Volume 5, Issue 2
Christmas, 2001

(click on title to view article)
A Blessed Christmas
Pastor Tony's Ponderings:  A Song for the Shepherds
Power House
Five Years of Progress
Please help Camp Daniel

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Whatever  else changes, Christmas remains the time of happy recollections. As we reflect at Camp Daniel in the year 2001, we find many things to rejoice about. In 2001 we began a new program that we call "Power House." It is a night of fellowship for our friends with mental challenges, their families and caregivers.  On the first Thursday of every month we gather at Trinity Assemblie's, Life Center building,  in Crivitz at 5:30 for supper. After we eat there is a time of worship, a guest speaker, puppets, a bible lesson and a craft. We finish  with a snack  and closing prayer for specific needs that are presented. During this time, there is a support group for parents, siblings, and caregivers that offers a biblical perspective on dealing with disability and how it affects their lives. There have been as many as 68 people attending Power House with growth every month!

"God at Work" was the theme for the 2 weeks of camp in 2001. Many lives where changed and many accepted Christ fo the first time. In fact, the waiting list for camp has become so long a third week will be added in 2002 to accommodate all who wish to attend.  Camper Tammi Hotchkiss spelled out on her talking computer that she "loved camp" and "loved the time to talk to God" during chapel.

Camp Daniel was featured on the cover of the Green Bay Press-Gazette as well as in the Trail Communities Messenger of Elroy, WI.

Construction of the first of three resident homes began after the last camp. The log house will
be home to 4 mentally challenged  adults with Karol, Little Tony and family living in the basement as house parents. Many volunteers have helped in the construction for which we are all grateful. This home has  4,000 square feet of living space up and down and will take another $ 40,000 in additional labor and material to complete.

The first building we built on the Camp Daniel grounds was our maintenance garage. We have been restricted to using the building in daylight hours only as there has been no electrical service to the back portion of the property. Because of the generosity of some close friends of Camp Daniel, electric service was extended throughout the property in 2001 and the Maintenance building is now "lit up." We now are installing insulation in the workroom in order to keep it heated thru the winter!

Camp Daniel is committed to providing the disability community with the very best Christian programs possible. We believe Camp Daniel's ministry provides a way to reach the disabled community in a way anyone can participate. Please remember Camp Daniel in your prayers during the coming year. the growth of 2001 has been wonderful, but we will need many more to join the Camp Daniel family in 2002. We thank everyone who has been showing faithfulness to the call to bring God's love to those in need.  With out all of you, there would be no Camp Daniel. So we thank you and thank God for another blessed Christmas, again this year.

Two weeks before Thanksgiving I was working late in the office and stepped outside to a beautiful clear, crisp fall evening.  As I opened the door, my breath was taken away as the northern lights lit up the sky in a way I had never witnessed.  The brightness and colors where unmatched by anything I had ever seen in the sky before.  As I stood in awe, I thought about the night the Shepherds stood in the fields of David outside Bethlehem, on the first of Christmases.  As the Heavenly host appeared, it must have been one of the most awesome and magnificent sights ever seen on earth.

As I looked to the sky my thoughts ran to camp this past summer when, on a Thursday night chapel service, God's presence filled the air and we experienced God in a way we never had before at camp.  I wondered why God chose to bring down His power as He did to that room full of campers and counselors.  My thoughts then went back to the shepherds on that first Christmas night, a group of people lowest on the social totem pole; unwanted, poor and on the outside of Bethlehem culture.  In fact, history tells us shepherds were regarded with such contempt that they were not even counted as credible witnesses in court at the time.  They were unwanted in churches as the rabbis looked at their lifestyles with disdain.  The intriguing part of the Christmas story is that the heavenly host came down to announce the birth of the King of Kings in such an awesome way to a group of people thought to be among the lowest by the days standards.

The shepherd’s lot in life reminds me much of the life many of our disabled brothers and sisters live.  They are often unwanted, left on the outskirts of town, poor, uninvited in our society and churches.  If God sent his legions of angels to proclaim a savior to this type of crowd, than what should we do in our search as Christians to experience God's presence and power each Sunday?
When we do not reach out to a group such as the disabled community, we are missing out on the awesome display of God's grace and power.

This Christmas, it is my prayer that we would remember those who deal with these circumstances in life and that we would reach out to them with love and compassion.  I thank God for the angel's song, and how the coming life, death and resurrection of Jesus brings us peace on earth.  I pray for an army willing to bring the message of God's love and glory to those who may be unwanted by men, but have favor with God and are treasured in heaven.

Power House is a class held especially for people with developmental disabilities.   Camp Daniel has brought together local pastors and church members of Marinette county to use songs, puppets, skits, snacks, crafts and games to create an atmosphere of  acceptance for  those who are mentally challenged. While this class is being held families participate in  a support group where they confront the issues of having a disability in their family.
  Power House, is held in Trinity Assembly of God's Life Center building, which is located at 115 U.S. Hwy 141 In Crivitz.
The building is located next door to the Pennzoil 10 minute oil change garage. Across the street from McDonalds on the west side of Hwy. 141.
*Power house is held on the first Thursday of every month with supper starting at 5:30 PM and service at 6:30. please call ahead for reservations if you will be dinning with us.
*We are in need of volunteers  to to work one on one with our disabled "friends" if you know of someone who would benefit from this program or know of someone who would like to volunteer please contact us at 715-757-3880 or email us at campdaniel@campdaniel.org
 
 

It has now been a year since  Camp Daniel began  a drive to raise $1,750 in monthly pledges to meet the needs of the ministry. To date, $930 a month has been committed. We are excited to see so many sharing in the Camp Daniel vision with financial support.

The financial needs of Camp Daniel continue to grow as we build. An additional week of camp, the new residents home, electric and heat in the garage, and new roads, are all vast improvements to the campus. But these changes also create a larger monthly financial burden on the organization.

During this time of crisis in America, many large non- profit organizations have seen a flood of donations to aid in the relief of the victims' families in N.Y.  While we share in the happiness that we live in a country where people care, it is unfortunate that small organizations, such as Camp Daniel have experienced a downturn in financial help.  At this time we are in need of your help. A monthly pledge of only $20 can make  huge difference in our stability as an organization. We ask that you prayerfully consider helping Camp Daniel serve the disabled community and bring God's light to a group of people often left in darkness.