Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Psalm 127:1

When I think of iconic pictures of Lancaster County, one of the first that comes to mind is that of an Amish barn raising. The Amish community will come together to assist one of their own with a task that would seem insurmountable if undertaken alone. Yet because of the team working together that seemingly insurmountable task is accomplished in a short time. Everyone does their part whether it be up high on the rafters, on the ground, or in the kitchen, people donate their skills and abilities to achieve a common goal.

We are not Amish, but we are planning a barn raising here at Greenview, and are asking you, our partners in ministry, to play a part in the effort. Let me start with the “what”. We want to build a 1500 square foot horse barn. In this barn 500 square foot would be dedicated to stalls for the horses, the 500 square feet of loft area would be dedicated to hay storage, and 1000 square feet would be used as a multipurpose space for rainy day activities, a base for fall hay rides and winter storage.

Why is this needed? Since the camps inception horseback riding has been a major draw for campers coming to Greenview. We need the campers here at camp, to have opportunities to influence them, those opportunities provide us with the ability to impact lives for Christ.

Currently our existing horse barn is too small to provide adequate space for all our horses. In addition, it is located at the west end of the property, while all the camps horse programs operate out of the riding ring located on the east end of the property. This new horse barn would allow us to consolidate all the horse activities into one area during camp. In addition, it would allow us to repurpose space in our existing barn and horse pavilion for other camp needs.

We have been anticipating this project for some time and feel now is the time to proceed. We have received all the necessary approvals from the township to begin construction. A donor has provided $20,000 for this project and pledged an additional $20,000 in matching money. Can I begin by asking you to pray for the successful completion of this project? Would you pray that as a result our ministry will be enhanced by this addition and become more effective in reaching youth for Christ. Would you consider donation that would be matched to help us finish this project without incurring debt? Would you provide some onsite, hands on help? On the back of this page we have listed several of those opportunities. Thanks again for your consideration.  To God be the glory!

Steve

Opportunities to serve:

• We need someone with a loader to strip topsoil and level a pad as the initial step.
• We need people to set the posts and attach the header beams
• We need someone with a lift to set the trusses
• We need laborers to attach the metal roof and wooden walls
• We will need carpenters to help attach headers, set trusses, and finish the interior
• We will need someone to complete stormwater work
• We will need an electrician for some basic wiring
• We will need someone to do the final grading and seeding when the project is complete.

If you are willing to help please contact Jon at jon@greenviewbiblecamp.org, 717-413-2816 or Steve at steve@greenviewbiblecamp.org, 717-413-8693

2020 in Review                  

Like many people 2020 was not what we had planned. We were hosting a retreat group the second weekend in March when we first heard about Covid 19. Little did we realize then the impact it would have on our year. Once that group left, we were basically shut down through the beginning of June. Registrations for summer camps lagged behind previous years and we were praying that we would be able to open. Just in time the state moved to a phase that would allow day camps and eventually overnight camps. Our day camps were down a bit in attendance, but the overnight camps grew to equal last year’s record highs. We did lose three scheduled outside groups that would normally bring about 200 campers. On a positive note we had at least one child make an initial profession of faith each week of camp, with one week having three campers come to know Jesus. Some of the changes we were forced to make due to Covid we actually came to appreciate. We had a great staff working together to share Christ with our campers.

Greenview is a Gathering Place                       

If you have outgrown grandma’s house for your holiday dinners or are looking for a place for your son or daughter’s birthday party, or a  company Christmas party talk to us about the availability of Cedar Lodge or the Sensenig Activity Center for your event.

Pressing On

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.  Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Philippians 3: 12-16

We are a little over halfway through our summer camp season here at Greenview!  The excitement that was building up to the first week of camp has not yet died down. Campers show up every Monday excited and ready to be outside in community with one another.  Just being able to hang out with their friends and do things together has been a welcomed change to many of the campers that have been attending this summer.

In their Bible lessons the campers are learning to “Press On” through their struggles and trials and to focus on Christ.  Now more than ever, the kids will need to press on and focus on the things that lie ahead, not stay stuck in their current situations.

