Camps and schools make impact

Christian camps and schools have impacted people in our churches for many years. First it was the Bible school movement. Many communities across the country had their own schools, often in the church basement, and usually only in the winter months when young people were not needed on the farms. These gradually amalgamated to form schools with higher academic criteria; but, in the meantime, they nurtured many of the pastors in our churches. We now have four Bible schools and colleges in Canada with strong connections to the MB Church: Ecole de Theologie Evangelique de Montreal, St. Laurent, Que.; Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg; Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask. and Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford.

Then in the 1940s, Christian (Mennonite) high schools began making their appearance in our communities. Mostly they were founded because the churches wished to maintain the German language for their young people, as well as to teach them in the Christian truths. While the language portion of that early motivation has not been maintained, the second part, that of teaching Christian truths, definitely has been. Remaining are Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford; Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute, Winnipeg, and Eden High School, St. Catharines.

Just a few years later the camp movement began, first by Mennonites starting non-denominational camps, and then by provincial conferences and societies beginning camps in their provinces. We now have nine Mennonite Brethren camps: Camp Peniel, Laurel, Que.; Camp Crossroads, Torrance, Ont.; Simonhouse Bible Camp, Cranberry Portage, Man.; Redberry Bible Camp, Blaine Lake, Sask.; West Bank Bible Camp, Swift Current, Sask.; Camp Evergreen, Sundre, Alta.; Gardom Lake Bible Camp, Enderby, B.C.; Pines Bible Camp, Grand Forks, B.C.; Stillwood Camp/Conference Centre, Lindell Beach, B.C. and Camp Bob, Black Creek, B.C. These camps too were built to teach children and young people the truths of the gospel.

Each year the Herald features these camps and schools in an issue or two. We report what has happened at the camps this past summer, and look forward to what will happen in our schools in the coming year. The purpose of this feature is to encourage prayer and financial support of these institutions.

However, it also should do more than that. It should move us to gratitude when we realize what a large number of pastors and other church workers got their training in our schools and camps. A quick “guesstimate” would indicate that at least one-third of our pastors have received training and/or nurture in one or more of these institutions. We should also be grateful for the many lives that are changed at camp. As part of her report, Joyce Schimky, director of Camp Crossroads, says, “Often when campers are baptized . . . they tell of important spiritual decisions made while at Camp. In Ontario, we realize the value of both Eden and Camp for many young people who are making life-changing decisions in their walk with the Lord.” God has granted us beautiful facilities, dedicated instructors, directors and counsellors, and wonderful children and young men and women who want to learn. Let’s continue to support our schools and camps.