August 2010
August Challenge time! WHEW! Where has the summer gone!? I feel like I hit the street running in June and haven’t stopped! What an amazing summer it has been! At Feather Camp (our high school camp) we saw transformations take place in the lives of teens like we never have before. John Villani, our head musician at camp, and Jim Frey, the best pancake and French toast breakfast maker we’ve ever had (according to the camp cook), made a huge difference to those kids experi-ence. Matt Barber provided two days of fun and excitement on Lake Almanor, as he spent the days in the sun towing kids behind his boat! Thank you gentlemen for giving of your time and gifts. You are deeply appreciated.

VBS was a huge success as we journeyed with Joseph through his adventure of faith in God, wandered through an Egyptian market place where we visited embalmers, basket makers, brick makers, hieroglyphic scribes, jewelers and prepared blankets and words of encouragement that will be sent to African children in Kenya.

I am sooooo proud of all of those who were servants to the children who attended. What a great staff! You gave your all (many of you after a full day’s work!) and I’m sure we made our God smile! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Our Christian Ed. Director, Phyllis Rudeen demonstrated her commitment and competence as a director. BRAVO Phyllis! You are doing an awesome job!! I know that you put in many hours behind to the scene over and above the rest of us. We are blessed to have you.

Karen Garrett led the children in singing at opening and closing each day with the usual energy and joy that she shares with us each Sunday. Her motions and of course her Egyp-tian dancing (you had to have been there) got all of us moving and making a joyful noise to the Lord! What a blessing your servant’s heart is to all of us.

To all of the cooks in the kitchen (especially our head cook, Jennine) you guys rocked! You served us delicious, nutritious food every night! Thank you for filling our bellies with a smile and tolerating our sometimes finicky requests.

We will soon have Shasta Camp behind us and I have no doubt the results will be the same; children being blessed, learning about Jesus, making life commitments, laughing, playing, singing, hiking, eating, and growing in their understanding of the Body of Christ and the joy of experiencing Jesus’ love for them!

What a summer we have had. And this is only the beginning when we respond to the seren-dipitous God we serve. He dips into our serene when we open our hearts and invite God to have His way with us and when we respond and listen to His call to us. We make a differ-ence in the lives of others.

Are we not about building bridges to Christ and changing lives through Christ? I am so honored to be in ministry with all of you for the long haul!

In ministry together,
Pastor Toni

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