Months of planning and re-thinking operations have gone into this summer.  With all the recommendations and guidelines on what is allowed and what is not, the first week of camp seemed to never get here.  But once the kids started showing up, the excitement was back. All the campers picked up on the changes that were being implemented to give them the safest environment possible while still allowing them to enjoy a week at camp.

Daily temperature readings, drive through drop off and pickups, family centered cabin groups, hand sanitizer, and oh so many trips to the bathrooms to wash their hands provided the kids with a different experience this summer. What may have been strange and uncomfortable for them at first turned into something very positive throughout the week. We have seen older campers assisting younger campers at activities and siblings getting along with one another. There was very little complaining about how we needed to run camp differently from previous years.

Please continue to pray for us as we look to finish out the summer session strong. The Lord has blessed us and protected us so far, and we are confident that His will is going to be accomplished this summer.

For all the camp staff,

 Jon

2020 Summer Camp at Greenview

Day Camps – June 22-26, June 29-July 3, and July 6-10

We had around 150 campers spread throughout the three weeks. Guidelines required kids to remain in their groups all week long. We kept siblings and friends together and did not separate based on age like we usually do. 3 campers came to know Christ this summer at our day camps!

Elementary Overnight Camp – July 13-17

We had 34 campers (grades 2-5) come stay for the week. Many great relationships were started during the week and returning campers grew in their walks with Christ. Three campers accepted Christ into their hearts during our testimony night this week!

Teen Overnight Camp – August 3-7        

We have over 60 teens signed up for our biggest week this summer. We are excited to be welcoming back returning campers as well as a few new ones.

Workers for the Harvest

³⁵ Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. ³⁸ Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.”

Matt 9:35-38

As I read this recently, I saw four points to consider.

1. The world at the time of Jesus’ earthy ministry was affected by mankind’s fall and as a result people suffered physically, emotionally and spiritually.
2. Although Jesus healed every kind of physical affliction, he did not heal everyone’s physical affliction. Physical healing was, at this time, a means to an end not the end in itself. The end was to authenticate Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus did offer spiritual healing, in the present, to all those who accepted him, and promises physical healing, in the form of a new body, in the future.
3. Jesus’ plan to reach the world with his message involves using imperfect vessels to carry his perfect message to others. The opportunities are great. But unfortunately, sometimes the workers are few.
4. Jesus closes his message with the exhortation for believers to pray to the Lord for workers.

During our time in a camping ministry we have seen many parallels between this passage and our ministry experience. Although many of our campers come from Christian homes, attend church and have accepted Jesus as their personal savior, they still struggle with the effects of the fall. Young people can be insecure, some will struggle emotionally, some will be confused. They need to be taught but they also need to be shown. The camp setting provides a great opportunity for both to occur.

We also see the need for more workers in the field. Greenview has experienced growth every year. This coming summer, even if attendance in our existing summer programs remains the same, we project total attendance will increase by over 20% due to new groups which we have added to the schedule. We will need more workers more days than ever before. I am asking you to pray for our staffing needs. As you pray, would you listen to see if the Lord is prompting you to action? Would you consider serving at Greenview this summer? On the back or this page, you will find ways you can become involved here at camp this summer.

Steve Rohrbaugh 

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Greenview!

We just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has partnered with us in ministry this past year! We had a great year and are looking forward to another year of growth in 2020. It would not be possible without all your encouragement, prayers and support!

We have been keeping busy with retreats, weddings, and family gatherings throughout the Fall. Our season has finally slowed down in the last couple weeks for the holiday season. We are in the middle of about 10 different Christmas gatherings!

As the new year approaches, we ask that you remember Greenview’s ministry. While preparing for joyous gatherings with your family and friends, it’s easy to overlook how blessed we really are. But not everyone is as fortunate. Every year we work with at risk and in need families to try to get their kids to camp. We even have a Campership Fund set up to help families like this!

