Biannual newsletter of South Mountain Christian Camp in Bostic, NC.
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South of the Mountain Trail Run Saturday, November 2, 2013 starting at 10:00 am • 5k run/walk for all ages • Prizes awarded for top finishers • Free t-shirt for first 100 registered • $20 for pre-registered, $25 day of the race • Free Fun Run for kids under age 12 • We need runners, walkers, volunteers, and sponsors to make this fundraising event a success. Mark your calendars now! More details at www.SouthOfTheMountainTrailRun.com Captain’s Corner Captain O.A. Fish, Retired Eastern Airlines Camp Founder/CEO Probably the most significant aspect of my life, besides South Mountain Christian Camp, was writing the inspi - rational book, Fingerprints of God , with the help of Linda Tomblin. The book was published by Broadman Press in 1991 and immediately became a best seller for them. For me, the book itself is a miracle. I never viewed myself as a writer. I’m a terrible speller with a limited vocabulary, so it doesn’t come easy for me. But this book was a God-given burden that had to be filled. It was written as a ministry to encourage people, and all revenue was to go to South Mountain Christian Camp. Over the years, it has been the largest single source of income for the camp. By the time Charlotte and I started the camp, I had come to a place in my walk with God that I was able to just trust Him on a daily basis. The book is a collection of stories of how God was always there with me, guiding me and bailing me out when I needed help. To me, it all boils down to just how much we trust God. I’ve always said, “you won’t trust anybody you don’t know.” That includes God! The real secret is how I came to this place of faith in God. I had just turned thirty, and my spiritual life seemed to be one failure after another. One night after a great struggle with a guilty conscience, it came to me that, on my own, it was impossible for me to live a sin-free life. In desperation, I just cast myself upon the mercy and grace of God. From that experience came a great desire to get into God’s Word where I learned the truth that sets one free (John 8:31). That simple truth is that Jesus died, not only so my sins would be forgiven, but also so that I would receive His own righteousness by faith and my heart would become a suit - able place for Him to dwell. Over the years as I have grown in grace and truth, my life has become more and more One Spirit with His Spirit. The result is that miracles become the ordinary and not the exception in my daily living. As I head for my 80th birthday, and South Mountain Chris - tian Camp heads toward 40 years of operation, we both stand as a testimony of the faithfulness of God toward those who love and trust Him. Of course you, our faithful The Mountain Star Volume 13, Issue 2 Summer/Fall 2013 continued on next page
Transcript
South of the Mountain Trail Run
Saturday, November 2, 2013 starting at 10:00 am •5k run/walk for all ages•Prizesawardedfortopfinishers•Freet-shirtforfirst100registered•$20forpre-registered,$25dayoftherace•Free Fun Run for kids under age 12•
Probably the most significant aspect of my life, besidesSouth Mountain Christian Camp, was writing the inspi-rational book, Fingerprints of God, with the help of LindaTomblin. The book was published by Broadman Press in1991and immediatelybecameabest seller for them.Forme,thebookitselfisamiracle.Ineverviewedmyselfasawriter. I’materriblespellerwitha limitedvocabulary,so itdoesn’tcomeeasyforme.But thisbookwasaGod-givenburden that had to be filled. It was written as a ministryto encourage people, and all revenuewas to go toSouthMountainChristianCamp.Over theyears, ithasbeenthelargestsinglesourceofincomeforthecamp.
By the timeCharlotteand I started the camp, I had cometoaplaceinmywalkwithGodthatIwasabletojusttrustHimonadailybasis.ThebookisacollectionofstoriesofhowGodwasalwaystherewithme,guidingmeandbailingmeoutwhenIneededhelp.Tome,itallboilsdowntojusthowmuchwetrustGod.I’vealwayssaid,“youwon’ttrustanybodyyoudon’tknow.”ThatincludesGod!
TherealsecretishowIcametothisplaceoffaithinGod. Ihad just turned thirty,andmyspiritual lifeseemed tobeone failure after another.Onenight after a great strugglewithaguiltyconscience,itcametomethat,onmyown,itwasimpossibleformetoliveasin-freelife.Indesperation,I justcastmyselfuponthemercyandgraceofGod.FromthatexperiencecameagreatdesiretogetintoGod’sWordwhereIlearnedthetruththatsetsonefree(John8:31).
That simple truth is that Jesus died, not only somy sinswouldbeforgiven,butalsosothatIwouldreceiveHisownrighteousnessbyfaithandmyheartwouldbecomeasuit-ableplaceforHimtodwell.OvertheyearsasIhavegrowningraceandtruth,mylifehasbecomemoreandmoreOneSpiritwithHisSpirit.Theresultisthatmiraclesbecometheordinaryandnottheexceptioninmydailyliving.
