Our Missions Team verse this summer was, 2 Timothy 4:5 “But you, keep your head in all
situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
It seems to me that God wrote this verse especially for camps.
Little did we know that this would be a summer of many hardships and we’d need God’s wisdom, often.
Team members dealt with a variety of struggles and challenges. It took lots of energy to keep the Team on track and focused. There were many times of deep prayer and support for each other.
Campers talked of struggles, families coping with children needing more attention and some needing professional help.
Yet through it all God was at work. At the end of the summer and after a few days of rest and prayer, it seemed God confirmed that the work He did this summer was deep and foundational. We may never see the full impact of the ministry, but trust that God used each struggle and hard decision and fervent prayer, to bring the Missions Team closer to Him and to work in the hearts of our campers to make Himself very real to them.

Our Missions Team was the largest we’ve had in many years. We had 17 people on the Team, working varied numbers of weeks.
Missions Team 2023
Returning Missions Team Members
Kayla McLaughlin, Payton Newell, Olivia Robinson, Daniel Reid, Jordyn LeMay, Jackson Goulding, Jessica Goulding, Jacob Clark
New Team Members
Aidan Smith, Andrew Reid, Carsyn Elchelsyn, Abii Gordan, Ajay Gordan, Jacob Wessell, Shynelle Bryon, Anastasia Wilcock, Hannah Affleck

Missions Team at Minden
Insight from the ministry we use for Team Devotionals.
You may be wondering if the sacrifice to work at a Christian camp was really worth it all. Maybe you’ve already begun thinking of better ways you can spend next summer Wait a moment!
Even if it doesn’t appear to you that God’s kingdom was growing by leaps and bounds this summer, God has promised us that he is building his church. If you were faithful in living for Christ and in speaking God’s word, perhaps seeds were planted in young hearts that will bear fruit next year or ten years from now. You may never even see the results of your labour, but you do have the promise of Christ. He didn’t say, “I might build my church.” He said, “I will build my church.”
Perhaps in twenty years or so this camp will no longer exist. Christ has not promised to build and preserve any Christian camp.
There is a greater institution that Christ is building, the Church—not even hell itself can destroy it or stop it. It will grow and continue until Christ returns for his people. Used with permission. Joel Risher, Character Building Ministries
2023 Summary
Kids Clubs The purpose of these programs is to disciple young people in the Lord and build on friendships made at camp. New people welcome. We ran 3 Clubs in 2022/2023
Haven at Faith Tabernacle Church in Coboconk. In 2022 it was in the school pre-summer then moved to the church. This year we have 14 participants and 2 new leaders. We are now walking the students from the school to save parents 1 drive. Reflect ran from November to June at the Fenelon Falls United Church. It was not continued in the Fall.
On Guard in it’s 4th year, continues to be a fun and engaging program over Zoom.
Spring/Summer Ministry Quest May 12-14
27 campers Focused on the *Least Likely. Campers learned about the Bible and how to find their way around it. Several campers recommitted themselves to God. All had FUN!
VBS + Staff Training
Pioneer Church Norland-July 3-7
VBS ran from 9 to noon
40 kids attending, 14 Missionaries
6 kids asked the Lord into their lives Training – afternoons –learning how to work with kids, keep them safe and how to run activities
Day Camps- Run from 9 to 4 Snack is provided by the church.
Chapel lessons – alternated weekly Bible Biggies – people who served God well + Bible Bullies – how to stay strong in God.
It seemed God calmed campers during Chapel time. It was wonderful how attentive they were, week after week.
West Guilford Camp
July 10-14 37 Campers, 11 Missionaries We ran boats, had Browning Reptiles visit, had lots of fun and saw God work in camper’s and our lives. 2 campers became Christians.
Minden Camp-July 17-21
51 campers, 10 Missionaries
We set up camp differently and it worked really well. This was such a fun week and the campers were well behaved and cooperative. The Minden Hills Fire Dep’t brought 4 trucks and a dozen Firefighters to do a safety talk and spray the hoses. A shocking 30 campers prayed to become Christians.

Coboconk Camp-July 24-28
34 campers, 13 Missionaries
This is always an enjoyable camp. We had many children of former campers at this site. How cool is that! We had so many requests for Swim Lessons that we couldn’t run boats. Carsyn did a good job organizing his lessons. We enjoyed having the Learn to Fish program visit us. It has improved so much and everyone had a great time.
2 campers prayed for Salvation and several recommitted to the Lord.

Resident Camp- July 30-Aug 4
36 Campers, 10 Missionaries, 2 kitchen staff and our Chapel Speaker, Hilya Persaud
This was a very impactful week. At campfire we invite Counsellors and campers to share about their faith. Many attested to how God has come alongside them in times of need and strengthen their faith.
Others talked of walking with God since a young age and feeling His guiding hand. Some felt safe enough to talk of deeper struggles and feelings of being unloved and misunderstood. People gathered around them, prayed and assured them they were indeed loved.
Teresa talked to the parents of those who shared and was assured they knew of the struggles and their kids were getting help.
We had the Abernathy’s come to entertain in music. The campers caught on to the humour of their songs and loved having them there. We also had the Norland Corn Hole Club bring their equipment for the campers to play. It was our dress-up dinner night, so this was the first time the Club had played Corn Hole Toss in formalwear!
Two staff had to step away from camp due to anxiety mid-week.
Bolsover Camp-Aug. 7-11
13 campers, 8 Missionaries
No idea why the numbers were so low, but we had a great time.
Skits and Team cheers were especially good this week. Deeper connections with campers were possible.
Haliburton Camp-Aug 14-18
33 campers, 8 Missionaries Haliburton is often a tough camp, kids seem harder to connect with and to keep on track. It was a tiring week and still Chapel went well and campers got into skits and cheers. 2 campers made a commitment to Christ and only 2 indicated they attend church. Browning Reptiles came to this location and these kids loved Sarah’s presentation.
Fenelon Falls Camp-Aug 21-25
37 Campers, 9 Missionaries
The Learn to Fish Program came to this camp as well and again excelled. Again very attentive campers in Chapel which made it enjoyable to teach. Several cousins attended together. We faced some tough issues this week and did lots of calling on the Lord. 4 campers asked Jesus into their lives this week.

Stats
Campers – 281
Salvations – 51
*Least Likely – 189
No Church/Christian input – 92