam noticed something different in him; a curiosity that was not present before. Everything changed on Wednesday night. We call Wednesday night “U Turn Night” because we offer campers a chance to make a decision to follow Jesus. We describe this decision as turning away from your old life and turning toward Jesus; making a U Turn.
On this particular Wednesday, Trevor’s curiosity turned into conviction. Trevor asked Sam what happens when we ask Jesus into our lives. Sam told Trevor about how the Holy Spirit comes to live within us when we make that decision. When Trevor asked what that feels like, Sam said that it was indescribable and Trevor would need to experience if for himself. Upon hearing this, Trevor asked Sam to help him pray to ask Jesus into his life. When they finished the prayer, Trevor exclaimed, “I feel it! The Holy Spirit is in my belly!” Trevor grabbed a piece of paper out of his notebook and wrote “This is where Trevor became a Christian DO NOT REMOVE” and he taped it to the bottom of his pew. Later that night, as the other boys in the cabin were getting ready for bed, Trevor looked over to Sam, pointed to his belly and whispered, “It’s still there!”
All the staff noticed a visible change in Trevor’s attitude and behavior for the rest of the week. The incredible thing about working at camp is that God is doing these life-changing all the time. Every single day He is using this staff and this place to bring people into a closer relationship with Him. Thank you for all of your prayers and support for this ministry. You are a part of stories like Trevor’s.
What is the best kept secret at Covenant Pines? Silver Beach Family Area!
Purchased by Covenant Pines twenty-two years ago, this amazing blessing has undergone some major changes leading up to the 2014 summer season. Memorial Cabin One, the first of four new cabins at Silver Beach, is finished and families have been enjoying all the great amenities it has to offer. Cabin Two is well underway with hopes of it being completed by January 1, 2015. Both of these cabins have been built to be enjoyed year round. Additionally, two new hook-ups with electric and water have also been added, making Silver Beach an excellent place to bring campers and RV’s.
Summer 2014
Countless stories, adventures, crafts, and campfires have been a part of many families ‘camp’ experience at Silver Beach this summer. Whether they stay in White Pine, our deluxe cabin that sleeps 12-14, the new cabin which sleeps six, or one of the four remaining original cabins, families find Silver Beach a safe and fun place to reconnect with each other and their love for Christ in His creation.
God has deeply blessed this place and it’s a gift to see how it continues to fill a need for each family that arrives. Psalm 16:6 says, “The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance.” Praise God for the way He continues to bless the ministry of Silver Beach. From the Ogren Family’s first stay here with their family of four to the Chamberlain Family of fifteen celebrating their twentieth year here, we celebrate what God is doing at Silver Beach. Consider reserving your stay at Silver Beach for fall and winter and looking forward to summer 2015.