 By Chip Sherer S


ynod Moderator Dr. Alan Broyles asked if Bonclarken could have a second page in this month’s ARP Magazine in   I am in my second year of a four-year term on the National Board of the Christian Camps and Conferences Association   For a young person, often the only week during the entire year that he/she spends more time outside than inside is dur- ing a week of camp. So the outdoor setting Young people being in nature and seeing God’s beautiful creation, helps them to understand God’s eternal power and his divine nature (Romans 1:20). For adults, time spent rocking on the porch of the Hotel or enjoying a walk around our Lake leads to a refreshing of the soul. We simply should not undervalue the importance of time spent outdoors. We live, work, go to church, and go to school in our permanent community. Family, friends, and churchmates are the primary players in this permanent community, and they provide safety and security. However, the daily routines of our permanent community can be a barrier to personal change. When our guests enter the temporary community of a week or weekend at Bonclarken, they experience new roles, new peers, and a new schedule. All this replaces the usual with the unusual. With these barriers to change removed, hearts are often more receptive to the call of the Holy Spirit. And the les- sons learned while at Bonclarken are always remembered because the experiences that taught them are never forgotten. Being a camp counselor is one of the best training experiences a future leader can have. Camp counselors learn prob- lem-solving, empathy, communication, patience, stamina, and leadership principles. These skills are helpful for anyone as they plan for future leadership roles. When a young person becomes responsible for the well-being of others for an entire week, many lessons are learned. These lessons form a foundation for leadership roles throughout their life. Most importantly, time spent at Bonclarken allows for spiritual . During a trip to Bonclarken, have you made a decision for Christ, have you heard and responded to the call of the Holy Spirit? Many, many people have. And this fact energizes the work of all of us on staff.  founding in 1922. The work of everyone involved with this ministry community called Bonclarken is focused on continu- ing this mission for years to come.


March/April 2025


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