Summer/Fall 2014

Manitoba Edition
Issue 8

CANADA's

HOPE
GODS MISSION. OUR ADVENTURE.

Conversations
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned
with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

COLOSSI A NS 4:6

A PUBLICATION OF

The Taylors
See

The Taylors live in concert on the

one hope canada

Fundraising Tour 2015

April 9-20, 2015 | Manitoba & Saskatchewan
More information will be available in the next edition of Canadas Hope.
For up-to-date concert information:
www.onehopecanada.ca/upcoming events/

CANADA's

HOPE
Summer/Fall 2014
Manitoba Edition
Issue Eight

GODS MISSION.
OUR ADVENTURE.
Canadas Hope is the bi-annual
publication of One Hope Canada.
Letters, articles and photos are
welcomed. Names of many of
the children mentioned in articles
have been changed.
EDITORS
Melanie Mushaluk
Nic Mundey
CIRCULATION &
ADDRESS CORRECTION
Sylvia Froese

Inside this issue

NATIONAL

MANITOBA

Executive Directors Message

5 Harolds Humour
12 The price has been paid
20 Encounter
28 Devotional
28 Kids Corner
32 What happens at camp
34 Cooking with Kathy
36 Quote Wall

Provincial Directors Message

Valley View Bible Camp

The Gift of Conversation

10

Adventure Day Camp

14

Beaver Lake Bible Camp

16

Dauphin Bible Camp

18

Summer 2014 Photos

24

Gimli Bible Camp

26

Roseau River Bible Camp

30

Turtle Mountain Bible Camp

SPONSORSHIPS
Harold Giesbrecht
DESIGN
Iced Tea Designs
COPY EDITOR
Menno Hamm
PRINTING
Derksen Printers
Steinbach, MB
Publications agreement
number 40019747
Undelivered copies, change
of address and new requests
should be addressed to:
ONE HOPE CANADA
200-189 Henderson Hwy
Winnipeg, MB R2L 1L7
Telephone: 1-204-668-2776
Fax: 1-204-663-0246
Email: info@onehopecanada.ca
www.onehopecanada.ca

Please note that in

order to save printing
and postage costs,
one magazine will be mailed
out per household.
If you would like to
receive additional copies,
please contact us at
info@onehopecanada.ca.

Cover Image taken at

Turtle Mountain Bible Camp

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS MESSAGE

BY BILL & BEV McCASKELL

Questions make
conversation interesting
THINK ABOUT IT. If you never asked a question in a
conversation what would you ever learn? Would you
know the persons name? What he likes doing on the
weekend? What her favorite foods are? How many are in
their family?
Kids love asking questions. That is why they are so
much fun to be around. And with being around 20,000 children and youth this
summer, the One Hope Canada mission team heard lots of questions: How do
you shoot that arrow so straight?, Why are there so many mosquitoes?, Why
did they kill Jesus?, Can God really love me?
Questions are great because they make us ponder and they show someone is
interested in us. Jesus loved asking questions too. What do you want me to do
for you?, Who do you say I am?, Do you love me?
As you flip the pages of this edition of Canadas Hope, we know you will
enjoy reading some of the many conversations from this past summer.
And by the way, would you like to have a conversation about the awesome
news of what Jesus has done for you with someone who doesnt yet know who
Jesus is? Start by asking, not telling. Its a great way to get the conversation going.
Together with you in serving Him!

Canadas Hope

FIELD DIRECTOR EDITORIAL

BY WAYNE EISBRENNER, MANITOBA FIELD DIRECTOR

Plugged
into Him
W E L I V E I N A P L U G G E D - I N WO R L D , D O N T W E ?

Texting, Facebook,
Twitter, e-mail, etc., have become a way of life and most of us are probably wondering how we ever got
along without all this technology. Yet, with all this ability to connect have we forgotten how to really
have a conversation? Are we truly connecting in a meaningful way?

Author Sherry
Turkle, psychologist and professor
at MIT, and
author of Alone
Together: Why
We Expect More
From Technology
and Less From Each Other, wrote in
the April 21, 2012 edition of the New
York Times, We live in a technological universe in which we are always
communicating. And yet, we have
sacrificed conversation for mere
connectionwe expect more from
technology and less from one another, and seem increasingly drawn
to technologies that provide the
illusion of companionship without
the demands of relationship.

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

She goes on to quote the wistful

comments of a 16-year-old boy
that she interviewed for her book
who said, Someday, someday, but
certainly not now, Id like to learn
how to have a conversation.
It does seem that while we seem
to be plugged-in we are in actuality unplugged from meaningful
relationships.
The theme for this edition of
our Canadas Hope Magazine is
Conversations, with Colossians 4:6
as the theme verse. Eugene Petersen
in The Message paraphrases this verse
as follows: Make the most of every
opportunity. Be gracious in your
speech. The goal is to bring out the
best in others in a conversation, not
put them down, not cut them out.

Our One Hope Canada Bible

Camps provided opportunities for
campers, young and old alike to
engage in real conversations this
summer. Conversations with peers,
with leaders and most importantly
conversations with the Lord God!
Throughout the pages that follow
we have tried to give you a glimpse
of some of these conversations and
the profound impact experienced
by children, youth and adults alike.
We praise our God for His faithfulness and grace revealed in His Word
and through His people, and for the
reality that He is still desiring that
we get plugged into Him!

