Camping for Christ

Our first work assignment since arriving in Michigan has been a pleasant one. We were scheduled to serve as the week's preachers and bible study leaders at the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds in Grand Haven, MI. Honestly, the assignment was a little intimidating. We were made aware that many of the campers at the Conference Grounds had been treated to some of the best Christian speakers that West Michigan has to offer. For our week at the Conference Grounds, we chose to speak on a topic that we considered very timely and important for the local church: "How Your Church Can Do Good to Those Outside Her Doors." Community outreach is increasingly seen as necessary for local churches that want to remain relevant to their communities and compellingly preach the message of grace to a hurting world. Despite our anxieties, the campers received our bible studies and sermons well. There was a surprising amount of interest in Haiti too. Our accommodations were opulent: we had a new three bedroom "cottage" (read: "chalet") with all the amenities. Our kids got to go to the Lake Michigan beach every day and even participated in a children's program (see picture above). Although we spent the previous week of vacation preparing our presentation and stayed up late into the night practicing and adjusting our material, it was a wonderful week. While at the Conference Grounds, we had a final opportunity to say goodbye to Ad and Coby de Blaeij, our former colleagues in Haiti who spend their summers camping there. If you are looking for a vacation that is great for the kids and will even give them a chance to learn about God, you should take a look at the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds!