Issue One

Winter/Spring 2011

Manitoba

Missionary
Gods Mission. Our Adventure.

Changing
Manitoba
page 4

Supporter Cooking
Profile
with Kathy
page 21

page 28

Manitoba

Missionary
Gods Mission. Our Adventure.
The Manitoba Missionary
is the bi-annual publication
of CSSM Ministries Manitoba.
Letters, articles and photos are
welcomed. Names of many
of the children mentioned in
articles have been changed.
Editors
Bill McCaskell
Elanna Truijen
Circulation & Address Correction
Roseann Lang
Sponsorships
Harold Giesbrecht
Design
Kristy Unrau
Copy Editor
Menno Hamm
Printed in Canada by
Derksen Printers, Steinbach, MB.
Publications agreement
number 40019747
Issue One
Undelivered copies, change
of address and new requests
should be addressed to:
CSSM Ministries Manitoba
200-189 Henderson Hwy
Winnipeg, MB

A p p l A u d i n g H e Av e n wA r d
I was scheduled to give a five-minute greeting
from our provincial support ministry (the Provincial Office of CSSM Ministries) at Roseau River Bible
Camp in early June. It was their annual open house
and the dining hall was packed with supporters
ready to enjoy some delicious barbecued chicken. I
was still only a few months into my new job as provincial director, but I was
wise enough to know that if I wanted to make friends I would keep my comments to five minutes or less.
After having the entire group wave at me while I was on stage so that I
could take an impromptu picture for my Facebook page, I told them that the
reason I was excited and looking forward to this coming season of camp could
be summed up in five simple words. I paused and then slowly said, as my fingers counted down the words God changes lives at camp.
What happened next surprised me. It also radically changed my notion of
how deeply that truth resonated with others.
People began to clap, and not just a few, but everyone an unexpected,
spontaneous reaction to the truth of God doing amazing things through camp.
I realize that it is impossible to capture or even know for that matter all of
the changes God brought about in the lives of the over 5500 people who were
involved in one way or another with our seven camping ministries last summer, either as campers, summer missionaries or prayer and financial partners.
But perhaps, in a small way, as you meet a few of these people in the following
pages, you will catch a glimpse of the amazing things God has done.
For those of you who have received our newsletter, the Manitoba Missionary, in the past, you will realize that this edition is quite a bit different. We are
hoping that the magazine format will allow us to tell you more stories; allow
us to encourage you in more ways with the work of God.
Of course, a project this big does not happen by itself, and so I want to thank
my teammates in the provincial office and those scattered around the province
who helped bring this edition of the MM (what we call the Manitoba Missionary) to life. I also want to thank those who support the work of CSSM and saw
value in partnering with us to make this magazine a reality and make it available to more people.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the new MM. Our desire is to
publish twice a year and so we would love to know how you think we are doing. And if you have stories from your own camp days or ways you have seen
God work through camping ministry, please tell us! We would love to hear
them.
There is one more group I would like to mention and to thank and it is
you, the one reading this and the one who has stood by us with your prayers
and support. You are the one that this MM is for. My hope and prayer is that,
as you read the stories which fill these pages, may your heart indeed clap; may
you applaud in your spirit the work of the Holy Spirit that was so evident in
the lives of so many this past summer. May we give God a standing ovation.

R2L 1l7
E-mail: roseannl@cssm.ca
Telephone: 1-204-668-2776
Fax: 1-204-667-1496
Website: www.mb.cssm.ca

Bill
Psalm 34:8

Manitoba

Harold's Humor

Hall of Fame

H Ar o l d gieSb r eCHt
Well, I have the tough assignment of providing some comic relief. As I pondered
this task, especially in light of the fine music group we
have joining us for the spring concert tour, I thought
I ought to share some fiddle jokes with you. However
Ill save those for when we meet, and instead give
you the Top Ten Hymns of the Lukewarm Church.
Our guest music group, the Browns, have recently released a recording of hymns, called Heritage Hymn
Collection, Volume 1. Youll have to see if any of these
ten songs (the real ones) are on that recording:

1. A Comfy Mattress Is Our God

(A Mighty Fortress Is Our God)
2. Above Average is Thy Faithfulness
(Great is Thy Faithfulness)
3. I Surrender Some
(I Surrender All)
4. Joyful, Joyful, We Kinda Like Thee
(Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee)
5. Just As I Pretend to Be
(Just As I Am)
6. My Hope is Built on Nothing Much
(My Hope is Built on Nothing Less)
7. Oh, for a Couple of Tongues to Sing
(Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing)
8. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
(Rock of Ages, Cleft for me)
9. Take My Life and Let Me Be
(Take My Life and Let It Be)
10. Where He Leads Me,
I Will Consider Following
(Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow)
Harold Giesbrecht has a love for God, his beautiful wife
Natalie, seeing children and youth come to know Jesus,
and a well-timed joke. You can catch him weekly on
Heart of the South, a two hour radio program featuring
the finest groups in southern gospel music.

Missionary
4

C H A n g i n g M A n i to b A

C H o S e n bY g o d

12

w H At t r u lY M A K e S A l e A d e r

14

K i d S Co r n e r

17

lo v i n g l i K e g o d

19

S p ot l i g H t o n t H e b r o w n S

21

g r e At i S t H Y fA i t H f u l n e S S

24

fin An Ci Al r epo rt

26

A g r e At d AY At b l b C

28

C o o K i n g w i t H K At H Y

30

A r i d e AwAY f r o M r o u t i n e

Changing
Manitoba
page 4

CHaNGING maNIToBa
One Heart at a Time

There she goes again, thought Jennifer.

The 39 year-old mother of two watched Tia, an eight
year old camper, stomp past her, leaving chapel for the
fourth time that week. Right behind Tia was Tias cabin
leader, faithfully following, but visibly tired. Jennifer,
who helps her husband Gordon direct Valley View
Bible Camp, knew Tia was one of those campers who
would push and push until they knew it was safe to be
themselves perhaps tonight Tia would stop pushing.
Jennifer followed at a distance and watched Tia and
her cabin leader settle against a tree and their body
language said it all Tia was not going back to chapel.
Jennifer walked up to the girls and after a few moments of silence, Tia began to slowly share what had
been bothering her all week.
Nobody likes me, she softly said. I came with my
cousins and they wont stop teasing me and none of
the other girls in my cabin will talk to me. Tia was
beginning to cry and her cabin leader offered to get her
some tissue.
I feel so lonely, the eight year old said looking at
Jennifer as the tears began to flow freely. Jennifer offered a hug and Tia gladly accepted. Did you know,
Jennifer asked after a few minutes, that Jesus can be
your forever friend?
Tia shook her head.
Its true. and guess what else Tia? Jennifer asked
quietly. Jesus would like to be your forever friend.
Tia looked up with a twinkle in her eye.
Really? she asked.
Really, Jennifer said. A friend that will be always

Manitoba Missionary

b i l l M CC A S K e l l
with you, a friend that you can always talk to, and a
friend that will help you make other friends.
Wow that would be quite a friend.
He is quite a friend.
Jennifer let the moment soak in. Tia was deep in
thought and Jennifer could tell the Spirit was speaking
to this little eight-year-olds heart.
Tia? Jennifer asked. Would you like to ask Jesus
to be your forever friend?
Tia was still for a moment and then looked up, enthusiastically nodding her head.
I can still remember that look in her eye, recalls
Jennifer. Ill never forget it.
And as what often happens, Tia began to experience
the same camp in a brand new way not only did she
not mind chapels, she began to love chapels, and by
the time her grandma came to pick her up from camp
at the end of the week, she was so excited to tell her
family about what had happened: Grandma! Grandma! Somehow Jesus jumped into my heart!
--------Tia, along with over 3800 other children and youth,
met Jesus this past summer at one of our seven CSSM
camping ministries across the Manitoba. Not all asked
Jesus to be their forever friend but many did; many
others reacquainted themselves with their Friend
after a long absence; and still others saw their friendship with Jesus deepen and grow. It is what makes it
all worthwhile, is a phrase that is repeated time and
again by our year-round and summer missionaries
who serve with CSSM.

go d S MiSSio n . o ur Adventur e .