HAROLDS HUMOUR
BY HAROLD GIESBRECHT, DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Bulletin Blo opers

My collection of bulletin bloopers started years ago
when I read the following under Future Events:
April 4 Fundraising Supper for (name of missionary
couple, last name misspelled). It is to raise funds for
ministry that is lacking. I couldnt help ponder, Whats
lacking? Their ministry? Funds? Perhaps someone to
proof-read the bulletin? And so, my collection began.
Here are some of my favourites:
At the evening service tonight, the
sermon topic will be, What is Hell?
Come early and listen to our choir practice.
Dont let worry kill you offlet the church help.
For those of you who have children and dont
know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
Pastor is on vacation. Massages can
be given to church secretary.
The audience is asked to remain
seated until the end of the recession.

The cost for attending

the Fasting and Prayer
conference includes meals.
Thursday night Potluck Supper.
Prayer and medication to follow.
One reason I go to church is to read the bulletin. Theres
some really interesting stuff in there! If you happen to
find bloopers in your churchs bulletin, please send them
my way: haroldg@onehopecanada.ca.
HAROLD GIESBRECHT has worked with One Hope
Canada in Manitoba for over 15 years. You may also
have heard him as host of Heart of the South on
Golden West Radio stations across western Canada.
Harolds passion for camping ministry, evangelism
and Southern Gospel music, along with his easy
going personality make him a great ambassador for
the Gospel for young and old alike!

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Canadas Hope

We are where we are

for a reason

BY NAOMI MARTENS,
CABIN LEADER

I went to

camp struggling

with whether or

not to cancel the

responsibility
and go to be

with my ailing

parents instead.
6

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

I am so thankful for the

opportunity and privilege I had to
serve at camp as cabin leader for
a week this year. God taught me
a lot! I went to camp struggling
with whether or not to cancel the
responsibility and go to be with
my ailing parents instead. I got
confirmation from God while at
camp that we are where we are
for a reason.
The confirmation came to me one
morning as one of my cabin girls
(age eight) and I decided to leave
for chapel a little early and wait
for the other cabin members there.
As we sat there talking and getting
to know each other better, this little

girl with the sweetest face looked

at me with her big brown eyes and
asked me this innocent question that
I could tell she wanted an answer to.
She asked, Why am I from
Winnipeg and you from Portage?
To be honest she had me thinking for
a while, as the question came to me
as a bit of a surprise. It was then and
there that it was made very clear to
me why I was there.
As I took her hand in mine, and
looked in her eyes, I said, Because
maybe if I hadnt been from Portage
and you hadnt been from Winnipeg,
I wouldnt have had the chance to
tell you how special you are and
how much God loves you.

I want to challenge

everyone to look for reasons

and use every opportunity.
After she had looked at me for a while, she
leaned her head on my shoulder and with a
sweet quiet voice she said, Im so glad youre
from Portage and Im from Winnipeg.
I have to say that incident along with many
others was confirmation to me that we are where
we are for a reason. I want to challenge everyone
to look for reasons and use every opportunity.
DIRECTORS NOTE:

Naomi was one of 12 adults in the 30+ age

group that came to spend a week as a cabin
leader. We believe this age group brings a level
of life experience and discipleship that we feel
is important for effective camp ministry.

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Canadas Hope

The Gift of
Conversation
by wayne eisbrenner, manitoba field director

And God said

What an
awesome thing
it is to hear a
new believer
in Christ begin
to learn to
converse with
the Lord of
the Universe!
8

Isnt it interesting that after a very brief

description of the state of our world before
creation, God is revealed with these three
simple words and God said. Later on
in that first chapter, in verse 26, we have
evidence of the first recorded conversation as
God says, Let us make man in our image
Theologians have long studied and
pontificated on what it means to be created
in the image of God, and my purpose isnt
to try and give a theological dissertation on
this. But it would seem to me that part of
being created in the image of God is the gift
of communication. Anthropologists agree
that the emergence of symbolic language
first spoken, then written represents
the sharpest break between animals and
humans. The human ability to think and
reason, to use language, symbols and art, far
surpasses the abilities of any animals. This
gift was bestowed when the communicative
Gods image was imprinted on us.
Thats an amazing gift, isnt it? And one
that we so often take for granted.
On September 5th, 2014, my father passed
away at the age of 86 years, and I praise God
that I have the assurance that, because of his
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he is now in
the presence of the Lord. Over these past few
days, Ive had the opportunity to think and
remember the last conversation that I had with
my Dad on the Wednesday before his death.

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

I will recall always our prayer time on that

night. I prayed for him and then, even in
his weakened state, he prayed for me, my
family, my sister and her family and then
prayed that he would not, in the midst of
his pain and suffering, turn his face from
Jesus. It was without doubt one of the most
profound conversations Ive had in my life.
We have the privilege at our One Hope
Canada camps to engage in conversations
with staff and campers about spiritual
matters. We have the opportunity to
introduce many who have never heard of
Jesus Christ in a positive way, to a new life
with Him. What an awesome thing it is to
hear a new believer in Christ begin to learn
to converse with the Lord of the Universe!
What an amazing gift!
We thank God for those conversations
and the opportunities He gave us to
communicate His amazing love and
grace to children, youth and adults. We
thank you for standing with us in your
conversations with the Lord, with your
words of encouragement and with your
financial support. We look forward to one
day hearing from our Lord those amazing
words, well done, good and faithful
servant and to hear Him tell us how those
seeds of faith sown this summer have
sprouted and produced fruit beyond what
we can think or even imagine.

