"This is what the LORD says: 'I have chosen you, so fear not. I am with you. I will protect and strengthen you. I will hold you up with my righteous right hand. So fear not!'"
It’s been a year of uncertainty and confusion, and a year of blessing and hope. At this year’s Annual Meeting of the Membership, the theme of the day was God’s Faithfulness. In spite of so much uncertainty, crisis, and disappointment, the mission of Camp Lebanon did not change in 2020! Camp’s membership representatives celebrated God’s provision and how He encouraged people in their walks with Jesus throughout a difficult year.
The meeting opened with a welcome and prayer, followed by a report from Bill Abeler, Executive Director. Reflecting on the past year, we joined in praising God for His faithful financial provision for Camp, for a summer full of Family ministry, and for the expectation of a busy spring and summer season in 2021! With a new year has come new dreams and new hopes, including plans for a new Gym – more details about this exciting idea soon!
The 2021 Annual Meeting really did feel like a celebration. As each department gave a report on 2020, over and over again we were reminded of all that Camp has to be thankful for! The program team celebrated a fulfilling summer of Family Resort Ministry and the 30th Anniversary of Quilt. The facilities team celebrated the accomplishment of a huge project load with the help of so many volunteers who donated 1200+ hours of their time. The marketing team celebrated a new website. The business & operations team celebrated God’s power in Camp’s finances, which saw a $600,000 deficit from cancelled events turn into a $161,000 surplus! One by one, these reports showed the greatness of our God and how constant His faithful love is.
The celebration continued with the reveal of new plans for a gym building, the introduction of new board members, and a reminder of how Camp Friends give generously to help. As the “Camp Wish List” was being shared, one of the attendees scanned the list and ordered a needed item on the spot, so that it would be delivered directly to Camp. What a blessing in action!
As the meeting came to an end, we couldn’t help but be reminded of March 2020 when, after Camp had sadly shut down, our program team began a series of videos called “Camp LebanONLINE.” The closing line from those videos still rings true, almost exactly a year later: “God is faithful, even in the uncertain times.” More than ever, Camp Lebanon can point to specific evidence of God’s faithfulness, and we can’t wait to see what He is going to do with His Camp in this coming year. To God be the Glory!
