If you don’t know much about camp, let me give you some background: BP summer camp is held in Butler, Ohio at Camp Otyokwah, about 7 hours away, during the second full week in July. The camp is open to kids from 4th grade through high school. This year we took 18 campers and 5 counselors -what a great group! Having been a counselor for many years, I can say that we had one of the best groups in the category of “well-behaved.” Now maybe some of that comes from the recent upgrade in transportation: we traveled in style on a full-sized “Bedore Tours” bus, complete with a DVD player, recline-able seating , and air conditioning!

This year we had about 100 campers attending from all the presbytery churches. With that many campers, you can imagine the coordination that goes into the daily schedule. Each day starts with group devotions at 7:30 am. From there we go to breakfast at the dining hall. Happily, meals at camp were not only nutritious, but also quite delicious! After breakfast the campers rotate through 2 class sessions and 2 recreation sessions (including organized games and crafts). This year the teaching sessions for the seniors focused on the doctrine of “Depravity of Man” (Pastor Tim’s class) and “Resolving Conflict Biblically” (Pastor Kevin’s class). Lunch starts around noon and then we go to “feet off the floor time” for rest and memorizing Bible verses. In the afternoon, there is free time for organized games…like the annual camper/counselor soccer game and the steeple chase. After games, the campers get cleaned up for dinner, rally and chapel. There’s so much to be said about each of those items, but why not ask one of our campers for the details?

There are lots of camp pictures that you can check out at http://bpcamp.org/pictures.html

“Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and all your strength” was the song on the voice of the campers this year. As the theme for this year, campers were given the opportunity to reflect on God’s rule in their lives at the Great Lakes Presbytery Camp. This year, Grand Island BPC was able to send 21 of the 97 campers and 6 counselors to camp at Camp Otyokwa in Butler, Ohio from July 12-18, 2009.

Camp began Sunday evening with Dr. Len Pine delivering a message that set the tone for rest of the camp. He spoke about how we all build our lives on promises that cannot be kept… at least, there’s no certainty that they will be kept. But God’s promises are different. Not only does he keep his promises, when we break covenant with him, God makes a way to restore us to blessing that is certain in Christ.

Throughout the week, campers were challenged with many activities that pointed them toward serving the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Each morning campers and counselors would wake up and go to devotionals and exercises (although counselors’ exercises consisted of finding the coffee dispenser before devotions). Pastor Kevin led the counselor devotionals by turning their attention on the need to examine their own walk before God, to consider to whom they are ministering and the spiritual problems that often come up in the camp setting, and to pray for the kids in the cabins.

Each day consisted of two Bible classes after breakfast, a recreation time, and a craft class for each of the four groups. Pastor Tim Miessler (Grace BPC) and Dr. Kevin Backus (GIBPC) taught the senior groups, while Pastor Patrick Hines (Grace BPC) and Pastor Ben Robinson (Wilson BPC) taught the junior groups. The lessons emphasized missionary work, the importance of the Moral Law, the Five Solas, and the need for the Armor of God.

Campers get an hour after lunch for feet-off-the-floor time and are required to memorize two Scripture passages or catechism questions each day. This was a special time for counselors to work with the kids to learn God’s Word and help them understand God’s truth for their lives. One thing that some campers took advantage of during free time, was the opportunity to memorize extra Scripture verses and catechism questions. Each question and verse were worth a certain number of points that added up for winning prizes at the end of the week.

Free time was a time to glorify God physically by participating in one of the many activities at camp. Camp Otyokwa is equipped with a rock climbing/zip-line course, swimming, canoeing, paddle boating, the “Blob,” archery, hiking, volleyball, soccer, climbing wall, tetherball, fishing, and the game room. There was always time to take a nap during free time as well.

After dinner, the camp would gather into the Hopewell Hall to sing praises to God. During the time between dinner and chapel, the various teams would also have time to work on their team skits. The winning skit this year for the juniors was Team 6, with which our own Joseph and Victoria Przbyl participated.

Another fun thing that the kids participated in before Chapel was the annual Camp Quiz Bowl, hosted by Sarah Comfort and Joe Zilbauer. Campers are given Bible trivia questions, with which they are required to buzz in to answer. For the Senior Quiz Bowl, Chelsea Pine and Josh Lawton won for their team by a large margin.

During Chapel time, speakers challenged the kids with the truths from God’s Word, specifically on the topic of the use of God’s law. Joe Zilbauer, from Grand Island BPC, spoke to the juniors on Monday about promises in relationship to the Covenant of Grace and how God always keeps his promise. Eric Pastorek, from Grand Island BPC, spoke to the juniors about the use of the Civil law for life and godliness. On Wednesday, juniors and senior campers heard from missionaries, Ed and Lehia Paauwe from Australia who gave an overview of God’s work there and the importance of missions. Other speakers from Grace BPC and Wilson Presbyterian Church gave junior and senior messages for chapel during the week.

Saturday is always a bit sad as campers and counselors are packing up to leave. It is during this time that the awards assembly takes place. Senior camper Bethany Williams won Top Camper for her cabin and junior camper Joseph Przbyl won Top Camper for his cabin.

Amidst the excitement of the activities, the heart of the Presbytery camp is evangelism and discipleship. Counselors had many opportunities throughout the week to share God’s Word in class, in the cabins, and during free-time. It is reported that at least six campers made a profession of faith during the week. It is often made known during the Friday night camp fire, how many of the kids benefited greatly from the lessons that were taught from God’s Word. Many shared how they were growing in their faith and desired to be committed to the Lord even more. May the Lord be praised for the many years of faithful service at the Great Lakes Presbytery Camp.

Please pray for the work of God’s Word in the lives of the campers.