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Bringing the

Good News
BY MELANIE MUSHALUK, ADVENTURE DAY CAMP COORDINATOR

It was an

amazing summer of
new experiences,
spiritual growth,
and interesting

conversations.
10

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

This summer seven young people

travelled 3,000 kms throughout
Manitoba, bringing Adventure Day
Camp to six different communities.
It was an amazing summer of new
experiences, spiritual growth, and
interesting conversations.
One northern community we had
hoped to visit, was under evacuation
notice because of flooding, so we
had to quickly cancel that week of
camp and find another place to visit.
We did find a church in Winnipeg,
and the team spent several
hours delivering flyers to homes,
advertising the week of day camp.

One from the team wrote,

I came across a girl playing alone
in her yard. I asked to speak to her
Mom. I explained about day camp
and invited the daughter to come.
Next day, the little girl came to the
program. It was very exciting to
see some neighbourhood children
come to day camp, and we hope to
be able to return there next summer
and continue the conversations
that just began.
Camp ministries have only one
week to spend with children. A
very short amount of time to build
relationships, to share who God

is, and to explain how they can

have a personal relationship with
Him. But, because Adventure Day
Camps join with a community to
bring a childrens program to their
community, conversations dont
have to stop when summer is over.
In one small southern community, approximately 75% of the towns
children were at the day camp,
and many of those do not regularly
attend an evangelical church. We
have visited this community for
a few years, and last fall after a
successful program the towns three
churches came together to plan a

follow-up with these children. It

ADVENTURE DAY CAMP
was encouraging to hear how they melanie@onehopecanada.ca
are joining together, sharing people 1-800-960-2580
and resources, and being unified
with a common goal of bringing the
Good News to children in their community. They intend to continue
with this program this fall as well.
If you know of a church or
community interested in receiving
some assistance with a summer
program, or know of a young
person interested in working with
us next summer, please contact
Melanie Mushaluk, Adventure
Day Camp Coordinator.

In one small southern community, approximately

75% of the towns children were at the day camp.

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Canadas Hope

11

12

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

NATIONAL DIREC TOR OF DEVELOPMEN T

ast summer, I had an opportunity

to observe what I would call a God
moment at one of our One Hope
Canada camps. It was a typical
prairie day in August, hot and dusty, the trees were
lush and the flowers in full bloom. A young boy,
about six years old, who was attending a single mom
and kids camp, was off by himself, fully enraptured
by a beautiful flower box. As I approached, he was
clearly sniffing the flowers, repeatedly breathing
in deeply then sitting back on his haunches with a
look of wonderment on his face. As I passed him, I
commented that the flowers must smell good. His
reply? Mister, I aint never smelled nothin like that
before. As I walked on, I wondered what he meant;
hed never smelled that kind of floweror had he
never smelled any kind of flower?
After some reflection and prayer I came to the
conclusion that I had been witness to our Creator
connecting with this boy through His creation.

He would go on to hear a message about Jesus later

that night at chapel that would affirm the amazing
love that God had for him. A seed had been planted
that day; a seed of hope for a boy that came from a
flowerless world.
At One Hope Canada, our goal is to present the
Gospel to those with the least chance to hear,
especially children and youth. If not for camp, this
boy, his mom and older brother may never have had
that chance. They couldnt afford to come though,
but through an inner city outreach, someone paid
the price for this family to attend.
In an effort to ensure that every child across
Canada has an opportunity to come to camp,
One Hope Canada is creating the Price Has Been
Paid Fund. The fund will be utilized by camps to
make sure that otherwise unsponsored kids will
be able to afford to come, and to help pay for the
additional staff required to encourage kids at camp
and afterward.

For more information on how you can partner with One Hope Canada
through the Price Has Been Paid fund contact Nic Mundey via email at
nmundey@onehopecanada.ca or call 1-888-960-2580.

Donations can also be made through our website www.onehopecanada.ca,

click Donate Now and follow the links.

Canadas Hope

13

The future of

Beaver Lake
Bible Camp
BY WAYNE EISBRENNER, MANITOBA FIELD DIRECTOR

The writer of Ecclesiastes has

these words of wisdom for us,
There is a time for everything, and
a season for every activity under
heaven: His wisdom is a reminder
that our earthly lives are marked by
transition and change.
Sometimes transition and change
are very positive, as evidenced by
the partnership we have entered
into with the Canadian Bible Society
in the distribution of camper specific
Bibles. At other times, transition and
change are difficult and bittersweet.

