Dale Peterson - August Newsletter

Dear Ministry Partners:

Only a few weeks ago, plans were being made for three summer camps – and now those camps are history already! And just as quickly, plans are already underway for the camping season 2009! But first, let me give you the results of the 2008 camps.

The first of the camps was our senior camp, coordinated by the combined efforts of Baptist Bible Fellowship churches in England, Scotland, and Wales. A seasoned work force of both American and British leaders combined their efforts and lead over 60 campers – mostly teenagers from their various churches, but amongst them young people who had never put their faith in Jesus Christ. However, by the end of week one, six of those young people accepted Christ as their Savior personally.

The second week of camp was what I have affectionately called my “street kids” camp. With more than 60 kids total (unfortunately a few really rowdy teenagers had to be taken home), this camper composition was quite different from week one, in that almost every teenager in week two was atheistic, agnostic, or ambivalent about Christianity. It was a tough crowd. And yet, God is greater and draws people to Himself … and draw teenagers, He did! During the week, 31 young people – just over half the camper population – became Christ followers!

Let me brag on a few people for a moment – because I take no credit for this awesome week where God worked. I had a team of people that were willing to partner with me – giving themselves in anticipation that God would work miraculously through our combined efforts.

First, there was a husband-wife team responsible for the majority of the campers attending. Ian and Marie Hutchings have planted a church near The White House, where our camps were conducted. In addition to their recruitment efforts, Marie also served as the camp chef, emergency medical, and child protection officer! The Hutchings have pledged themselves to follow-up and discipleship of many of these young converts.

Second, Dan Brown and LIFT Student Ministries of Somerset (KY) provided the vast majority of the leadership structure for the entire week. This team of college students, under Dan’s leadership, made the week happen logistically. If jet lag wasn’t enough fatigue, they came into Great Britain following nine weeks of youth camps throughout the eastern United States. Without these valuable players from LIFT, week two of this summer’s camps would not have happened at all.

Third, the insane duo – Rick and Mick Vigneulle – along with Rick’s son Brandon, rocked the house with their comedy, music, and messages each night. But they offered more than just those ingredients, as important as those elements are. They also interacted with the kids throughout the week, often talking one-on-one with teenagers, leading them to put their trust in Christ.

Finally, there was a team of behind-the-scenes players – quietly, skillfully working to keep the building complex clean, to keep the campers filled with “junk food” from the tuck shop, to instruct American leaders in the do’s and don’ts of ministry in the UK, and helping whenever and wherever they were needed.

And yet, these are not all the partners who made it happen – there are many more, unnamed and unsung. There are those who prayed for months, asking the Lord to supply financially and to work mightily in the hearts of those who would attend. There are also those who gave financially to make it possible for these 60+ young people to attend their first-ever Christian camp, and whose gifts made it possible for 31 young people to hear the Gospel and be saved.

The third week of camp was the smallest of the three British camps this summer – 35 junior-aged campers, and yet, once again, God was present and working in the hearts of all participants. Of the 35 campers, five of them accepted Christ as their Savior as well. So the combined total number of campers placing their faith in Christ was 42 – for which we are thankful.

In addition to the camps, our ministry was used in the Kingsmead Baptist Church where in the three services where I spoke, another nine people – mostly twenty-somethings – accepted Christ!

To all of you who partnered with me to help make Summer Camps 2008 a reality – thank you. Your investment was indeed worthy and you can know that you have helped to sow, water, and reap with your investment! Be watchful of plans being released in the coming weeks for events expanding dramatically the efforts to reach the younger generations for Christ throughout 2008 and well into 2009!

Cheers!

Dale Peterson

P.S. If you would like to set aside financial support for 2009 summer camps or Strategic Youth Leadership Summits in 2009, please make your checks payable to Gospel Alive, Inc. and mail to 7850 Meadow Drive, Waterford, MI 48329. Please indicate whether your gift is for camps or leadership summits. Thanks!

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