{"id":2298,"date":"2008-08-14T18:27:13","date_gmt":"2008-08-14T18:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=2298"},"modified":"2010-12-22T12:22:23","modified_gmt":"2010-12-22T17:22:23","slug":"6510","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2008\/08\/14\/6510\/","title":{"rendered":"Midsouth Conference Camp Celebrating 20 Years of Ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"

GRAPELAND, TX (August 14, 2008) \u2013 \u201cSmall is beautiful\u201d is a sentiment not normally attached to anything related to Texas, but it is fitting for the camping ministry of the Midsouth Conference<\/a> of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
\n
\nUnlike in other conferences that own their own camps and operate programs almost year round, the Midsouth ministry \u2013 which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week – rents a camp for one week each summer. But the arrangement also has proved advantageous.<\/p>\n

As a result, the conference is able to provide affordable, effective ministry. The week of camping also includes the most multi-ethnic mix of participants in the Covenant, adds Superintendent Garth Bolinder.<\/p>\n

\"Camp\"Anglo students make up no more than half the campers, Bolinder says. The rest are Hispanic, Asian American, and African American. \u201cIt reflects the makeup of the Midsouth,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

The camp provides all the activities such as horseback riding, archery, kayaking, skate park and woodworking. The Covenant ministry only needs to provide the counseling staff and programming. The accompanying photo shows some of the campers trying their skills at archery.<\/p>\n

Bethel Bible Fellowship, an African American congregation in Carrollton, Texas, sends the largest delegation, Bolinder says. Thirteen children from Iglesia Evangelica Misionera in La Villa, Texas \u2013 the oldest church in the conference – were among the first to attend the camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we do worship you never know what you\u2019re going to get,\u201d says Nancy Dieckow, the current chair of the camping ministry. Each night may emphasize a different ethnic group\u2019s way of worshiping.<\/p>\n

Dieckow (accompanying photo), a former regional director of camping for a non-Covenant organization, spearheaded the ministry\u2019s creation. To learn more of her role in the formation of the camping ministry \u2013 and the early days of the conference itself \u2013 see Nancy Dieckow<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Dieckow\"The campers are divided into three groups: grades 2-4, 5-6, and 7-9. They eat meals together, but the rest of their events are held separately.<\/p>\n

Roughly 25 high school students and 115 younger campers are participating this week, Dieckow says. To see additional photos of campers enjoying a variety of activities, see Camp Photos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dieckow says camping may not benefit every child, but for many, the experience can be transformative. \u201cI\u2019ve heard it said you can do in a week of camp what it would take a year in Sunday school,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

The transformation takes place over years of returning as well. She notes that one person who is now a counselor was once a contrarian camper. \u201cTo see them grow and mature in their faith is really exciting,\u201d Dieckow says.<\/p>\n

Dieckow was the camp\u2019s director for the first three years and has served on the ministry board for the 17 years since then. This is her last year.<\/p>\n

Bolinder credits Dieckow with much of the ministry\u2019s success and longevity. \u201cNancy was the vision-caster, developer and programmer,\u201d he explains. \u201cShe\u2019s just been remarkable. We wouldn\u2019t have camp if it wasn\u2019t for her. I can guarantee you that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bolinder and Dieckow also praise the leadership of Dale Lusk, the current camp director, for its continued effectiveness. Lusk also is the executive director of Covenant Merge Ministries.<\/p>\n

Report This Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GRAPELAND, TX (August 14, 2008) \u2013 \u201cSmall is beautiful\u201d is a sentiment not normally attached to anything related to Texas, but it is fitting for the camping ministry of the Midsouth Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nMidsouth Conference Camp Celebrating 20 Years of Ministry - Covenant Newswire Archives<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2008\/08\/14\/6510\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Midsouth Conference Camp Celebrating 20 Years of Ministry - 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