14

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

In the late 1950s, the vision to

establish a camping ministry in
the Flin Flon area was realized
with the birth of Beaver Lake Bible
Camp. Over the years of ministry,
many hundreds of children, youth,
and even adults were profoundly
affected by the Gospel message

proclaimed at the camp. Over the

past decade, however, ministry at
BLBC was becoming more and more
difficult. The hard decision to not
hold camp during the 2013 and 2014
camping seasons was made with
a heavy heart. But we trusted the
Lord to reveal the direction that He
would have us go.
A relationship that had been
struck many years ago in the
Creighton/Flin Flon area with
Freedom OutreachTeen Challenge
brought us a new opportunity for
ministry in this area. Freedom
Outreach was started in 2009
in Denare Beach and works in
conjunction with Teen Challenge
Central Canada in Winnipeg,
Manitoba. The focus of Teen
Challenge is to reach men, women,
and teens who struggle with
addictions, and bring them into
a one year discipleship program
where they can find freedom
through a relationship with Christ.
The centre, located about half a mile
from BLBC, is a mens centre, and
the students from Teen Challenge
were given opportunity to share the
dangers of drugs and alcohol with
the youth who came to camp.
As we wrestled with the
future direction of BLBC, we
began discussions with Freedom
OutreachTeen Challenge. While
their vision for the use of BLBC is
still being formulated, the facilities

Over the years, hundreds of children,

youth, and even adults were profoundly

affected by the Gospel at the camp.

We are trusting that

this new ministry direction

will continue to bring

Him glory in the future.

will possibly be used for staff housing for the
centre, a re-entry place for students who have
completed the program, and possibly for retreats
for other Teen Challenge centres. The decision has
been made to begin the process of transferring the
lease and assets to Freedom Outreach, enabling
them to continue Gods kingdom work in the
Creighton/Flin Flon area. We know God has used
the facilities of Beaver Lake Bible Camp for His
purposes in the past and we are trusting that this
new ministry direction will continue to bring
Him glory in the future.

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Canadas Hope

15

During chapel, shed cover her ears when

somebody was praying or reading out of the Bible.

Finding

comfort
in God
BY TABITHA MORRAN, FEMALE HEAD CABIN LEADER

This is a story about a girl, lets call her

Marie. When Marie first came to camp, she
did not want to be here. When I went to
ask her why, she told me that she didnt
believe in anything because she thought
God was stupid. During chapel, shed cover
her ears when somebody was praying or
reading out of the Bible, and when she got
frustrated, she would lash out and start
insulting the idea of God.

16

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

Over the course of the week, I saw

God work in her a lot. She started
uncovering her ears (when she
thought nobody was looking), and
would ask questions about God and
the Bible. My favorite part of the
week came on the last day when at
one point in chapel she got up, took
a Bible from the shelf and began
to read. By the end she had read
three or four chapters. She told me it
was very interesting, though if you
asked her again she would probably
shrug and say, Its alright.
It was cool to see a girl who was
so against God at the beginning of
the week, change and begin to think
He was, in her words, Alright.
Her cabin leader told me that the
favourite part of her week was

My prayer is that she will continue to have the

same curiosity about God that has been growing in her.

when Marie volunteered to pray during
devotions, and in her own unique style
said, God, I know Youll get mad at this,
but whats up? My prayer is that she will
continue to have the same curiosity about
God that has been growing in her, and that
as she goes home to her tougher family
life, she can find comfort and strength in
Him. It was a joy to have her at camp; I
really hope that she can come back again
next summer!
DAUPHIN BIBLE CAMP

www.dauphinbiblecamp.com
204-638-5568

204-

Canadas Hope

17

VALLEY VIEW BIBLE CAMP

GIMLI BIBLE CAMP

GIMLI BIBLE CAMP

TURTLE MOUNTAIN BIBLE CAMP

VALLEY VIEW BIBLE CAMP

ROSEAU RIVER BIBLE CAMP

VALLEY VIEW BIBLE CAMP

TURTLE MOUNTAIN BIBLE CAMP

GIMLI BIBLE CAMP

ROSEAU RIVER CAMP

DAUPHIN BIBLE CAMP

ADVENTURE DAY CAMP

TURTLE MOUNTAIN BIBLE CAMP

ADVENTURE DAY CAMP

ADVENTURE DAY CAMP

DAUPHIN BIBLE CAMP

7
provinces
8
camps

250

HOURS

12
students

4
staff

of classroom instruction

BY THE NUMBERS

Countless

125

mission and serving

opportunities

HOURS

of assignments,
reading and group work

100%

of our graduates served at One

Hope Canada camps this summer

20

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

3 students

entering full-time, year-round

camp ministry roles this fall
with One Hope Canada

Conversations of Change
Barry and Lerissa Buhler, Directors of Encounter School of Discipleship
A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR

There are many things I appreciated about my job as director

of Encounter. If you walk into my living room, youll see
many photos that my wife and I have taken of the beautiful
country of Canada during our travels already. However,
while those photos are beautiful and tell a lot of stories,
they dont compare remotely to the stories that we get to
hear from the way God has engaged our students during the
course of Encounter and how God used that time to prepare
them for the road ahead. Heres a few conversations that
Id like to share with you from some people significantly
changed by Encounter this past year:

CHANGE GROW LEAD

Partnering with One Hope Canada

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Canadian children, youth and their families.
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(204) 748 -1400

Canadas Hope

21

Conversations of Change: Marianne

Describe a little bit about your
life before coming to Encounter:

MARIANNE: I had just graduated from trade school

in computer graphics and knew that I didnt want to
work full-time in that job. During my third summer
at camp, the summer before Encounter, God put a
desire in my heart to work as a missionary in my
home province, but mostly, to be able to encourage
and support people through camp ministry.
What did you appreciate most about Encounter?