One of my most meaningful moments this past

summer, was also one of my toughest, recalls Andrew
Sevigny, who has spent the last nine summers serving
at CSSM camps; the last two at Dauphin Bible Camp as
program director. There was a camper during youth
week who wouldnt talk to anyone, he wouldnt do
anything the rest of the group was doing, and he kept
trying to run away. Finally I just sat with him and was
quiet. He eventually started talking and shared about
his earlier suicide attempt and how much pain he had.
The thing I remember though, Andrew says, is
that I felt I connected with him I began to feel his
pain and he began to see my hope. By the end of the
week he became a Christian, and began to experience
hope for himself.
Over half of the campers that are touched by CSSM
Ministries in Manitoba come from a home where they
have very little opportunity to hear about the hope
that is in Jesus. In fact for some of our camps, like Gimli
Bible Camp and Beaver Lake Bible Camp, the significant majority do not come from church-going homes.
Most of our campers come from a few northern
communities, explains Angie Osiowy, who along
with her husband Mitch, direct the summer camp at
Beaver Lake, close to Flin Flon. Each week we take
several vans into the communities, load them up with
kids, and take them to the camp. Its usually quite the
adventure; an adventure that our summer missionar-

I began to feel his pain and

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I never expected to end up at [Beaver Lake] last
summer. In fact, I thought the directors constant
invitations to come were really funny, because I
kept refusing. God wanted me there, though, and
little by little, He chipped away at me and soon
I found myself waking up each morning and
thinking, I really want to go! Away I went. Being a cabin leader [there] was so different from
anything Ive ever done before. It was the first
time I saw such an immediate need for the Gospel. It was the first time I ever felt my heart break
in pieces for the kids. It was hard. Sometimes I
felt so frustrated and tired, but our directors were
a huge encouragement to me. What affected
me the most was the hunger for love that [the
kids] had and how much love they had to give
all we as staff could do was love the kids and
live like Christ would. One of the greatest lessons
I received from my time at camp was a renewed
understanding of what it means to trust God

he began to see my hope.

Which is something Im sure Ill be spending the

rest of my life learning over and over again. It

ies always remember.

It can take a different mindset to serve at camp,
offers Don Roe, the director at Gimli Bible Camp, who
has over 20 years of experience working with children.
The campers arent there to listen to you, they are
there to be loved and served by you. Only then will
you have the freedom to speak into their life. You just
cant assume that you have the right, you have to first
earn it.
The nearly 650 summer missionaries throughout
the province, of whom 97 served at Gimli Bible Camp,
and built relationships with the almost 600 campers
during summer, have a special calling, according to
Don.
Our job is to clear the way to the cross. Don explains. God does the work in the campers lives; our
job is to help the campers feel safe enough that they
then feel secure enough for God challenging them to
change.
And God seems to enjoy working and challenging
young lives specifically through camp ministry, even if
the camp doesnt have a physical building.
The camp I was involved with this past summer
and even this past Christmas break is a bit different than a regular camp where the campers stay over-

seems like none of the staff or kids or volunteers

can leave [Beaver Lake] without being changed in
some way.

god S M iS Sion. our Adventur e .

Manitoba Missionary

Changing
Manitoba
page 6

night, explains Danielle Goodman, a university student, who

was part of the Adventure Day
Camp team that travelled to over
seven locations in the summer
and even organized a winter Day

Camp in the city.

The children come for part of a day and we get to
know them, we speak life into them, do lessons with
them, have craft time, do a praise and worship time together and learn about God. It is a great opportunity
to see how lives are changed as we teach them about
Gods love.
And even in five short days, God brings about
change.
Jimmy was a really hyper-active, didnt want to sit
still kind of kid but as he learned about Gods love
through the week, he changed he became more focused, and more hungry for God it was so cool to see.
Paul Emmer knows what Danielle is talking about.
Paul, who is the Youth For Christ Satellite Director
for MacGregor/Gladstone, was the chapel speaker for
two weeks at Turtle Mountain Bible Camp this past
summer. Chapel times were really alive the young
people were really engaged. We put a tin can out in
chapel where we invited them to put tips, suggestions, questions, prayer requests or keys for German
sports cars, laughs Paul. We didnt get any keys, but
we did get some deep questions and some heartbreaking prayer requests. I cant imagine these children and

young people going through life without Christ to provide strength and hope.
During one of our chapels, a Thursday night, we
saw an amazing work of the Spirit. Young people were
hugging each other, asking for forgiveness; we had
campers calling home, telling their parents they loved
them and asking them to forgive them. There was a
definite spirit of revival and repentance.
It was humbling, Paul recalls, but also encouraging and a real faith booster.
We can get so caught up in the office work and paper work of ministry, that we forget what it is like to see
God move on the front lines.

I cant imagine these children and young

people going through life without Christ
to provide strength and hope.
Thats not to say that the office and other behind
the scenes work of the ministry are unimportant. In
fact the growing challenge of increased government
regulation and the missions desire to reach more children and youth with the Good News are the main reasons that six of the seven camping ministries in the
province have missionaries who work from January to
December, in addition to the five missionaries who provide ministry support out of the provincial office.
Our role at the provincial office is to serve our
camps, explains Lorne McLarty, who started with the

mission in May 2009 as Financial

Changing
Resource Coordinator. My job is
to help our camps develop and
Manitoba
fund capital projects whether
page 7
that is through grants or capital
campaigns. This past year, for example, we were able to secure $40,000 in grants for a
barn project that Turtle Mountain Bible Camp was undertaking.
We want to do provincially what doesnt make
sense to do at a camp level, continues Lorne. Be that
working with boards and attending board meetings or
training and developing our missionaries. Together we
each play our role and Gods kingdom grows.
And that is what it is really all about at CSSM the
mission is not to build the largest camps in Manitoba
(though there are large and small ones) and the goal
is not to have the craziest activities for the campers
(though their zip lines will make a grown man scream).
The purpose is to present the good news of Jesus Christ
to the children and youth of Manitoba, and trust God to
do a work that only God can do. That is what the ministry is all about; and what the mission thanks you for.
Together Gods kingdom grows one heart at a time.
Bill McCaskell, Provincial Director for CSSM Ministries in Manitoba, along with his wife Bev, live in
MacGregor and enjoy travelling the province each
summer witnessing God changing lives.

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We do the job right!

Chosen
by God
page 8

Chosen by God :

Samanthas Story

elAnnA truijen

Growing up in foster care...