Would you please consider setting aside part of your budget to support our ministry with a tax-deductible donation? Your generosity could allow a child to attend a week of camp when they definitely wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. General giving allows us to further our year-round ministry here at Greenview. Every gift helps, both large and small. Will you help us make a difference today?

Recently, we have tried to simplify the donation process in order to make supporting the ministry more convenient. You can donate online at https://www.greenviewbiblecamp.org/donate/ or if you would like to sign up for automatic deposits through your bank, we can do that too! And of course, we still accept a check sent in the mail.

We can’t thank you enough for your support!

The Rohrbaugh’s

Every summer season ends the same way. You experience the spiritual high of summer camp, that culminates with our MS Overnight Week, followed by the seemingly low point that follows. After 8 straight weeks of camp, coming back the following week and not having any kids (or all the staff) there is more than a little sad. It’s a different aspect of the camp’s ministry. We are no longer flooded with campers all day for weeks at time, but we transition into our Fall season where the camp is mainly used on weekends for church retreats, family gatherings and weddings. It does take a while to get used to the new norm.  The chaotic schedule that lasts from June through August slows down a bit. We’re able to evaluate where we’ve been, where we are at, and where we want to go.

We had a great summer that was full of many great experiences!  We saw record numbers in attendance for our overnight weeks. Our day camps were filled with kids that were new to Greenview and some that were experiencing their first time at any camp.  Almost 20% of the kids each week fell into these categories. This seemed to be a direct result of former campers bringing friends and new families finding out about us. We had some campers here from the Dominican Republic. We even were blessed to be able to perform our first on site baptism during Elementary Week. A returning camper, who had made the decision to accept Christ into her heart last summer, wanted to take another step this year. Her counselor from last year was able to have the baptism in the creek with her family and friends on the last day of camp!

Since the summer season ended, we have been busy with rental groups, community events, and improvement projects around the camp. A lot of the time, the importance of the day to day work can be overlooked as there might not be an immediate impact on our ministry. But this shouldn’t be the case, a lot of what is done continues to improve the experience of not only our summer camps but the year-round effectiveness of our ministry. Building bunk beds and digging fence post holes may not have the same effect as ministering to the kids, but the importance is not lost.

Over the next few months there are several areas of our ministry that we’d like to ask you to pray about. We are planning and making decisions for the 2020 Summer Camp season. We are finalizing plans for our Sr. High Winter Retreat in February. We are also looking for new avenues of promoting our ministry.

One of the aspects of this job that I struggle with most is raising my own support. While it seems easy to promote the camp and talk about the great things happening here, talking about myself and personal needs it not as natural. The last few years have had several faithful supporters and a couple churches who have made my work here possible. I am so grateful to those who have been supporting me so far! What I am looking for is few new partners to commit to supporting me for $10, $25, or $50 a month. Would you prayerfully consider becoming a financial investor in my ministry here at Greenview?

Thank you again for your consistent prayers and support,

Jon Rohrbaugh

There is truth in the saying “you are never too old to learn something new”. I have spent the last forty-five years of my life involved in some form of camping ministry here at Greenview. For all that time, I had assumed the name came from the surroundings. Look around and you would see acres of green grass, pastures and hayfields, and at one time cornfields. Only recently did I learn that was not the case. Greenview comes from the wordless book, a way to use colors to present the gospel. In this book, green represents growth. The book teaches us that  it is important that we grow in our relationship with Christ. The camp name reinforces the truth of the camp’s theme verse, Philippians 3:10, which says “ ¹⁰ My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” If one truly knows Christ, they will grow.

Often in life traditions or traditional things lose their meaning because people forget the context that led to the tradition in the first place. As we work to raise up the next generation of believers, it is important to communicate not only what we do, but why. Through the years, the camp’s focus has always been on spiritual growth in the lives of those we have contact with. Conversion occurs at a point in time, but growth is a process. People can fake the conversion experience, but Matthew tells us the proof of a changed heart is the fruit that comes as a believer matures. We should expect growth. We should be encouraging growth.