MARIANNE: I really appreciated the fact that we

worked all together in a small group. We learned
to be open and vulnerable/transparent before each
other, supporting one another in prayer and keeping
each other accountable. We learned to work together
as the body of Christ and that was something very, if
not totally, new to me. I also loved travelling across
the country and see how every single place we
stopped was different from the next. It helped me to
better understand how to reach out with the Gospel
to the people surrounding me back home.
What was one of the biggest lessons
that you learned during the trip?

MARIANNE: I learned that there really was

freedom in Christ and that even though we dont
often act like it is true, God is absolutely everything
He says He is. Before, my relationship with God was
based mostly on my efforts to do well enough so He
would be pleased with me. I knew my salvation
didnt depend on me, but I thought that somehow,
if I worked hard enough, I would be able to gain
more of His love or feel closer to Him. When He
looks at me, God sees Christ in me... Christ resisting
the devil, healing the sick, obeying even to His
death on the cross. How could I even think of doing
more than that?!
I learned that God wasnt asking me to do more
for Him, but to trust Him to be everything He is.
And then, since He is who He is (Provider, Savior,
Loving Father) how could I not want others to
know about Him too? How could I not want to
follow Him with everything that I am and follow
His example? All this time, it wasnt about how
much I did, but about how much I trusted in Him
and surrendered to Him.

22

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

You spent this past summer back at your home camp,

Camp Livingstone in Quebec, how did the Encounter
experience equip you for your role this summer?

MARIANNE: Through Encounter, I have learned not to

trust in myself but to trust in God. I have also learned
that being a leader didnt necessarily mean to lead from
up front. That and so many other things that God had
worked in my life through Encounter really changed
the way I viewed and reacted to people and situations.
I was able to be more of an encouragement to the team I
worked with. The way God has been healing hurts from
my past also made me more aware of the hurts in other
peoples lives, whether campers or staff. In the past, I had
started my summer dreading that I wasnt ready for the
task ahead. This summer, I started it ready, knowing that
God had it all in His hands and that He was able to work
despite my weaknesses.
What are your plans for the next stage
in life now that Encounter is finished?

MARIANNE: On September 1st, I started working for

One Hope Canada, with the resource and finance teams.
I also help out my field director and my home camp
(Livingstone), by working on their website and other
graphics jobs (newsletters, brochures, etc.). Throughout the
year, I plan on following up with some of the female staff
from this past summer; to be able to encourage them in
their walk with God as well as to challenge them to abide
in Him in all aspects of our lives. Im happy to be where
God leads me and looking forward to see how Hes going
to work in and through me in the next few years.

As we prepared for our second year of

Encounter, we realized that we would not have
enough students to operate the program.
While this was disappointing for us, we know
that Gods hand is steadfast through it all.
Though this summer was difficult to find
enough students, there seems to be much
interest for next fall, so we press on, diligently
working to put into place the building blocks
necessary to make Encounter a sustainable
avenue for discipleship, year after year.

Encounter Teacher Profile: Colin Bell

COLIN BELL lives in Austin, Manitoba, where he
has served for the past eight years as pastor of Austin
Evangelical Fellowship. He is married to his wife,
Dawn, and they have two beautiful girls. He is an
avid sports fan and cheers for the Winnipeg Jets.
During this past year with Encounter, you
spoke on one of your passions, The Church,
and really challenged our students in the way
they viewed and participated in Christs Church.
Why is this such a passion of yours?

COLIN: Well first of all, being a pastor, church is a

pretty big part of my life! However, I feel that there are
so many misconceptions about the church these days
- its falling apart, it has so many problems - but I am
passionate to see the church for what God intended it
to be. He wants us to be real, to have community, and
to spend our lives worshipping him. Its important that
this generation knows the importance of the church,
and while it can be changed, it cannot be thrown out!
Despite the fact that there are problems and failings,
Christ is still continuing to build His Church.

You mentioned to me your week with Encounter

was one of the highlights of your year so far.
What made the experience so unique?

COLIN: I absolutely loved my week with Encounter.

While I preach and teach to my congregation year after
year, it was the first time that I had the privilege of
teaching in this type of setting. The size of the group
was perfect for class interaction. I loved being able to get
to know the students, hear where they are at, and also
be challenged by them as well!
Based on your response, what would be your encouragement to a young person considering Encounter?

COLIN: What I really appreciate most about Encounter

is that it is very biblically based, and secondly, its
across Canada. If this program had been around when
I graduated high school, I would have very seriously
considered it. Its perfect for the time of life where
you leave your home, and wrestle through your faith
and make it your own. Its a place where you can get
your biblical foundation while seeing this incredible
country.