Emotionally abused...
Forgotten by the childcare agency...
On her own at sixteen...
Broken...
Head cabin leader at Gimli Bible Camp...
Id pray God, I want the tough kids, Samantha
shared with me over smoothies at a Steinbach coffee
shop. The ones that cause trouble I love having those
kids. I try to see them as, They need to be loved. They
have good qualities. They have something to offer.
Theres a part of them thats hurting.
There was a passion in Samanthas voice to tell her
story, to show how God had plucked her out of her circumstances and used her to speak life into the lives of
those around her. She took a sip of the mango slush in
her plastic cup as I sat back, trying to take in her story. I
had picked up Samantha from Steinbach Bible College
earlier that morning, after Bill McCaskell, CSSM Ministries Manitobas provincial director, had suggested that
we ask her to give us a glimpse into how God has used
Gimli Bible Camp to shape her life. I had no idea I would
come away as impacted as I already was.

GROWING UP
Camp was the first place I really connected. Samantha said. I was in foster care, so I went to different
camps for 5 or 6 weeks of the summer. I was eleven the
first time I came to Gimli Bible Camp. She laughed, and
honestly stated, I didnt like it, because I didnt like sitting in chapel. Chapel services or not, God found Samantha, and she became a Christian that same summer
at a different camp.
I was amazed by Gods love, Samantha shared.
I was needing to know that there was love out there.
I didnt experience that at all growing up. I thought
there was something wrong with me; thats why no one
would love me. I didnt even know there was such a
thing as love. Her eyes were alive as she shared, I felt
[love] at camp. Thats what really made me want to have

Manitoba Missionary

a relationship with God. I felt it. I was so amazed by it.

I asked if Samantha was OK to talk about her home
life. Sure, she acknowledged, I lived in my final foster
home from age eleven to fifteen. It was a really tough
home. My foster mom provided well for us, and Im
thankful for that, but she was emotionally abusive. She
couldnt take care of us that way. The other foster kids
that came through [the home], I would take care of them.
I remember two brothers, ages eleven and twelve,
who would cry every night. She would just tell them to
be quiet, and then shed leave, so Id go over to them. I
did a lot of taking care of others when I was younger. I
tried to picture a twelve-year old girl taking care of two
crying boys so close to her own age. Stirring my chocolate-blueberry frappachino, I leaned forward. I had to
know the rest of the story.
When I was sixteen, I was really struggling at home;
I had run away from my foster home so many times
that I was put in a place of safety. That summer was
my third year at Gimli Bible Camp. I was always asking
questions, and I asked my cabin leader why life was so
hard. She talked about how God wants to be there for us,
and wants to take care of us. Right then, I had this huge
urge to really live my life for God. I started liking chapel.
It was, like, my favorite. It made me more excited to live
my life for God. All of a sudden, I was really hungry for
God, and just to learn more.
As I took a bite of my chicken sandwich, Samantha
talked about something her life had been missing rela-

go d S MiSSio n . o ur Adventur e .

close as family. I saw how God provided for me. I would

feel like I just couldnt handle it, and my friend would
call me in the middle of the night, and would say, I just
felt like I should call, and I would be like, Whoa.
Samantha moved out on her own around age seventeen. The childcare agency she was under lost her file,
and pretty much forgot she existed. I didnt get a lot of
help from them, she stated simply.

LEARNING TO LEAD

tionships. I would always connect well with my cabin

leaders at Gimli. Theyre your mentors but your friends
too. Joking around with them I just loved that. The conversations we had really helped me live my life for God.
Even with the campers, just to be able to be friends with
everyone I didnt have that at home.
When youre fifteen, sixteen years old, kids are either

The following summer, Samantha started working at

Gimli. I guess... I wanted to do the same that my cabin
leaders did for me. I wanted to be able to help kids who
were hurting, for them to feel what I felt; to feel so close
to God. I wanted them to know God loved them, wanted
them to have a relationship with God, [that] if theyre
struggling or have a lot of problems at home, its not
hopeless. I wanted to be able to encourage them.
Samantha took another sip of smoothie. I still didnt
know exactly how to be around people. The first couple
years I worked on staff, I was really shy, and became
known as someone who didnt talk much, but was good
with the kids. When the kids were gone (on the weekends), I would be depressed, I wouldnt talk to anyone I
was too scared. Other staff would invite me to hang out
someplace, and I wouldnt want to go. I felt like the only
thing I had was my love for those who were hurting, so I
would be able to relate to [the kids, but] I still had to get to
know the cabin leaders. One year, I said to myself, I really want this to be a different year. I really want to get
to be comfortable with people. I met my friend Helyn
that year. Helyn was really bubbly and outgoing; she
loved hanging out with people. I didnt think we were
going to get along, but around her I began to be more
comfortable around people. I slowly started to open up.
The head cabin leader began putting younger staff with
me, so I started to lead more in the cabin, always mak-

I wanted to do the same that my cabin leaders did for me. I wanted to be
able to help kids who were hurting, for them to feel what I felt; to feel so close
to God. - Samantha
trying to be too cool to hang out, or dont like you at all.
Everyone at high school seemed so immature drinking
and partying all the time, and I just didnt want that. But
everyone [at Gimli] wanted to hang out and be friends.
We just hung out all day.
I asked Samantha if God was real to her during those
teenage years, and she answered with an immediate
yes. My relationship with God growing up was basically just relying on Him and talking to Him. I didnt have a
Bible, and I couldnt go to church. I knew He was there. I
remember praying all the time and talking to Him about
how I was feeling.
That third summer at Gimli, my cabin leader encouraged me to pray for Christian friends and for a church to
go to. Samanthas eyes danced as she shared with me
how God met that need through friends who became as

ing sure that I worked together with and shared the load
with the younger staff member. I was very much a person who said, You have a lot to offer. Im not the only
one here. Gimli is the one place I feel most comfortable
being myself; it is my favorite place in the world.
Im not sure how I became a leader. Samantha
smiled. I asked Don (director at Gimli Bible Camp) if I
could be the Leadership Development Program leader
this past summer. I knew LDP was a discipleship training that Gimli Bible Camp ran for teenagers during the
summer, and could only think of the amazing influence and heart Samantha would bring to the program.
Samantha remembered her thought process I was
thinking, I know a lot of the girls that want to do it, and
it would be great to have three weeks with these girls,
instead of just one. When Samantha approached Don

god S M iS Sion. our Adventur e .

Manitoba Missionary

with the idea, he asked her how

she felt about head cabin-leading,
and being the go-to person for the
cabin leaders. I thought Im not a
page 10
leader! I cant do it!
Samantha was smiling, and
I was wishing I could take notes faster. But, I also felt
like God wanted me to do it. After Leadership Training in
May, I didnt feel so worried, she confided. I knew I was
going to make a bunch of mistakes, but God was going to
be working through me. Don later came to Samantha
and asked her to spend half of the summer helping lead
LDP, and the other half as head cabin leader. It was so
awesome that God answered that, and I could be LDP
leader too! I was so excited by that.