For sixty years, we have been able to influence young people for Christ because others have come alongside us, prayed for us, supported us, and worked with us. As you read this today, I am praying that God might be encouraging you to take a more active part in this ministry in 2019. Here are a few ways you can become more involved.

• Pray for us. If we achieve everything on this list but prayer, we will become busy not effective.
• Look for ways to become personally involved. Volunteer your time as a counselor, activity instructor or support staff member.
• Financially and prayerfully support a young person who would like to serve here this summer.
• Volunteer for our Family Day and Floyd Sensenig Ride on Sunday August 18^th. We are hoping this year will be our largest event ever as we celebrate sixty years of youth ministry here at Greenview.
• Help fund the ministry or various projects with a gift of a part of what God has given you.

I know Greenview has been effective in influencing lives for Christ. It is our goal to see that continue until he comes again. Praise God for what he has done!

Steve Rohrbaugh

Every fall, those of us that live in Pennsylvania get to experience the beauty of nature, as the trees begin to change colors. The winter season is often thought of as a time of rest for the plant life that surrounds us. While it is true there is an aspect of rest, most plants are actively preparing for the spring which will come. Root systems continue to grow, leaves drop to conserve moisture and nutrients, and the beginnings of the buds which will become visible in the spring are already starting to form.

This reminds me a lot of our camp ministry. People often think of winter as a time of rest. But the reality is that there are groups here at camp almost every week of the year. Winter schedules seem to focus on weekend rather than week day activities, but we will see as many people during the school year as over the summer. In addition, we are actively at work preparing for the next summer’s program.

November, December, January, and February are months when we normally are busy working on projects that improve the facilities, and therefore, the camper’s experience here at Greenview. This year is no exception. Our list of projects for this year includes many upgrades to Cedar Lodge, the most used building here at camp. Our wish list for this facility included the following: replacing a failing roof, enclosing the main porch to create a lobby, insulating and siding the original exterior cement block walls, replacing windows and adding a new ceiling and lights in the kitchen.

We were very surprised when a local contractor approached us this fall with the offer to provide the labor for most of these projects at no cost to the camp.  We are responsible for the cost of some supplies, but as we began to share the project with vendors, some of them offered to provide materials at reduced cost to help us complete these projects.

Our goal is to complete everything on this list by January 1^st, 2019. Our challenge is to raise $30,000 by the years end to pay for all the materials. I am writing to ask if you would consider praying about this need and asking the Lord whether you should have a part in helping provide the supplies or volunteering labor for other projects at camp.

We have been blessed by many people through the years who helped with other improvements here at Greenview. Twenty years ago, groups from two different churches replaced most of the roofs on buildings here at camp. Fifteen years ago, a group of nine businessmen funded the purchase of a new tractor for the camp. Since we have owned that tractor, literally thousands of kids have been able to enjoy a wagon ride at summer camp or a hay ride in the fall. Ten years ago, we were able to access a beautiful new facility, the Sensenig Activity Center, which was built and is being paid for by a yearly fundraiser made possible through the work of many volunteers. Five years ago, a group of partners provided for a new barrel train complete with a tractor to pull it.  This past year, a volunteer installed air conditioning in Cedar Lodge making everyone’s dining experience during the summer more comfortable.

All these projects were not an end in themselves but rather a means to an end. They have enabled us to be more effective in our efforts to reach out to a lost world with the Gospel of Christ. Lives are changed because the Spirit of God speaks to people at Greenview.

I know we are where we are because of the blessing of the Lord. But I also know he has used his people to bless us. Would you consider joining the team that will make this next great step possible. We would be glad to talk with you about opportunities for involvement.

Your servant of Christ at Greenview,

Steve Rohrbaugh

Program News Flashes

Camp schedules and registration information for the summer of 2019 are now published on our website.

Join us for our Fall Family Fun Night at Greenview from 5:30 – 7:30 on Sunday evening November 18^th.

Activities include hay rides, a bon fire games and snacks.

We have scheduled a winter retreat for grades 8-12 on February 15^th -17^th 2019.