AsIheadformy80thbirthday,andSouthMountainChris-tian Camp heads toward 40 years of operation, we bothstand as a testimony of the faithfulness of God towardthosewho love and trustHim.Of course you, our faithful
The Mountain StarVolume 13, Issue 2Summer/Fall 2013
continuedonnextpage
friendsandsupporters, areamajorpart of thismiracle. IlookateveryoneofyouasaDivineAppointment.
One of the ways you can help us minister to individualsand, at the same time, get the word out about SMCC, istogivemybooktothosewhoneedencouragement.Iwishyou could experience the many testimonies we receiveregularly from readers. I recently got a tearful phone callfromanelderly ladywho is losingher eyesight.She saidherdentistgavehermybookandtoldheritwouldchangeher life. “It has,” shesaid.Thenshe requestedadditionalcopiestosharewithothers.FunnythingisI’veneverper-sonally met her dentist, Dr Kenneth Tripp, but he and agroupofcollegestudentsusedSMCCforaweekendretreatmanyyearsago.KennethhadanexperiencewithGodthatweekend,andhehasbeenasupporteroftheministryeversince.LikeKenneth,otherdoctorsandhospitalsmakeFin-gerprints of Godavailable for free to theirpatients.Otherbusinesses and ministries do the same. Giving the bookawayisamajorpartofourministry,buttheneatmiracleisthatsincethebookfirstcameout,ithasgeneratedover2milliondollarsincontributionstoSouthMountainChristianCamp.Whatismostimportant,Godisusingittotouchthelivesofthousands.
Captain’sCorner(continuedfromfrontpage)
TEN MOST WANTED
Top ten items needed by SMCC. All donations are tax-deductible.
1. Tractor (40 horsepower minimum)2. 12-foot mowing deck3. Golf Carts (to reduce traffic on Camp)4. Dump trailer5. Portable volleyball net posts for Gym6. Wildlife taxidermy mounts for nature program7. Chain saws for groundskeeping8. Commercial-quality game tables (air hockey, etc.)9. Track Hoe10. Volunteers!
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IN MEMORY OF...BerthaMillerbySueJenkinsBerthaMillerbyMr.&Mrs.WalterMillerBerthaMillerbyMr.&Mrs.AlexEttersBerthaMillerbyMr.&Mrs.DanielLovattBarbaraCatonbyMr.&Mrs.Randy ReynoldsGaryWilsonBordersbyTomHardin(NASP)OlemaHollandbySaraLedbetterBarbaraCatonbyMr.&Mrs.Randy ReynoldsOlemaHollandbyButlerAutoSales& PartsW.C.GraysonbyKatyDixonChrisChristensenbySusanJamesHazelLovelacebyInezJenkins
TheBibleteachesthatchildrenareablessingfromGodandthatwe, as adults, are to train them up in the way they should go.Hereon thecamp,Godgivesagiftof leadership toeachofourcabindirectors, alongwith theability towithstandpressureandtensionsothatotherscanfollowfreely.
Sometimes the cabin directors remind me of the many Canadageesewehavehereoncamp!HaveyouevernoticedhowtheyflyinaVshape?Thegooseattheheadistakingthepressureoftheheadwindsfortheentiregroupandsettinganexample.Becauseof this, theycan flyat50milesanhour forover1000milesandupto29000ft.Theleaderisdoingthesamethingtheothersarebut takingall thepressure.The leader isdoingmorethancreat-ing theappearanceoforder,he isbringingothersbehindhimtoaprecisedestination.ThedestinationunderGod is toequip thefollowersforservicetotheyoungeronesbehindthem.Ourcabindirectorsareyoungadultswhocareenoughtogivetheirtimeandlovetohelpmoldthelivesontheyounginourcommunities.
Psychologicallyitmeanstheabilitytofunctionasasymbolofthekindofactionor thoughtwhichpromises tosatisfy theneedsordesiresofagroup.Sociologicallyitistheartofdirectingtheener-giesofagroupintosatisfyingactionorthought.AsChristianswetakeveryseriousourrollinbothoftheseareas.Weknowthatwehavea responsibility to transfer toour youngpeopleour knowl-edge,wisdom,experience,attitudes,emotionsandconduct.
Attheendofthesummerweaskourcabindirectors“Ifyoucouldgive advice to the person in your position next summer whatwouldyousay?”This iswhatMolli,oneofouryoung ladies,putinherevaluation:“Bepatient,behonest,takeadvantageofdevo-tiontime,beanurturingmotherintheirpain,atrustworthysisterwiththeirsecrets,andasillyfriendwhenit’stimeforfun.”
