Campers Transformed at SEP Saskatchewan

Campers Transformed
at SEP Saskatchewan

By Eric Warren

MOOSE MOUNTAIN PROVINCIAL PARK, Saskatchewan, Canada—Staff began arriving Aug. 17 for our seven-day Summer Educational Program (SEP) Saskatchewan camp at our new location, Kenosee Lake Bible Camp in Moose Mountain Provincial Park, about two hours southeast of Regina.

On Sunday, Natalie Cherry of Yorkton, our program director, had staff available to meet campers and their parents and give tours of the camp while explaining our camp purposes.

Of the 53 teen campers and 27 preteens from Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 25 percent were not from our denomination. We had 20 more campers than last year. We had three baptisms at the end of camp.

Alan Hart of Regina was head counselor, ministering to the counselors while counseling a dorm of junior campers. Saskatoon Pastor Colin Wallace was the assistant director, and led a high-energy all-terrain biking program through the rugged ski trails.

Our theme was Transform, taken from Romans 12:1-2. In past years campers had learned to pray and share together in groups, but many had not learned to do it alone, which is crucial for the times between church and events the rest of the year.

Each of our Real Time morning sessions were focused on one spiritual discipline. Lindsay Bradford, Matt Feakes, Colin Wallace and Terry Marner showed how the Holy Spirit transforms the way we think through prayer, Bible study, fasting and meditation.

The theme continued in our late afternoon Life Time sessions. Colin Wallace, Lindsay Bradford, Gary Clarke, Janaya Teetaert and Nat and Mary Ross challenged our thinking on the topics of How to Say Sorry, Making Good Decisions, Depression, Why God Wants Sex Saved for Marriage and Good and Bad Relationships.

Of particular note was the session on depression, delivered by Gary Clarke, director of Education for the Canadian Mental Health Association in Saskatchewan. As a former successful businessman and teacher, he was snatched from a suicide pact at age 51. His moving testimony and demystifying of depression hit a cord with many.

Much of the camp was in tears as they listened, in some cases awakened to their own plight or that of a loved one. Our young people are learning that it is OK to admit their struggles rather than masking them behind the guise of having it all together. A great deal of healing, crying and praying occurred through much of the rest of the evening.

Ken Teetaert’s load of multimedia equipment made sure the presentations came through loud and clear. Worship was led by Wayne Teetaert, the Holy Water Boys, Sisters of Mercy and guest musicians from Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba.

Activities included swimming, food preparation, biking, canoeing, a team building wilderness rescue challenge, arts and crafts, waterskiing, basketball, reflection time and beach volleyball.

Richard Gillis piloted a new music program for band students that we hope will become an important part of camp in coming years. Mary Hart was in charge of food preparation.

Our prayer is that the campers would go home and be inspired to use the spiritual disciplines, to Transform their thinking as challenged by the Holy Spirit.

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