Canadas Hope

23

His

Holy Plan
BY MARINA

My emphasis

on loving her - with

her mistakes paid
off several years
later when she

returned to GBC.
24

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

She reminded me of myself at

her age...bright, beautiful, and bold.
Always challenging authority
everywhere I went. But this was
Gimli Bible Camp. There were
standards. There were rules. When
she first came onto the beach, her
smile lit up the skies but I had to
be the heavy and insist she wear
a camp t-shirt over top of her
somewhat too revealing swim
wardrobe. She was not impressed.
I emphasized how happy we were

that she was here at GBC but some

of her God-given beauty was not
appropriate on the beach ...hence
the big, dark, heavy t-shirt. She
conveyed her opposition to camp
policy and voiced her valid
arguments forcefully... kind of like
Jacob when he wrestled with Jesus.
It was such a wake-up call for me as
I reflected on my own life because
I was not the teachable, submissive
type either. I ended up calling for
support staff to help enforce the

rules but had to threaten to ask

her to leave the beach unless she
complied. Fortunately, it never
got to that. As a matter of fact, my
emphasis on loving her - with her
mistakes, paid off several years
later when she returned to GBC as
a Cabin Counsellor! Praise God!!!
When she first saw me, she
hugged me and told me how
she remembered our beach
encounter and how my inviting
her to come up and sit with me
on the lifeguard chair to talk that
summer impressed upon her and
had changed her life. My heart
leaped for joy. Me? How could I
have been so useful to positively
influence this lovely young jewel
God had brought to camp? Jesus.
Its that simple! Jesus. He calls us.
We come blindly to serve Him not
knowing how we can be useful
within His Holy Plan. He does
the work THROUGH us, despite all
that we may or may not think we
are doing here. I love you Chelsea
:-) and so does Jesus.
GIMLI BIBLE CAMP

www.gimlibiblecamp.com
204-642-5707

We come blindly to serve Him not knowing how we can be

useful within His Holy Plan. He does the work THROUGH us,

despite all that we may or may not think we are doing here.
Canadas Hope

25

Time and time again, Ive been blessed by

the way God has orchestrated conversations that

needed to happen, all in the right timing.

He gives us the

words to say
Throughout the summer, I have
been a part of countless conversations. Part of a program directors
job description here at Roseau River
Bible Camp is to ensure that the
members of our cabin-leading staff
are being supported. Time and time
again, Ive been blessed by the way
God has orchestrated conversations
that needed to happen, all in the
right timing.
An example of this was when a
cabin leader was struggling with a

26

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

homesick camper who ended up

going home, leaving her feeling
understandably upset. It never
feels good when a camper leaves
before the week is up, and having
been in a very similar situation
the previous summer, I was able to
connect with her over that experience. As we talked, I was able to
use my experiences to relate to her,
and assure her that it was going
to be okay. We continued talking
about things that were going on

BY BECCA, PROGRAM DIRECTOR

in our lives, both back home, and

here at camp, and I was amazed
by the similarities I saw between
our lives: the things weve been
struggling with, the challenges
weve faced, and the way God has
worked through both the difficult
and the joyful times in our lives.
Conversations like these always
bring to my mind verses like
2 Corinthians 2:3-4, which says,
Praise be to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father

I am convinced that he gives us the words

to say in situations where we feel helpless.
After all, its in our weakness that He is strong.
of compassion and the God of all
comfort, who comforts us in all our
troubles, so that we can comfort those
in any trouble with the comfort we
ourselves receive from God (NIV).
It never ceases to amaze me how
God can use everything we go
through to encourage and build up
others who may be going through
the same things.
Another conversation that really
sticks out to me was one I was able
to have with a camper and a cabin
leader at the same time. Nearing the
end of summer, one camper didnt
want to participate in any of the
activities, including cabin time. We
finally convinced her to come to the
main building, instead of wandering
outside alone, where she and her
cabin leader were able to have a long
talk, after which the camper agreed
to join the rest of the cabin group.
The next day, she was uninterested
in joining chapel, so her cabin leader
asked me to talk to her. When I
joined them, I introduced myself,
and asked her if she knew why I
worked at camp. I was able to explain
to her that Ive been at Roseau River
the whole summer, because I love
kids, and I told her that, though I
didnt know her well yet, I loved
her already. I explained that her
cabin leader was here at camp for
the exact same reason, and that she
had stayed up talking with her the
evening before, because she really
cared about her. After that, it didnt
take long to convince her to come
play some tether ball. About fifteen
minutes later her cabin leader and I
suggested going in to chapel, and she
came willingly.

Gods timing is so much better than

ours. I am convinced that he gives us
the words to say in situations where
we feel helpless. After all, its in our
weakness that He is strong. And that
brings me to my main point. The
most important thing we can do in
our ministry is stay in conversation
with God.
In situations where I have felt
unprepared or ill-equipped, Ive been
learning to ask God for help, and very

often I am given the right words to

say. He has covered for me time and
time again this summer. I know that
without him I can do nothing, but it
is God who works in us to will and
to act according to his good purpose
(Philippians 2:13), here at Roseau River
Bible Camp.
ROSEAU RIVER BIBLE CAMP

www.roseauriver.ca
204-427-2445

Canadas Hope

27

KIDS CORNER

I want jesus to shine

through me each day.

God Is...

ead Mark 4:21-32.

A candle that cant be seen is no use.
If you love Jesus, He wants his light
to shine through you each day!

n the Bible, we read about Gods numerous

attributes. An attribute is a word that we
use to describe a person or an object. It is a
characteristic specific to them.

Draw a candle in the holder beside each

picture that shows who is shining for Jesus.