Chosen
by God

MOTIVATED BY LOVE
I shifted my smoothie straws position. What was it
like leading LDP? I asked.
It was amazing. And hard. Samantha concluded.
I learned more of the struggles the kids were dealing
with, and it just broke my heart. Her eyes shifted away
briefly as she thought about the kids in the summer
program. They felt God that summer. They saw God.
Im really hoping they will remember that. Theyre still
going through hard times.
Samantha refocused on me. There were a lot of
tough issues in LDP. I had to learn to speak up, especially with the other staff. I was so scared that they

wouldnt listen to me. Shaun, one of the other LDP

leaders, told me that Im quiet, but I observe things that
the others cant see. Samantha replayed the conversation over. I thought, Maybe I can be a leader a different kind.
I could hear Samanthas heart come out as she described her head cabin-leading experience too. She had
ample opportunity to do what she does so well love.
I really wanted to encourage the cabin leaders, and
help them grow closer to God too. I would try to pray
with each one every night. They were willing to love
[the kids] no matter what. I wanted to be there for them,
and let them know I was there if they needed help.
Hearing how Samantha led those under her made

me want to be on her team. At camp, I feel like I have

a purpose. Samantha continued. I feel like the only
thing I have is my love for those who are hurting. There
were certain kids every week at camp that I would try
to connect with the ones that were really troubled. A
lot of times I didnt know what to do, and would pray,
You know what to do, God. Please show me.
There was this one girl, who was thirteen? She
had come from a really bad home; she was really tough.
One night, she ran off. I ended up finding her; I was actually afraid she was going to hit me. I kept following
her. We stood by the bathroom it took her about half
an hour then we stayed up really late just talking. I
found her on the beach another day she was hiding,
crying, and let me sit with her.

A lot of times I didnt know what to

do, and would pray, You know what to
do, God. Please show me.
It takes faith to pour so much into kids lives over the
summer and not know the end of the story. I feel like
God has given me this ability to feel for people. I feel so
much that I almost cant handle it. It breaks my heart.
Id ask, Why are they going through this stuff, God? I
had to remember that I personally cant take it on I
cant handle it. It will be God who handles it. Just be-

the

cause [the kids] are going through

Chosen
stuff, doesnt mean that Gods not
there. I need to let God be God.
by God
I dropped Samantha back off
page 11
at Steinbach Bible College, where
shes in her third year of Peer
Counseling. When we talked about what she wanted to
do in the future, she said, I once prayed and asked God
what it was that He loved about me most. He told me
that He loved my heart, the love that I have for those
who are hurting. There are many hurting people in
the world, and I hope that in the future God will work
through me to bring those who are hurting to Him.
As I watched Samantha get out of the car, I wished
we had more time to talk. I wanted to hear more about
how God had pursued her, chosen her, called her by
name, and filled her with His love. I knew there was
even more to the story than I had heard. Pulling onto
the highway, I took another sip of my smoothie; we
had talked too much I hadnt finished it. I didnt mind
though. Stories like Samanthas, and the God behind
them are worth taking the time to pause and celebrate. Frappachino in hand or not.
Elanna Truijen is the Follow-up Director for the
provincial support ministry as well as serving as Director of the Adventure Day Camps. She enjoys the occasional make that rather frequent Starbucks visit,
especially with friends.

COLLINGSWORTH family

Join us for a wonderful evening

of music in support of

Roseau River Bible Camp

Friday, March 18th 7:00 p.m.
Steinbach Evangelical Free Church

&
Valley View Bible Camp
Sunday, March 20th 7:30 p.m.
MacGregor EMC

Admission is free.
An offering will be taken in support of the camps.

What Truly
Makes A
Leader
page 12

What Truly Makes

a leader
bAr rY

b uHler

I watched our guest teacher

write on the white board the suggestions the group was giving.
The question he had asked: What
characteristics make a good cabin
leader at camp? It was a good
question, and the Leadership Development Program students had
good answers. When the white
board was full, he discussed a few
of them and then slowly began
erasing the answers. After a few

Manitoba Missionary

seconds had passed only one remained. He said, This is the most
important characteristic. Which
one was it? A heart after God.
There are many powerful, gifted leaders in our world. Some are
gifted at speaking, some at teaching, some at vision casting; some
are simply a joy to be around
they ooze excitement. However,
I believe that one can have the
natural, great characteristics of a

go d S MiSSio n . o ur Adventur e .

leader, and yet fail miserably. If

one wants to lead successfully,
one has to have a heart after God.
About a year and half ago, I
was in Berlin, Germany with a
group from YWAM. Eager to know
more of the city and its history, I
embarked on a free tour one Saturday afternoon. Our guide showed
us many of the citys landmarks,
and then led us into a parking lot.
She stopped us and said, Here,
eight stories below the ground, is
where Hitlers bunker was. All of
us, slightly shocked and surprised,
listened as she talked about this
man and his folly. He had a way
of speaking to a crowd that would
move them from their silence at
the beginning of a speech into a
reckless cheer by the time he was
finished. He had the ability to lead

people, yet he led them in a disastrous way that led to

one of the darkest times in recent history.
Leaders can be gifted. Leaders can have talent. However, leaders who do not pursue God with all of their
heart, soul, mind and strength can lead their followers
into a place of emptiness and a skewed vision of success. God-empowered leaders will be focused on the
Kingdom, instead of the things of this world.
As we saw students come into the Leadership Development Program at Valley View Bible Camp this
summer, we would try to see what areas these young
leaders were naturally gifted in, then put them into situations that would stretch them to use those gifts and
also grow in areas that they were not necessarily comfortable in. We could have based the program around
these points and it could have worked. However, we
took it further. We wanted to see these students develop a heart that was pursuing Christ and his Kingdom.
Without this component, we are missing the key to
growing godly leaders!
We have seen time and time again how the LDP program has been instrumental in the students pursuit of
Christ. Its not just a three-week program; its a launch
pad for deepening ones walk with Christ. Over the past
number of years that Valley View has been running
this program, we have watched former LDP students
come back to be leaders at the camp; not only that, but
we are now getting to see these students run after God
upon completing high school. People who have completed the LDP program have now ventured off with
God to the ends of the earth places like Australia, New
Zealand, Thailand, Fiji, and Sweden.
We have a young generation in Canada that is hungry for more. If we can point them in one direction, it
needs to be to develop a heart after God, the Creator and
Saviour of the world!
Barry Buhler, along with Elissa Teichrib, directed last
summers LDP Program at Valley View Bible Camp.

What is the most rewarding thing about being

a camp director/staff member?
When kids get it. When they come to you with stories about
how theyve applied the truths theyve been taught. When
they write you letters about how much they cant wait to
read their Bible. When they tell you they want to be in Gods
family. When they unconsciously interrupt a lesson with
a question burning in their hearts. When you get to hear
them pray. When they start to see themselves as world
changers because the team noticed a gifting in them.

Elanna
Director, Adventure Day Camp

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Kids from our first week who were our most
difficult campers changed dramatically by
the end of the summer. It was amazing to
watch them. I changed dramatically by the
end of the summer I had no camp work experience and didnt really know what I was
doing but I was constantly praying for help
from God. There were a lot of times during
this summer when I was tired from not getting enough sleep and playing with the kids
all day and Id start to feel like I couldnt take
anymore Id stop, take a breath and pray if
only for a few seconds and it always helped.
I really learned how much strength God can
give me if I just ask for it. I was constantly
running empty on energy and patience, and
the instant that I turned to God seeking His
help I found myself right full. I have never
been stretched so far in my life and it was an
amazing experience.

Q: What is the
tuck shops most
popular item?
Gimli: Slush puppies
Roseau River: Pepsi
Dauphin: Pop
Turtle Mountain:
Freezies
god S M iS Sion. our Adventur e .

