{"id":7984,"date":"2006-02-06T17:59:59","date_gmt":"2006-02-06T22:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=7984"},"modified":"2011-07-06T08:29:57","modified_gmt":"2011-07-06T13:29:57","slug":"camping-ministries-to-benefit-from-special-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2006\/02\/06\/camping-ministries-to-benefit-from-special-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"Camping Ministries to Benefit from Special Funds"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHICAGO, IL (February 6, 2006) – Orphans in South Africa will be the beneficiaries of $55,000 raised by children and teenagers at 12 Evangelical Covenant Church camps last year.<\/p>\n

The money was part of nearly $70,000 raised through special offerings. Of that, $15,000 also is being donated to a program training camping leaders in Russia.<\/p>\n

The Association for Covenant Camps and Conference Centers presented money to the Department of World Mission during an association meeting last week. The money will be given to the Bridges of Hope project, which works with orphans in South Africa.<\/p>\n

“It was an absolutely incredible gift,” says Byron Amundsen, coordinator of missionary services, who has been the department’s liaison with the Bridges of Hope project. The project will use the money to help develop a camping ministry.<\/p>\n

In addition to its work with orphans, Bridges of Hope has developed micro-enterprises, established community-relief projects, an after-school program, and community health evangelism initiatives.<\/p>\n

The association also is giving $15,000 to Christian Camping International\/Russia to train future camping leaders. The association’s fundraising project this year will be for the construction of a camp in Volgoda, Russia. Money the association has given over the last several years has trained leaders who will work at the camp.<\/p>\n

Leonid and Leanna Reghetta, Covenant missionaries in St. Petersburg, Russia, will help coordinate the project.<\/p>\n

Curt Peterson, the executive minister of Covenant World Mission, told the association that he has seen the benefit of the children’s offerings over the past years as he has traveled throughout the world.<\/p>\n

Over the last 13 years, campers have raised $669,000, according to David Auker, the executive director of Covenant Harbor Camp and Conference Center. In addition to Covenant Harbor, other camps participating were:<\/p>\n