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Camp encourages men to be like Christ; women to declare that they are “completely his.”
by Troy Trimmer; Marie Dabis –
The number one sentiment expressed by the men of the Intermountain Division in regard to this year’s men’s camp would be, “Can we do this every weekend?”
From the moment we arrived at the entrance to camp the Lord was calling us to take off our sandals because we were on holy ground. Regardless of chilly weather, slippery paths and wintery conditions, spirits were warmed by the consuming glory of God.
Men’s camp saw walls of addiction, shame, guilt, regrets, lust, bitterness, hatred, envy and pride fall, as 255 men looked themselves in the mirror and beheld the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The majesty of God was evident in the conversations in the cabin, the worship in song and the preaching of the word.
Colonel Alfred Van Cleef, special guest, shared on Friday evening and Saturday morning, challenging the men to be Christ-like by first taking a close look at their personal lives. On Saturday the men participated in the first men’s camp spring tournament. Modeled on the Olympic games, it involved dodge ball, horseshoes, golf, bowling, football, checkers, chess, table tennis and darts. The day ended with an evening full of laughter with comedian Scott Wood.
As the weekend came to a close, delegates gathered one last time for corporate worship. Reflections of changes to come were evident in song, testimony, and commitments as the Holy Spirit moved throughout. Major George Baker, divisional secretary, offered a final thank you to Lt. Colonel Raymond Peacock on behalf of the men of the division.
Women’s camp
Two hundred sixty-three women from across the Intermountain Division recently attended the annual Women’s Ministries Conference held in Denver, Colo. With the weekend centered on being “Completely His,” delegates discovered what it means to give every aspect of their life to Christ. Special guest, Lt. Colonel Debora Bell, encouraged delegates to allow God to be the shepherd of their lives.
With workshops, crafts, and activities, the opportunities of fellowship were abundant. Saturday offered many choices for women to dive deeper into specific areas of their spiritual walk. Workshops ranged from strengthening prayer life to exploring various avenues of personal worship, to becoming a better steward of God’s gifts and talents. Delegates had a lighter afternoon as they enjoyed various crafts, a silent auction and craft sale. Saturday evening’s program rounded out the day with heartfelt and comedic performances as the divisional women’s ministries bid farewell to Lt. Colonels Raymond and Carolyn Peacock.
The weekend came to a close as delegates gathered for Sunday morning worship. Major Jeanne Baker, divisional women’s ministries secretary, presented this year’s territorial Women’s Ministries project. As a direct result of their compassion and generosity, the women of the Intermountain Division raised over $4,000 in support of efforts in Kenya. Lt. Colonel Bell brought a stirring message and challenged each delegate to leave as a changed woman. She concluded her message with an altar call, and many women made commitments to be “completely his,” including nine women answering the call to officership.