Look up the following verses in your Bible to

help you fill in the missing letters and discover
some of Gods attributes.
Psalm 147:5 God is M _ _ _ _ Y
(God is strong and powerful, and
He has authority over the whole universe.)

fighting

helping mom

Revelation 1:8 God is E _ _ RN _ _

(God has no beginning or end.
He was, He is, and will forever be.)
2 Timothy 2:13 God is F _ _ TH _ _ _
(God will never let you down,
He will accomplish His promises.)

telling about Jesus

When you shine for Jesus, people will see

that you are different. Then Jesus will use
you to bring your friends to Christ.

28

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

ANSWERS
MIGHTY, ETERNAL, FAITHFUL, MERCIFUL

being friendly

Psalm 86:5 God is M _ _ CI _ _ _

(Although we deserve to be punished for our sin,
He forgives those who ask for forgiveness and
makes them clean in His sight.)

Canadians need Gods

Word more than ever.
Participate in this years Bible Week challenge.
Register as a church or individual for free at
biblesociety.ca/bible-week

Thank you to
for donating 10,000
Bibles to One Hope Canada camps all across the country.
This Bible was specifically developed for camp ministry
and the kids loved receiving their very own copy!

Spiritual

Impact
BY KATHY WEIR, CAMP DIRECTOR

Our prayer

warriors carried us,

and God showed

up in ways beyond
anything we could

have ever anticipated.

30

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

As always, there are challenging

times at camp, but this summer
was honestly filled with so many
Highs that any Lows paled in
comparison. Our prayer warriors
carried us, and God showed up in
ways beyond anything we could
have ever anticipated. Rejoice with
us at the strong Gospel presentation
in chapels; incredible enthusiastic
and meaningful worship and
concert of prayer; God-focused,
encouraging staff team and
spiritual harvest. We evidenced so
many answers to prayer and His
presence in such a tangible way. It
was truly a summer of tremendous
spiritual impact with many lives
transformed and a summer filled
with incredible memories.
I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you. I will always

pray with joy because of your

partnership in the gospel from the
first day until now, being confident
of this, that He who began a good
work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ
Jesus (Philippians 4:3-6).
A staff members parent and
close friend, after hearing about
some of the dietary and special
needs at camp, wrote, Welcome
to TMBC! This week we will be
having Water for our meals and
tuck! This will solve all our dietary
needs (besides, body cleansing and
keeping hydrated on hot days cant
be overemphasized)! All activities
will be no more than two minutes
in length, in keeping with the
attention span of our campers.
There will be no sleep this week
(this is far too overrated and often

With a record number of campers

this summer, it was once again obvious
and evident that construction of the
new facility needs to start soon!
doesnt happen for many staff
anyway). This way, campers will
only wake walk and not sleep
walk. Each meal time we will
play the ever growing popular
game of sardines to see how
many campers and staff we
can actually squeeze into the
dining hall and chapel! We have
added a new dining room sport,
synchronized eating

OVERWHELMED
WITH

(to allow for the growing number of

campers sitting down each side of
the table) and we request left-handed
campers sit at the ends of the table!
With a record number of campers this
summer, it was once again obvious
and evident that construction of the
new facility needs to start soon!
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BIBLE CAMP

www.tmbc.ca
204-534-6844

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Canadas Hope

31

by Bill McCaskell, co-executive director

What happens at camp

doesnt stay at camp
While working at
camp, they were
able to work
through and live
out their faith
praying regularly
for campers,
trusting God in
many situations,
and seeking others
for help and
encouragement.
32

ampers go home with lots of

storiestheir first horseback
ride, a new swimming level
achieved, and a list of new
friends. But what about the lingering
effect camp has within local
churches connected with the camp?
Garnet and Tracey Hodges, youth
pastor couple of BAM Youth (joint
youth ministry of Bagot Community
Chapel and MacGregor EMC, just
outside Portage la Prairie, MB), talk
often of the impact their local One
Hope Canada Bible Camp (Valley
View) has on their youth group
and the entire church family.
People of all ages are involved
in the campserving on the camp
board, showing up for work projects,
volunteering in the kitchen, and
more and more adults even cabin
leading, explains Garnet Hodges.

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

But camp life especially impacts

the youth, Hodges continues. When
youth share their testimonies before
baptism, many recall taking the
Leadership Development Program
at Valley View. It really helped them
focus on God and what He has done
for them. While working at camp,
they were able to work through and
live out their faithpraying regularly
for campers, trusting God in many
situations, and seeking others for help
and encouragement.
Youth raised in the church need to
make the Christian faith personal. A
study conducted by the Evangelical
Fellowship of Canada in 2011 identified
one out of every two children raised
in an evangelical church stopped
attending church after moving away
from home, most often leaving any
Christian affiliation behind.

Whats really exciting is seeing the pastor intentionally connect with families who
dont have a home church so they feel welcome to return the following sunday.
Camp helps youth develop strong
group bonds, Hodges explains, and
many of those relationships continue
after summer and even after high school
graduation. There is a desire to keep in
touch and encourage one another in
their faith. Its really good to see.
But church kids are not the only
ones impacted by camp ministry.
Churches who are involved in camp
ministry are reminded of that each
summer.
One highlight for Nathaniel
Harder, Co-Director of Manitobas
Adventure Day Camp, was seeing the
beginning of a relationship between
campers, their parents, and the pastor
of the church who hosted a week of
Adventure Day Camp.