ThankyouCafeteriaStaff!Youstartedworkbeforeanyof•usandmadesurewehadgoodmealsallsummerlong!Thank you Housekeeping Crew! You made sure that we•hadfreshtoiletpaperinthebathrooms!ThankyouLifeguards!Youmadesure thekidsweresafe•whiletheysplashedandcooledoff.ThankyouOfficeStaff!Youmadesureall thepaperwork•wasascompleteaspossible.That’snoteasy.ThankyouCabinDirectors!Youplayed,loved,andtaught•thekids24hoursaday.Youdidagreatjob!Thank youVolunteers!You kept the grassmowed,made•phonecalls,andevenledsomeactivities.Thank you supporters! You prayed for us, and you gave•generouslytoenablethesecamperstocome.
The 2nd annual Dale SollarsAutumn Classic will be on October•19th.Thisisourdiscgolfcoursechampionshiptournament.WealsohaveasmalldoublestournamenteveryTuesdayat6:00pm.Oryoucancomeandplayanytimeforjust$2perperson.YoucangetallthedetailsatSouthMountainChristianCamp.org/DiscGolf.
Wearestillworkingtowardbuildinganewcafeteria.Praythatwe•will gain favor with the health department and that the fundswillcomeintocompletethismuch-neededadditiontotheCamp.
On June 27thwe held a ribbon-cutting for a new sand volleyball•court which quickly became one of themost popular features oncamp.Thiscourtwasbuilt through thegenerousdonationofTomHardininmemoryofhisfriendGaryBorders.
Jo’sTidbits Iboughtapuppetmanyyearsago,anditjustlaidinthecloset. I thoughtmaybe during summer camp I’d see ifthe kids would enjoy him. Kris theCritter is what I callhim.Heisblack,hairy,hasbigblueeyesandlookslikeaSloth.EachweekIwouldchooseamealtimeandwalkaroundwiththepuppettoseeifanyonewouldrespondtohim.Thekidslovedinteractingwithhim.Theywouldhughim,andtalktohim,andaskmewhathewas.IwouldtellthemhewasaSlothandask if theyknewwhataSlothwas.Surprisingly,many toldmeall aboutSloths.Somewanted him to nibble on their fingers, and others justwantedtohaveaconversationwithhim.Thegirlswouldlaughwhenhe tried to eat their hair.All the kidswouldlaugh when Kris the Critter would take something thatbelonged to their cabin director and the cabin directorwouldtrytogetitback.
Join us for this disc golf tournament on October 19th. Entry fee is $20 for preregistered or $25 on event day. Details at SouthMountainChristianCamp.org/DiscGolf
JenCollinsGuestGroupCoordinator
JoHoseltonOfficeManager
Duffie’s Copier Consultant671 Oak StreetForest City NC [email protected]
Dale Sollars Autumn Classic
South Mountain Disc Golf Course Championship
Steve’s StorySteve CollinsExecutive Director
His face was covered in beadsof sweat. Twelve-year-old Chrisreached up with trembling handsandgripped the ropeso tightlyhisknuckles turned as white as hisface.Peeringover theedgeofour30-foot high ropes tower, he swal-lowedhard,thenlookedatmewithpleading eyes, and spoke familiar words.“Idon’tthinkIcandothis.”
Ifyouwanttoknowtherestofthatstory, you can read the full article
at www.shoutlifestyle.com/frozen-by-fear-hcc. When Shout OutdoorLifestyleMagazinepublishedmystorylastsummer,Iwasthrilledtosharethepowerfulimpactofourhighropescoursewithsuchalargeaudience.
Oneweeklater,everythingchanged.
A powerful lightning strike hit one of the trees on our high ropescourse,shreddingitandsendingviolentcurrentsofelectricitythroughthesteelcables inbothdirections.Whentheelectricityreachedthetower,largechunksofwoodexplodedfromthepoles,landing40feetaway.Fromtherethecurrenttraveleddowntheguylines,againblow-ingoutlargesectionsofthetreestowhichtheyweresecured.
Theproject isestimated tocostaround$40,000.Unfortunately, theropescoursewasnotcoveredbyourinsurancepolicy,sowe’rehop-ing to raise thefinances throughacombinationofgrants, sponsor-ships,fundraising,anddonations.
All thedetailsaboutTheUpwardTower, includingadrawingof thedesign,suppliesneeded,andfundraisingopportunitiescanbefoundon our website at SouthMountainChristianCamp.org/RopesCourse.PleasepraywithusthatGodwillprovideallthefundsneededtocom-pletethisprojectbeforenextsummer!
