The crisp fall air is rolling in through the hills and valleys of Northfield, the leaves have changed from a green to golden yellows and fiery reds. And the once booming summer noises of children and morning reveille have turned into a silent memory. "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17.
There is no doubt in our minds that God provided Camp with a fruitful season. All the glory goes to our Lord for everything that was accomplished this season. Through Him, we have seen campers saved, buildings renovated, and old friends reunited. "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
As we have mentioned several times, 2021 was a celebration of 60 years of God's faithfulness over Camp. What a blessing it was to spend the year hearing the testimonies from old and young on how God changed their lives through this ministry! It was also a year of new memories and exciting changes. Here are just a few of the "unforgettable moments" from this year:
Ladies Retreat: The Hilltop Lodge was open and alive during a late Spring snowfall. It was a first for most of us to experience winter weather in that building!
Youth Camps: Eight children came to know Christ as their personal Savior! Many other decisions were also made.
Alumni Retreat: Nearly 100 old friends were reunited in sweet fellowship. It was a weekend packed full of stories, testimonies, tears, and thankfulness!
Labor Day Barbecue: We were excited to see over 130 men, women, and children come and celebrate Camp's 'birthday' with us!
Men's Retreat: The recently restored Moody Cabin held its first prayer meeting! Early Saturday morning, for nearly two hours, faithful men knelt before the Throne of God.
Needless to say, we are excited and eager to jump into the 2022 season! But before we can do that, there is one more event to squeeze into 2021. Registration for the Christmas Banquets is now open! There will be four banquets this year - December 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th. Seating is limited so please register as soon as possible, especially if you are registering a large group. We are excited to host a live auction again this year! As in years past, all proceeds from the auction go to our Camper Scholarship Fund. If you would like to donate items into the auction, please contact us no later than December 1. We are looking for gift sets, tasteful homemade items, baked goods, etc. You can find more information regarding the banquets on our website.
There is also one more opportunity to come up to Camp and get some work done! The leaves have just about all fallen and Camp is in need of cleanup. If you would like to join us on November 13th at 9 am - please reach out to Tom by November 10. Lunch will be provided.
God is always faithful! This year, two of Camp's water heaters bit the dust. We were able to purchase two brand new electric heaters at no cost to Camp! We have also begun work on a handicap accessible bathroom in the Hilltop Lodge. All funds have been provided for that project as well, and Lord willing the bathroom will be up and running in time for our first Spring retreat.
Our Pool Project has already raised nearly $4,000! It's seemingly a 'drop in the bucket' compared to the $60,000 needed to finish the project but we know our God is able! Please continue to pray that the right decisions will be made and the funds will be raised in a timely manner!
As we look ahead to 2022, it's not too early to be considering what you can do next summer. We are accepting staff applications for next season. We will be in need of counselors, a cook, a nurse, kitchen staff, boys staff, and girls staff. If you or someone is interested in volunteering for the season, but have more questions, we'd love to chat! You can call Camp at 413-498-0256 or email us at registration@campnorthfield.com.
We want to say thank you for the love and support you have shown our family this first year. It certainly feels good to have a whole season 'under our belt.' We are so thankful for those who pray, give, and work. This ministry is definitely not a 'one man job,' and we are so blessed to have so many who are willing and eager to come alongside and support us! There's a lot going on behind the scenes here at Camp that many will never see. The work continues into the fall and winter months. Please be in prayer for those who travel long distances and spend their free time here on campus, that the Lord provide safety and blessings for them!
Yours for Christian Camping,
Tom & Christi Jackson
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