Fall Work Day

Join us for our fall work day on Saturday November 17^th starting at 8:00 am. Our primary focus will be cutting up and splitting trees downed by recent storms, installing fencing on the farm property, adding a few new electrical outlets, and the normal transitional things we go through every fall as things are put inside for the winter. The number of possible jobs is too large to list here. Let us know your skills and we can find a place for you. Contact Steve at (717) 413-8693 or Jon at (717) 413-2816.

Pray for

Access to minds and hearts open to the Word of God!

Effectiveness in reaching lives with the Gospel!

Needed volunteers for the work of ministry.

Needed financial resources.

The Resurrection

Mark 16 

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ² And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. ³ And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”⁴ And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. ⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. ⁶ And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.”

How often are we stunned when the Lord does the unexpected? It is not surprising that a man who possesses a finite mind cannot fully comprehend the actions of an infinite God.  Even though Christ told them he would be crucified and rise on the third day, they were amazed when he did what he had promised.

The Lord continues to amaze his people. Twelve years ago, what is now the Sensenig Activity Center was probably a bit of a dream but today it is reality. For many years we have talked about expanding the physical footprint of Greenview. We were landlocked with only three adjacent parcels that were of interest to the camp. Two were to our south, each parcel was less than two acres. One would provide buffer space next to Cedar Lodge and the other a possible dedicated entrance to the camp. The third was to our north. This parcel was a 64-acre farm, complete with 14 acres of woods and 10 acres of pasture. While this parcel was the most desirable, it was also the least likely option. The farm had been in the same family for over 200 years and was not expected to be sold. If it ever was sold the cost would probably be more than the ministry could handle. But the Lord is still surprising his people who sometimes lack the faith to believe what He has told us He would do!

In January of this year we noticed a sign was posted that said the farm would be sold at public auction in March. On March 16^th, I stood in the field praying as the auctioneer coaxed bids out of interested parties. When the final gavel sounded friends of the ministry had submitted the winning bid and we were on our way to access what six months earlier would have seemed impossible.

Why do we need the farm? For many years we could grow the impact of our ministry by adding more cabins, more weeks of camp or more weekend retreats. However, we have reached a point where most weekends and summer camp sessions were filled. Last summer we turned children away from several day camps because we were full. In the past year we have had to turn retreat groups away because we were booked almost every weekend. The only way to grow our ministry is to be able to handle larger groups, which will require more space and more activities. More space will allow us to create additional activity stations. Additional activity stations mean we can accommodate 30 to 45 more campers each week. More space will also allow us to move existing activities, so their current locations can be used for the construction of new facilities.

After several months of considering the best way to structure a deal that would allow us access to the land, we have settled the following: the land will be sold to local farmers, interested in farming the land. Greenview will receive a 99-year lease that allows us access to the 14 acres of woods and about 7 acres of pasture we initially wanted. This will allow us the access we wanted, without unnecessary financial investment and will allow us to remain focused on our ministry.

The challenges before us are great, but so are the opportunities. Yet we know our God is greater. We are asking for your help. Here are some of the ways you can get involved:

1. Between now and June 1^st, we need to raise money to cover transition costs and necessary improvements such as fencing and gates. Would you consider a gift at this time?

2. Between now and August 19^th we need to do all we can to make this year’s Family Day and Floyd Sensenig Ride the most successful ever. This dedicated fundraiser allowed us to build the Sensenig Activity Center and will continue to allow for facility and land expansion such as this access to this land and future construction of a chapel. Would you consider becoming a sponsor, donating to the auction, or volunteering the day of the event?

3. Moving forward we will need more volunteers and more ministry partners to help us continue to be effective in reaching others for Christ. Some of the things we do have changed through the years but the Gospel we preach remains the same.

How you can help

Please pray about these needs! Opportunities and funding help make us busy, but prayer makes us effective.

Donate to the ministry. You can put a check in the mail, donate online at our website, or we can automatically debit your account or card monthly.

Volunteer to help at this summer’s Family Day Event or during camp.