Manitoba Missionary

Kids
Corner!
page 14

Alexis cabin leader, Cindy, had just picked her to play

a game on stage before chapel! YES!
Its pretty simple, Cindy told Alexis, James, and Tasha,
handing them each a skipping rope. When I say go, start
jumping! The one with the most skips in a minute wins!
BUT Youre going to be racing Ben in this game, so you
have to be really quick!
Uh-oh, Alexis thought as Ben came up on stage and
took a skipping rope. Ben was a cabin leader who was really good at sports It would be hard to beat him!
Get ready get set Oh WAIT! Cindy shouted. I forgot one of the game rules. Ben, Cindy pointed at him,
You cant use your hands!
Buthow will he be able to play? James asked.
Cindy shook her head. Thats one of the rules. No hands,
Ben. On your mark, get set, GO!
Alexis had never jumped rope so fast in her life. One,
two, three, four, five She was almost out of breath
when Cindy shouted, Times up!
Great job, Tasha, you had 34 jumps. Alexis and James,
wow, you tied at 42! And Ben..., Cindy started laughing.
Ben was all tangled up in his jump rope. He looked so
funny!
Its hard without hands, Ben said, laughing. Cindy

Kids

CorNer

helped Ben get untangled, then everyone got camp Tshirts for prizes and went back to their seats.
Alexis listened while Cindy explained, Sometimes, we
try to do things on our own without God. God gave us the
Holy Spirit so we can have power and help to do the right
thing. Without the Holy Spirit, its like trying to jump rope
without our hands Were not using what God gave us to
help us. Just like its hard to do things without our hands,
its hard to do things without the Holy Spirit! Who wants
power and help to do what God wants you to do?
Alexis raised her hand with some of the other kids.
Lets all talk to God right now on our own, Cindy suggested.
Alexis closed her eyes tightly. God, she prayed, I
want to be able to love You by doing what You say. Please
give me the power I need to do that. Thank-You for the
Holy Spirit!
Alexis opened her eyes and saw the twisted jump rope
Ben had used, still on the stage. And thanks, God, that I
dont have to try to do anything on my own Ever!

God Gives His People Power

Kids
Corner!
page 15

Hey Kids!
Would you like to do more puzzles that help you
learn what God says to us in His Word? Then
have your parents call us at 1-204-668-2776 and
talk to Elanna as she would love to send you a
book full of them!

2011
CSSM ADVENTURE

DAY
CAMPS
GROW EXPERIENCE SHINE
The camp that comes to you! Looking for adventure
this summer? It may be just around the corner
CSSM Adventure Day Camps combine godly role-models,
interactive games, sports activities, new friendships,
the truth of Gods Word, and opportunities to encounter
God All brought right to your own backdoor!

CALL 204-668-2776 to find out your closest Day Camp location, or to inquire about bringing the adventure
to your own community. Adventure Day Camp has visited over 25 different locations including: Crane River Dauphin
Gunton Emerson Winnipeg Dominion City Woodridge Gimli Pierson Goodlands Amaranth Oakbank Deloraine

Paraclete Transport

Paraclete Transport Ltd.

Portage la Prairie, MB
Norm Thiessen
paraclete@mts.net
204-857-4286

Loving
Like God
page 17

loving like God

pA u l

vA n b e n t H A M

Alright everyone, welcome to our Day Camp closing program. Children, were going to sing Jesus Loves
Me, move on to our small-group performances, and
then finish up by showing our parents what weve
been taught to say. Please line up here.
I grew up in a Christian home, attended Sunday
school every week and I even used a Christ- based
curriculum for my schooling. I knew God loved me,
and I could say that with my right hand on a Bible.
Ask me though if I felt God loved me, and I honestly
dont know what I would have said. I have much to
learn about both God and love, but over my summer I
learned something I would say encompasses both: I realized that its one thing to tell a child God loves you,
and an entirely different thing for that child to sense
Gods love through me.
My first few weeks of summer, I was determined
to be the best missionary CSSM has ever had. If there
were some sort of plaque, I was going to have it. My
name was going to go down in history as the one
with the most conversions in a single summer. Every
chance I got, I tried to tell some child about God what
I wouldnt give now to go back and change that. I realized later that while I was telling a child, God loves
you, I on the other hand, was doing little in the way
of loving them.

One of my favorite songs, by an artist named Chris

Sligh, is entitled Only You Can Save. Part of it goes, I
have to wonder if I really want to know the struggle
and pain that others feel, do I want to hear the stories
as they echo in their eyes? At one Day Camp location,
I simply asked a little girl what her father did, to which
she apathetically replied, My dad tried to steal from
another man; that man killed my daddy. Her eyes said
nothing of sorrow or pain; rather they just spoke of a
twisted understanding of reality.
Is God loves you something we feel, or just something weve been taught to say?
One of my favorite things about God is that He is
available. I often take my dog to the park at night; I
even have a favorite bench where I talk to God. One
clear night I was sitting there watching the stars, and
though Im not sure why, I was just talking to God
about dogs. Not once did He try to change the subject,
or ask me How often have you been reading your Bible? He just let me talk and loved me.
I want to be like Him, and show love, not just speak
of it. My goal is now to listen to His kids stories the way
He does and be there to help them sense the reality
of His love.
Paul, 16, enjoys his predominantly humorous life in
Winnipeg, MB. His time is filled with family, friends
and a vast array of dog-related activites. Paul enjoys
politics, soccer, and pork chops, and his summers are
spent with the Adventure Day Camp team, where he
is constantly reminded of the love God has for him
and others.

god S M iS Sion. our Adventur e .

Manitoba Missionary

Q: How can 900 lbs

of donated farmer
sausage be incorporated
into mealtimes?
A: Baked, barbecued, in soup, on pizza,
in omelets, for breakfast sandwiches,
cooked in syrup for breakfast, wrapped
in biscuit dough, ground into meat
sauce for lasagna, used as hot dot
supplement, with stir-fry sauce, in
casserole, in macaroni and cheese, in
stew Over a third of the meals at
Valley View this summer contained
farmer sausage in some form! (We were
blessed with well-stocked freezers and
creative chefs!)

What is your favorite animal, and why?

A moose; they are such a grand majestic animal and you
cant see them [just] anywhere. So it is always exciting
when you notice one. You dont get that same reaction
with a squirrel!

Richard
Director, Dauphin Bible Camp

tH e b r o w n S in Co n C e r t

Artist
Spotlight
page 19

sPoTlIGHT oN

The Browns

If you think youve heard Southern Gospel music

You havent. Until youve heard the Browns, that is.
One of the first memories Shelley and her children
Michaela (23), Adam (20), and Andrew (14), have of singing together was over ten years ago, when Shelley made
the kids Victorian-style outfits and they went Christmas
caroling. We started singing just at our home church,
Shelley remembers. Rich voices, melodious violins, and
strong family ties intertwined to give the Browns a firm
foundation on which to build their music sets, and their
fan base started to extend beyond their Iowa hometown.
Slowly, the family schedule began to fill with more and
more performance requests, leading to one of the biggest
decisions of the Brown familys life touring full-time, a
choice they made five or six years ago.
We each have heard the call of God on our lives to
share the song and message of the Good News [that] God

has put in our heart! Shelley states. Its definitely something that would be hard to do if you werent called to it.
Because we know were called, its been worth it all. God
has opened the doors and there are adventures and blessings behind each one.
Those doors have led to various interesting places, including Americana Theatre in Branson, MO, Dollywood
Theme Park stages, over seven Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise ships, performing for the President, being
included in the Artist Showcase at the National Quartet
Convention, and many others. Their abilities in presenting a melodious treasury of well-loved hymns, together
with producing original, upbeat gospel tunes, makes
them a popular music guest amongst all generations.
When asked what their most memorable performance was, the Browns response was, We have many
but usually it is not the biggest or the most glamorous
places we have sung. The most memorable concerts
are because peoples lives are changed!
Sharing their favorite aspect of touring, Shelley commented, [Its] meeting new people and seeing old friends
that we have met along the way. We pray we will bring a
life-changing message to those who need to know Jesus
and be an encouragement to believers who need encouragement.

god S M iS Sion. our Adventur e .