We invite the parents of campers

to attend our closing program on
the last day of each week, explains
Harder. Its great because parents
see their kids acting in skits, view
a power point from the week, and
see what we learned. Whats really
exciting though is seeing the pastor
intentionally connect with families
who dont have a home church, so
they feel welcome to return the
following Sunday.
Its stories like these which show
that the conversations that start at
camp, so often carry on from camp
gate to church door.
That really is our desire, explains
Bev McCaskell, Co-Executive
Director. One Hope Canada exists

to serve the local church, and we

do this by helping local churches
partner together to proclaim
and live out the gospel to their
communities. At the same time
we provide opportunities for local
believers of all ages and with all
sorts of skills to grow deep in their
faith as they serve at camp. Its
pretty great to see God working as
we all serve together.
BILL & BEV MCCASKELL serve
as the Executive Director team
of One Hope Canada and have
seen firsthand how God uses
camp ministry. It happened in
their two sons lives long after
the summer ended.

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disciple-makers who impact
their world for Christ.

Enter coupon code Apply250 at www.prbi.edu to receive a

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Canadas Hope

33

COOKING WITH KATHY

BY KATHY WEIR

Assumptions!
A CO U N T L E S S N U M B E R O F P E O P L E H AV E E AT E N I N M Y
K I TC H E N A N D G O N E O N TO L E A D N O R M A L L I V E S

ASSUMPTIONS! We all make

them, but often the results arent
what we expected. Like my first
date with Howard when I provided
hot chocolate made with cocoa (as
we were out of the little packets).
Who knew you were to use less
cocoa and add milk and sugar?
Also, assuming the cookies I offered
him were okay, when in reality
they were stale rejects that nearly
resulted in him losing a tooth!
During a staff lunch, I inadvertently filled my bowl with what
I thought was tomato soup. Not
wanting to be critical by saying it
didnt taste right, I silently forced
myself to consume the contents,
only to be informed I had just eaten
a bowl of gravy. Ugh!

34

Summer/Fall 2014 | www.onehopecanada.ca

While making a large coffee mocha cake for my daughters birthday,

I assumed when the recipe asked
for two cups of coffee, that it meant
sifted, instant coffee. When the cake
didnt rise or turn out anything like
the ones our cooks made at camp, I
discovered it meant liquid coffee.
Another time I made a double batch
of potato soup for a church potluck,
in which the recipe called for two
cloves of garlic. I assumed each of
the round balls was called a clove,
so proceeded to add two! One could
likely tell for weeks who ate my
soup, but they never complained of
getting a cold!
Ive always believed that God
never wastes experiences in
our lives. Perhaps some of these

cooking lessons were actually

lessons to remind me of the
importance of asking instead of
assuming something. How often
have we hurt people unintentionally when we have assumed
something about their motives,
attitude or actions, only to
discover we were totally wrong.
As we anticipate the needed new
facility at camp, I need to be mindful that nothing is too big for God.
Matthew 19:26 says, With GOD ALL
THINGS are possible. Now thats
something I can be certain about!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Howard and
Kathy Weir
have been
serving as Camp
Directors at
Turtle Mountain
Bible Camp (Manitoba) since 2002,
but previously served at Galilean
Bible Camp (Ontario) for many
years before that

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Midland Manufacturing
congratulates
One Hope Canada
on this edition of
Canadas Hope

Summer 2014 Quote Wall

Camper: Is it spelled Mrs.
God sent a plague and
nt married?
turned the water into blood Isaifiah:theNopy are
e, its Miss. M-I-S-S
Different Camper: Its M-I-S-S-S-S-S
Whos blood was it?
if theyre married to a snake!

Im so glad Jesus

A kid after only 10 minutes

of being there
declared, You know, I think
I want to live here.

did the dying for me.

there are so many memories
that keep me coming back! Camp
has literally changed my life

Cabin leader: Time for devos.

Camper: What are evils?
From 7 year old camper after first
song at first chapel This is my favorite
song!; after second song; This is my
favorite song!!!; after 3rd song;
This is my favorite song!!!!!
bother me,
Bullies used to
m all up!
then I beat the

Whe re do I find
Samsung in the Bible?

No, I don't want

to hurt you, I
have Jesus in me

Camper trying to get dead

flashlight to work: It worked
yesterday...Maybe it only works
with the lights off! (goes and
turns off cabin lights to check)

A dress shirt goes really well with

sweat pants sometimes, doesnt it!

W ill the hot
chocol ate melt my
teeth [dentures]?

If you sit on a noodle

and pretend its a
horse, does that
count as horseplay?

Publications Mail Agreement #: 40019747

Canadas Hope
One Hope Canada Manitoba
200-189 Henderson Hwy
Winnipeg, MB R2L 1L7

God is 100% love.

This has been my
best summer ever.
Then Eve went to the
tree and saw...
An eagle!
No, she saw a snake
I know that snake!

After only being here an hour or

two, a little guy came up to a staff
member and said, when I leave,

Im really gonna miss you guys!

Gods got my back,

I learned that in devo
tions