A Year in Review - Part I

by the CEM Mission Centre Presidency Team

It has been just over a year since Mary Jean, Dawn, and I assumed the role of Mission Centre presidents. Our first year has been interesting, coming out of two years of COVID restrictions. In forming the team, we deliberately did not divide the Mission Centre into three sections but rather chose to focus on our strengths and share the leadership and administrative workload among this volunteer team.  
We identified four foci: leadership development, camping programs, conference planning and strategic planning to address the realities that all churches in North America are facing-dwindling numbers, aging congregations and buildings that do not meet current needs.
The first challenge in 2022 for us was how to re-open our campgrounds and safely resume in-person camping experiences last summer. This necessitated water inspections, maintenance of equipment and buildings which had been unused, and weather beaten for two years. We are so grateful for all the work that Nancy, Stacey and Melissa have done to ensure our camps have appropriate staff. We cannot forget all the other essential people that make our camping experiences life changing. We thank all our volunteers including caretakers, teachers, cooks, KP staff, directors, lifeguards, counselors and others. It really requires assembling an amazing team, and that’s what happens again and again.  
We know there are many for whom camping experiences are their only church encounter, so we want to make sure they have lifelong memories where peace, joy and love are personified. We experience community at our camps and for some, that is their only positive community experience. So, let’s not keep that a secret! Last year our greatest challenge in camping was getting a full complement of certified lifeguards in a year when certification opportunities were limited. This year the challenge has been staff and getting everyone registered as youth workers as we ramped up capacity. Registered Child Youth Worker certification is necessary to protect our campers and teach staff awareness of potential risks and ways to mitigate those risks. It is a world church program required for all priesthood and anyone working with children and youth.  
It is in camps where we form community and experience the blessings of belonging. It is a safe place where children, youth and adults can intermingle, learn from one another, learn to respect differences and live in harmony. I hope you are able to get to at least one camp this year. You will be blessed, for we have faith that the Spirit resides where two or three are gathered in the name of the Divine.  
Because camping is so integral to our lives, we invite you to share your camping stories to inspire new campers and potential leaders. I know it is hard to put an experience, especially a spiritual one, into words but we invite you to share your camping experiences trusting the Spirit will translate the meaning for the hearer. Surely, we all have stories to share about fellowship, campfires, classes, silly antics, shared meals, games and friendships. If you are one of the many volunteers at camp, talk about how good it feels when you truly connect with someone like soul mates and how that makes all the hard work of preparation worthwhile. Share how you feel when you step onto those hallowed grounds and why it’s so hard to leave at the end of camp. You might just inspire someone. And if nothing else, make sure you express your appreciation to all the people who make your camp safe, successful and spiritually meaningful.  
Look for a continuing saga. Next, we’ll talk about our second priority.

Namaste
Vonda DenBoer
CEM President Team