Praise God for this opportunity for growth. To God be the glory, great things He has done!

April 24, 2017

The start of our 2017 summer camp season is about two months away. Before we know it, campers will be onsite, moving from activity to activity, having fun and learning about our Savior. This summer, we expect to impact over five hundred young people with the Gospel of Christ. There is much preparation we want to do, even need to do, before they arrive. Yet our years in service at Greenview have taught me that the phrase “ready or not here we come” applies to summer camping ministry.

Staff arrives June 22^nd for orientation, while the first campers arrive June 23^rd for our basketball camp. Between now and then, we need to:

• Finish recruiting and processing the necessary summer staff and volunteers needed to maintain the grounds, supervise the activities, prepare the food and shepherd the campers through eight sessions of camp.
• Finalize Bible lesson plans and create the accompanying song sheets, banners and posters.
• Prepare the grounds, cabins and other facilities that we will use in ministry this summer.
• Stock up on supplies such as food, disposable paper goods and cleaning supplies.
• Raise the funds necessary to pay for all that we do.

The number and size of the tasks that need to be done would overwhelm Donna, Jon and me. I say would because history has shown us that God has usually motivated His people to give of their time, talents and resources to assist us in these tasks. I am writing at this time to ask for your help this year. On the back page of this newsletter, you will find a list of volunteer opportunities, a partial list of projects to be completed and a list of funding we need to raise to help our summer ministry be effective in impacting youth and families for Christ. Would you prayerfully consider if the Lord would have you play a part on His ministry team at Greenview this summer?

Pray for

• Minds and hearts open to the Word of God!
• Effectiveness in reaching lives with the Gospel!
• Safety for those involved in all our activities.
• Needed volunteers to prepare for the summer.
• Needed staff and volunteers for the summer.
• Needed financial resources.
• And finally, our strength and health.

Would you consider a gift of your time during camp?

We can usually use extra hands in the kitchen. We especially need help on the following days:  lunches from 10:30 – 1:30 on June 23^rd and 30^th, July 7^th, July 10-14 and 24^th – 28^th. Also, we could use help with cookouts from 4:00 – 7:00 on Thursday July 6^th and 13^th, and Friday July 14^th and Aug 4^th.

We can use Jr. and Sr. Cabin Counselors for the weeks of June 26^th. July 3^rd, July 10^th and July 31^st.

We can also use people in support roles, such as caring for the facilities and grounds. Tasks include, but are not limited to weeding, mulching, weed eating and janitorial help. There is a lot of cleaning to do every Friday night or Saturday as we change groups from one week to the next.

Would you consider a gift of your talents to help us complete a project? Projects, we would like to see completed by the start of camp include:

• Construction of a 35 x 28 pavilion at the riding ring.
• Interior painting in the cabins in Glory Hall.
• Exterior painting of doors and door frames.
• Installation of a sidewalk between the Cedar Lodge and the Sensenig Activity Center.
• Carpentry for trim and molding repair and window replacement.

Would you consider a gift of your resources? Your gift now will help meet the following needs:

Every year there are young people who cannot come to camp unless we find financial assistance. Full price for a week of day camp is $110. Full price for a week of elementary overnight camp is $210 and full price for a week of middle school overnight camp is $225.  Most campers can pay some towards their total.

Every year we need to replace some of our athletic equipment, arrows for archery and paddles for canoes. This usually amounts to about $300 per season.

Water sports are always a favorite when the weather gets hot. This year we want to build a waterslide that would stay up for the season.  Materials necessary to build the slide will cost about $500. After serving us faithfully for five years, our pool needs a new liner and filter. Replacement of both before camp will cost around $750. Finally, we would like to buy a pond aerator to help with algae growth and promote conditions which encourage a healthy fish population. This would cost about $1,800.

