Camp Joy SC a Success!
Camp Joy South Carolina (SC) met for the first time last week with 17 campers at Gravatt Conference Center in Aiken, SC. Camp Joy is a Christian Camp for individuals with Special Needs. Co-Directors David Harrell and Beth Tuten are both former counselors from Camp Joy NC. “It was a great week at camp and was well run,” said Ann Brice, director of Camp Joy NC.
James McManus, pastor of Bethel ARP in Winnsboro, SC was the camp pastor for the entire week. “I thoroughly enjoyed the inaugural Camp Joy SC! John 13:35 tells us that people will know if we are Christians by the way we love one another, and James 1:27 tells us to look after those who are helpless and less fortunate. Camp Joy provides for both of those passages to be fulfilled – a week of loving and ministering to those who we may think are helpless and less fortunate than us. However, as we all quickly realized, our special friends weren’t as helpless and less fortunate as we may have thought. Their child-like acceptance and understanding of the Gospel was challenging to us! Many of the campers simply loved Jesus because He loved them first and has made them special in His image. It was convicting to minister to those who end up ministering to you! It was a great group of counselors and staff! There was a lot of laughter and tears, and all of it joyful! I think it’s great to see teens give up a week to selflessly minister to the campers at Camp Joy. They were challenged in many different ways, and each of them testified that they would come back and do it all over again! Thanks to David, Beth and Mrs. Ann for putting this on. I hope it continues on.”
Quest Conference Going Strong
With over 300 middle schoolers present, Quest is off to a great start. Brian Land, Director of Youth at Grace Community Church is the main speaker. Brandon Auten Music Group from Crossings Community Church, leading music.
Both Camp Joy SC and Quest Conference Center are part of Christian Education Ministries. To find out more check out www.arpcem.com
My Hope America with Billy Graham
ARP churches are being invited to join in the My Hope America with Billy Graham project. Interested persons can attend free training workshops at locations across the country. For more information, visit:
http://myhopewithbillygraham.org/events/
Death of Mary Donahue
Mary Donahue, mother of Rev. Joey Donahue, the pastor of Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church in Memphis, went home to be with the Lord early Wed. morning, June 26. She was a long time member of the Doraville/Peachtree Corners Presbyterian Church in the Atlanta area. Her memorial service will be held at Peachtree Corners Presbyterian Church on Friday morning, June 28, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception and time of visitation with the family. Please be in prayer for Joey and all his family.
Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims
Please make your congregations aware of this important need!
If your church, or individuals and groups within your church, would like to contribute funds to assist victims of the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma, you may send gifts to “General Synod – Good Samaritan Offering” through June 30, 2013. This offering from the denomination will be sent to Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, NC, to be used to bring material relief and the message of the Gospel to victims of the violent storms.
Please mail to: General Synod Good Samaritan Offering, One Cleveland St, Greenville, SC 29601
The Good Samaritan Offering was established by General Synod in June 2012 to assist those in our nation and throughout the world whose lives have been devastated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornados, etc. Christ teaches: “…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers on mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV).
In late 2012, the ARP Good Samaritan Offering provided $11,709 to Super Storm Sandy relief through Samaritan’s Purse. Let’s do it again for Oklahoma!