Manitoba Missionary

Just watching the Brown family

interact is an encouragement. The
love they have for each other, their
audiences, and their God is evident,
page 20
and brings a breath of fresh air into
a society rife with broken families.
With three of the Browns four children involved in present touring, and Shelleys husband Keith driving the tour
bus and acting as sound man, a concert night with the
Browns truly is a family affair. I think its a special thing
that we do, fourteen year old Andrew states. Im thankful for what Im doing.
CSSM Ministries Manitoba is excited to welcome the
Browns as the featured music guest for the 2011 CSSM
Concert Tour. With their heart for ministry, family, and
the glory of God, the Brown familys heartfelt gospel message offers a life-changing experience to audiences of all
ages. It will be the first time we have toured in Manitoba,
so were looking forward to meeting new folks, visiting
their churches, and seeing Gods beautiful creation, Shelley shares. Were looking forward to having the Browns
share the stage with us during our CSSM concert tour!
Join us in giving the Browns a warm Manitoba welcome
at one of ten concert locations from March 25-April 3. See
you in the front row!

Artist
Spotlight

Which CSSM Ministries Manitoba ministry point was Canadian

Sunday School
Missions first camp?

Gimli Bible Camp has

enjoyed 84 years of
ministry after being
founded in 1927 as CSSM
Ministries first camp
outreach.
Yep, were the pioneers.

Thank-You

We say
to the following individuals and businesses
whose support has made the CSSM Ministries Manitoba Spring 2011 Concert Tour possible:
Axis Farms

Reimer Soils

Byway Farms Ltd.

George G. Ronceray

Gordon Griffith

Konrad Farms

Norstar Industries

Herman & Eleanor Martens

Jeffries Brothers Vegetable Growers

Please check out the schedule on the back cover of this issue to find out when The Browns are coming
to a town close to you! Call 1-204-668-CSSM (2776) or visit mb.cssm.ca for more information.

Supporter
Profile
page 21

A l f r e d A n d d A i S Y n e w to n H A d C S S M M i S S i o n A r i e S A S n e i g H b o u r S
w H e n t H e Y w e r e f i r S t M A r r i e d n e A r lY 5 9 Y e A r S A g o .

Great is Thy FaITHFulNess

Hanging on the wall, in Alfred and Daisy Newtons home
in Neepawa, is a plaque engraved
with the familiar, yet meaningful words of Proverbs 3:5,6: Trust
in the Lord with all thine heart,
and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
That first line, Alfred quietly
says as he moves his finger across
the embossed words, is what
my faith is all about. And if one
spends any time with Alfred or
Alf as his friends often call him
you soon realize that the faith of
this 90-year-old retired farmer runs
deep.
We all have storms in life, and
it was during one of those storms,
later on in my life, that God became very real to me and I surrendered my life to Him. I had always
thought of myself as a believer, but
a lot of believers dont realize they
need to surrender once you sur-

render you realize how God was

present with you even when you
didnt realize He was there.
I was in the service, during the
war you know, and looking back
at that time and other times in my
life, I have seen the hand of God directing me. I have seen the hand of
God enough to know that my faith
is certain that He exists and that He
loves me. I know we have a living,
holy God and without Him we are
helpless.
Alfred and his wife Daisy have
been married for almost 59 years,
the first 47 of which they lived together on a farm near Kelwood a
small community 45 kilometres
north of Neepawa. Interestingly, it
was this farm home they chose to
buy when they were first married
that set the stage for a long-lasting
relationship with CSSM.
The Canadian Sunday School
Mission had a cabin across the road
from our house where their missionaries would often stay as they

served in the area. We got to know

Olive Carmichael, Betty Miller, Ms.
Wood and especially the Campbells, who gave us a very special
gift a personalized Bible that we
still have.
In fact Daisy, who taught for
over 25 years in the area, had yet
another connection with CSSM
missionaries, Every Friday, Ms.
Wood or some other missionary
would ride up to our one-room
school house with their horse and
buggy, come inside and read Bible
stories and encourage the students
to memorize verses. The children
loved it.
Eventually the one-room school
houses were shut down and the
missionaries had to find new ways
to reach the community, which for
the area meant the beginning of a
church that later became McCreary Gospel Chapel and the development of Dauphin Bible Camp,
which Alfred and Daisy actively
supported.

god S M iS Sion. our Adventur e .

Manitoba Missionary

I volunteered and did maintenance though I wasnt that

good of a maintenance man,
Alfred chuckles. But I got to see
page 22
the work; I got to see the seeds
of the Gospel being planted in
those little campers. Our daughter Katherine went
to camp a couple of summers and really enjoyed it.
Camp is a great opportunity to spread the Gospel and
to see the Word of God take heart. We are at a period
of time where there is pressure to change things, to update things so that they work. Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Gospel message
doesnt need to be watered down we dont need to
apologize for being old-fashioned, when it comes to
that.
In 1999, the couple moved to Neepawa and took on
the role of supporting Gods work through CSSM with
their prayers and support. My hope and prayer for
Canadian Sunday School Mission is that they would
continue the original message and vision set out by
the founders of the mission.
Alfred and Daisy are encouraged by what they see. It
gives us great satisfaction in life, explains Alfred, to
know what the mission is doing, to see and hear what
is going on at the camp [Dauphin Bible Camp].
Alfred and Daisy continue to attend Neepawa Baptist, the church they made their home when they first
moved to town. I am not involved as much as I once

Supporter
Profile

t H e H A n d w r i t t e n n ot e i n t H e b i b l e g i v e n to A l f r e d A n d d A i S Y bY t H e i r n e i g H b o urS , tHe CA M p b el lS , w H o w er e CS S M
M i S S i o n A r i eS i n t H e K e lw o o d d i S t r i C t
o f M A n i to b A .
was, but I do what I can. Alfred offers, before pausing
and then quietly and humbly adding, God means everything to me, and I dont want to short-change Him
in anything. I want Him to have the glory for all we
do.

What is your first thought when

you wake up?
Today is another day to conquer this ugly world
with Gods grace and strength. God, give me the
tools I will need today, and give me a kick-start to
spend another day glorifying You.