Greenview at a Glance

Many people think of us only in terms of a traditional summer camp ministry, however we do much more. Here is a list of the types of things we do during a normal year: weddings, banquets, church picnics, church socials, family retreats, receptions, off site events, family reunions,  special events,  birthday parties, holiday parties, group retreats and many uses of the gym

You may know that as our children were in middle school and high school I spent several years in various capacities helping with athletics at Lancaster County Christian School. It was in that capacity that I came across the following statement. “You don’t measure coaches by their wins, you measure them by the lives their players live when the game is over.” While I believe this is true in athletics, I also believe there is a parallel to youth ministry. It would go something like this. “You don’t measure Christian youth workers by the number young people who have made a verbal commitment to Christ, you measure them by the lives those they minster to live after that initial profession.” “How any campers made a profession of faith?” is an easy question to ask. But the easy answer can often be misleading. During my years in camping ministry I have seen the same campers make a profession of faith several years in a row, other campers who make the profession but whose lives show no fruit, and then some whose profession is just the beginning of a life changing journey with Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20 says,

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The command in the Great Commission is to “make disciples”. In fact, it is the only imperative tense verb in the original language. The other words that in English appear to be verbs are describing when we are to be making disciples. A more literal translation might be while you are going, make disciples. While you are teaching, make disciples. While you are baptizing, make disciples. Disciple making is a process not an event. That process often includes input from many sources. We see this in 1^st Corinthians 3:6 where Paul says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. “In an ideal situation the staff at camp would be co laborers with the family and local church in discipling young believers.  Unfortunately, not every child who comes to camp has that well rounded support group. We appreciate those who help stand in the gap by providing input into children’s lives through programs like Release Time and other youth ministries. We appreciate those of you who sponsor our ministry, or more specifically sponsor a child for a week at camp who otherwise would not be able to attend.

One of the advantages of being in this ministry for more than twenty years is you see the adults that campers grow up to be. For most that childlike faith that was born or nourished during their time at camp has blossomed into a tree that produces a variety of good fruit. Our world needs more people like this. Paul reminds us it is God who gives the growth. That said, prayer is one of our most effective weapons in the fight for the hearts and minds of young people. Join us as we pray to the Lord of the harvest for fruit from our labor here at Greenview.

Your servant in Christ,

Steve

2018 Summer Schedule

Campers can now register online for camps this summer. Last year, several camps filled so we would encourage you to register early. Have a child that is not sure about attending camp. Join us Sunday April 29^th for our Spring Celebration. Camp will be open to the public from 1:00 – 4:00 for potential campers to experience a variety of the summer camp activities. Would you like to help a child attend camp next summer? Every year we have children that need financial help to attend camp. In the past few years, ministry partners have made it possible for children whose families faced a financial crisis to attend camp. Campership money has benefited families dealing with severe medical issues, as well as children currently staying with mom in a shelter because of abuse in the home. You can donate online to help send a child to camp. Go to our home page, scroll down to announcements, and click the link under the campership program.

Staff Updates

Anyone involved in a camping ministry understands what Jesus said to the disciples in Luke 10:2. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest”. We are constantly looking for believers to invest their time into ministry here at camp. That involvement can run the gamut from full time service to a few hours. Please pray for our staff needs. We currently are looking for volunteers to help complete several projects here at camp, for both volunteers and employees for the summer ministries and for donors to help fund full time staff. For information on projects contact Steve. For information on summer staff opportunities check our website or email Jon.

On January 1st Jon began his second year of full-time ministry here at camp. During the first year he has been working on raising support. Although the original support came from individuals he was recently accepted as a missionary by his first local church. We are grateful for several one-time gifts that have helped meet the need in his first year but are looking for more individuals and churches willing to commit to monthly giving to help meet the ongoing need.

Camp Banquet

Mark your calendar and plan on joining us on Thursday March 15^th at 6:30 for our annual banquet in the Sensenig Activity Center. Last summer we had a professionally made video to use in promoting the camp. Come and see this video as well as hear from our team about how the ministry at camp is impacting young people for Christ. There is no charge, but an offering will be taken. To make reservations please email your name and the number in your party to info@greenviewbiblecamp.org. Each table seats eight so why not try and fill a table?