Krystyn
Follow Up Coordinator,
Turtle Mountain Bible Camp

Ph: 204-746-8441
Box 69
Toll Free: 866-746-8441 Rosenort, MB
Fax: 204-746-8746
R0G 1W0
Cell: 204-746-0079
Res: 204-746-8300
Email: mthiessen@rosenortmotors.com

MARK THIESSEN
General Manager

What camp has changed

its name in the past ten
years?
Carberry Bible Camp began in the 1960s.
After out-growing their location and
moving 30 minutes eastward onto a
beautiful donated parcel of 80 acres, the
camp became known as Valley View Bible Camp in 2001. Life in the valley has
never been the same since our lodge has
been perched on that beautiful hill

Thank-you for

Financial
Report
page 24

Financial results
o C to b e r 1 , 2 0 0 9 S e p t e M b e r 3 0 , 2 01 0

<per=>?@A?cBCe
Misc.2%

<per=>?@DEpe?se

(Consolidated Results)

(Consolidated Results)

Admin.
16%
Fees
49%

Dona3ons
49%

Program
25%
Main.@A3l.
14%

Ministry
Salaries
45%

BeaverLake DauphinBible
BibleCamp
Camp

GimliBible
Camp

RoseauRiver
BibleCamp

Turtle
Mountain
BibleCamp

ValleyView
BibleCamp

Provicial
Provincial
Support
Ministry*

Consolidated
Results

Income
Fees

14,565

107,738

183,942

224,925

108,494

156,597

69,472

865,733

Dona3ons

20,660

141,725

58,209

136,724

188,904

102,000

**234,770

882,992

5,024

15,340

3,878

3,553

9,251

4,307

41,353

$35,225

$254,487

$257,491

$365,527

$300,951

$267,848

$308,549

$1,790,078

10,092

51,187

91,859

82,930

98,389

52,877

27,280

414,614

3,595

34,179

25,203

66,557

38,265

44,033

18,435

230,267

16,179

98,100

97.033

113,257

99,203

105,662

**238,344

767,778

Miscellaneous
Total
Expense
Program***
Maintenance@A3li3es
MinistrySalaries

8,373

38,066

31,529

66,526

53,483

50,098

28,364

276,439

Total

Administra3on

$38,239

$221,532

$245,624

$329,270

$289,340

$252,670

$312,423

$1,689,098

Netsurplus/decit

$3,014

$32,955

$11,867

$36,257

$11,611

$15,178

$3,874

$100,980

* Provincial Support Ministry Includes the Adventure Day Camp Ministry

** Includes $76,017 support for summer missionaries
*** Program expense includes groceries and supplies

Manitoba Missionary

go d S MiSSio n . o ur Adventur e .

Partnering with Us!

Financial
Report
page 25

our mission Team

Harold & Natalie Giesbrecht

Provincial Support Team

Joey & Andrea Sawatzky

Valley View Bible Camp

Lorne & Lise McLarty

Provincial Support Team

Jake & Martha Friesen

Gimli Bible Camp

Duane & Sylvia Goertzen & Family

Roseau River Bible Camp

Krystyn Howden
Turtle Mountain Bible Camp

Gordon & Jennifer Giesbrecht & Family

Valley View Bible Camp

Elanna Truijen, Adventure Day

Camp / Provincial Support Team

Rod & Rose Reimer & Family

Roseau River Bible Camp

Howard & Kathy Weir

Turtle Mountain Bible Camp

Bill & Bev McCaskell & Family

Provincial Support Team

Don & Charlotte Roe & Family

Gimli Bible Camp

Mitch & Angie Osiowy

Beaver Lake Bible Camp

Richard & Carma Bankert & Family

Dauphin Bible Camp

Roseann & Gord Lang

Provincial Support Team

god S M iS Sion. our Adventur e .

Manitoba Missionary

Day At
BLBC
page 26

a GreaT day aT
Beaver Lake
Bible Camp

A n g i e

o S i o w Y

The first time I woke up at Beaver Lake Bible Camp,

and stepped out of my cabin, I was met by one of Gods
miracles creation. It was beautiful! I had been anticipating seeing the place where God had called us to
serve Him and I felt absolutely blessed when I saw the
beautiful surroundings at BLBC.
Each morning, from then on, I was reminded that
God had a special plan for this camp! I am not really an
outdoorsy type, but camp is different I love camp.
When I was young I had such a great God experience
at camp that I just hoped that through BLBCs ministry
another child could be reached in the same way.
Mornings and evenings were especially my favourite during the summer. I got to spend time with the
staff and grow closer to them as I found out what was
happening in the hearts of our campers and shared
what God had been doing in our hearts as well! I love

people and seeing how God has created them!

Chapel was another great highlight as we came together and got to sing so many fun songs. I got to see the
campers laugh, sing and enjoy learning about another
Way. Most of our campers came in with no knowledge
of Christ or how He has come to save us. To hear campers ask questions and interact with the speaker was
such a joy to my heart!
During the day I got the job of trouble-shooting
when the staff would come to me with a challenging
camper, giving me an opportunity to spend one-onone time with a camper and hear their heart. One of the
one-on-ones I had really broke my heart, but after realizing that the ground we covered through our conversation probably would not have come out in any other
way, I was so happy. I really believe that our conversation glorified the Lord. I now have such a good relationship with that camper and that camper knows that
they have a real friend!
In the evenings, sitting around the campfire, we
sing songs and then have a time of sharing. Sometimes
one person shares their testimony and other times we
open it up for everyone to talk about who they think
God is and how He could change their lives. Its truly
amazing to hear Who God is to each individual.
Some of our campers who come are a little rough
around the edges, but so are we! None of us are perfect, but God still loves to work with us and is willing
to use us as instruments in His perfect plan! Thank You

Q: How many liters of water does it

take to fill CSSM pools and the like?

A: 284,079,825,400,00 liters altogether to fill
Roseau Rivers pool, Valley Views pool, Lake
Winnipeg (Gimli), and Amisk Lake (Beaver Lake).
(We left out the Dauphin pool and Turtle Mountains Partridge Lake.
Youll have to practice
your addition skills
elsewhere!)

Day at
God!
So my days are really busy, but
BLBC
they are a wonderful busy. I love
page 27
the children that I get to spend
time with, and the activities I get
to plan. I get to meet so many families and interact
with different people in the community. I get to talk
for hours as I take those who may have been a little
scraped up to the doctor. My job is a joy and I spend all
year looking forward to it!
There are so many miracles that happen at camp.
Really tough kids that cry out to God, parents who we
are able to visit in their homes and share the Gospel,
and leaders whose faith is strengthened; Mitch and I
come away from camp each year just knowing that this
is exactly where God wants us. A day at camp can be
filled with so many jobs but they are all for one reason:
That more of Gods children will one day have the opportunity to go and spend eternity with him! That is a
great day!
Angie Osiowy has directed Beaver Lake Bible Camp
with her husband Mitch for the past four years. They
have three children and live in Caronport, Saskatchewan.

What breaks your heart as a camp director?

Knowing that so many people in our world have no idea
that there is a way other than our own! We have the most
perfect God to lead us to life that doesnt just end here. There
are such broken people that believe that that is the end of
the road for them... It breaks my heart seeing the pain but
it relieves me that they come to camp and are going to
get the opportunity to hear the truth!

Angie
Director, Beaver Lake Bible Camp

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Servicing Canada and the USA
Austin, MB 204.637.2429

Dauphin, Manitoba

Cooking
with Kathy
page 28

CooKING

With Kathy
K AtH Y

weir

Im confident Turtle Mountain Bible Camp isnt

alone when it comes to camp kitchen cooking capoofs
(made up-not a scrabble word). I myself acknowledged
being cooking impaired when my best friend, a gourmet chef, offered cooking classes on my behalf. Ive
learned that there is less smoke and it works better
overall to have water in the bottom of a poached egg
pan; that a clove of garlic is not a bulb; that it is advantageous for those eating BBQd fish that I label my jars
of dish soap and cooking oil; and that in recipes, a cup
of coffee refers to liquid coffee and not sifted!

K AtH Y

We recently enjoyed a camper/staff reunion and I

thought it was safe for me to prepare the snacks and
supper meal. I tend to see expiry dates as guidelines,
not liking to be wasteful. Though I couldnt remember
how long the dry milk powder had been in my cupboard (Im sure it wasnt more than a few years), I reasoned it must not have an expiry date since none could
be found on the packaging. Am I the only one who has
the gift of making lumpy hot chocolate? Now I wonder
if I shouldnt have added it directly to the hot water as
perhaps its like corn starch and must be mixed with
cold water before heating Either way, the sifting
didnt remove the strange taste, and fortunately there
was time to make a fresh batch (without the milk) before everyone returned from skating.
It must be a hot liquids thing arriving at the camp
kitchen late one morning, I rushed in and pulled out
the coffee filter to get the coffee started. Hot water started running across the counter, so I instinctively put my
hand under the filter to stop the mess. This just resulted
in me creating some innovative dance moves as my
hand became painfully aware of my actions.
This summer, we also discovered that if an oven
that you desperately need bears a DO NOT USE sign,
it may be wise to not believe the maintenance person
who assures you it is probably fine (though he was not
there when the sign was posted). At bedtime, our first-

day-on-the-job-head cook recruit

Cooking
put several roasters of meat to simmer overnight, not knowing that with Kathy
the broken oven automatically
page 29
went up to 500 degrees. Smoke billowing from the dining hall is NOT
a good sign of a delicious meal any time soon, nor was
the charcoal black roaster we discovered as a gift on
our porch! I confess it felt good knowing that this time
I hadnt done it! We teased our cook that, although
we were looking into replacing the dining room, we
werent planning on a summer fire to prompt the upgrade.
These incidents remind me that life often doesnt go
according to our plans. Your ways are not my ways,
says the Lord (Isaiah 55:8). Im also reminded that God
has a sense of humor; so should we. A merry heart is
good medicine (Prov. 17:22). The song, I Hope You
Dance comes to mind, but not the way I did with the
coffee filter. In light of eternity, some things such as
accidental Jalapeo French toast really dont matter
and we might as well enjoy the journey!
Besides enjoying their ministry at Turtle Mountain
Bible Camp, Howard and Kathy Weir have just returned home from two weeks in Africa, attending the
wedding celebration of their daughter, Jenni.

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A Ride
Away from
Routine

a rIde aWay

From Routine

page 30

elAnnA

What do you get when you put

a huge storm system, twenty-four
horses, and baked oatmeal together? A taste of Jenny Hieberts
first summer at Roseau River Bible
Camp.
With never having been to
camp before either as camper or
staff member Jenny didnt quite
know what she was getting herself into when she decided to take
the summer missionary position of
head wrangler at Roseau River.
My dream is to eventually
get into the field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Jenny says.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
engages the use of horses in working with people dealing with disabilities, abuse, eating disorders,
and stress. I have always wanted
to work with children, especially
those with disabilities.... I had
worked with children and with
horses separately in various ways,
but I thought it was time to work
with them together.
Jenny had been studying at
Canadian Mennonite University
for several years, and generally
worked close to home in Altona
during the summers. I had fallen
into a normal routine. Life was
good but not overly exciting. The
plan was simply to finish my degree and then figure out life from
there. On Camp Day at CMU, a
poster at the CSSM Ministries booth
announcing the need for wranglers
at summer camps across Manitoba
quickly changed that normal
routine into an extraordinary adventure. I picked up a [camp] brochure and...once the idea got into
my head, I was pretty much set on
doing that for the summer, Jenny
remembers.

Manitoba Missionary

Most people think of camp as

that two-month period from July
to August when the cabins fill
with kids, the dining hall echoes
with laughter, and the pool, BMX
bike track, and archery range vibrate with activity. Few people
get a glimpse into the backstage
inner-workings that go on from
September-June. Jenny joined the
backstage action when she moved
onto the Roseau River Bible Camp
grounds in May to start putting together the horsemanship program
for the summer. I chose RRBC
partly for the convenience it was

truij en

about my wrangler duties I was

definitely overwhelmed. I knew
what it took to take care of one
horse of my own, but had no idea
of the amount of work required to
take care of over 20! I also had no
idea what a camp horsemanship
program looked like. The task of figuring out what to do with a group
of kids for five hours a week initially seemed daunting. There were
records of what had been done in
the past; I...mixed some parts together and added some of my own
to make a program that I thought
would work for me.

The relationship between a horse and a rider

is based on trust, just like our relationship
with God.... Just like the master leads the
horse, its Gods job to lead us, not our own.
close enough to home that I could
go home for the weekend and still
see my family throughout the
summer. The initial conversations
I had with the director went well
and I felt welcomed into the camp
immediately. All the pieces just
kind of fell into place and before I
knew it I had a job for the summer.
I had a lot of thoughts running
through my head the first few days;
this was a completely new experience for me. I remember thinking
that the camp was so big and I had
trouble finding my way around....
The camp was beautiful though
and I was excited to spend so much
time outside and in nature.
After she learned how to get to
the barn, Jenny began familiarizing herself with her new responsibilities. When I first thought

go d S MiSSio n . o ur Adventur e .

Jenny found that the Roseau

River barn was just a cover name
for one of Gods classrooms. I was
struck throughout the summer at
the parallels that can be drawn between a riders walk with a horse
and our walk with God. The relationship between a horse and a rider is based on trust, just like our relationship with God.... Just like the
master leads the horse, its Gods job
to lead us, not our own We get upset when the horse tries to lead us.
Alongside the horse analogies,
God also used Jennys position at
the barn to help her to grow. It
was extremely humbling for me
to find myself in the position of
head wrangler. I felt unqualified
at times, but I also felt like I had
responsibilities to uphold; part of
the responsibility meant being a

j e n n Y f o u n d t H At g o d u S e d H e r w r A n g l e r p o S i t i o n
At r r b C A S A C AtA lY S t to S p e A K to H e r A b o u t H e r
r e l At i o n S H i p w i t H H i M

A Ride
Away from
Routine
page 32

spiritual leader for the other staff at camp. This again

challenged me to make God my number one priority,
to continue with my daily devotions and to seek Him
first. I wanted to set a good example.
Like it does for so many, camp became the place God
used to help Jenny refocus on Him. Camp provided
me with the spiritual kick in the pants that I needed.
Throughout the past university year, I had been struggling with making God the true priority in my life that
He should have been. School is busy and it seems that a
daily walk with God can just fall to the side even when
I know it shouldnt. I drew closer to God over the summer simply by being outside in creation so much....
Morning devotions seem to have more of an impact
when you read Scripture as the sun is rising and the fog
is lifting off the river. I remember one evening when
there were two different storm systems coming at us;
we could see lightning from almost every direction.
The campers were already in bed, but a number of the
support staff went out to the field to watch the storm; it
was an amazing reminder of Gods power.
Even though it was her first summer as part of the
RRBC staff family, Jenny noted that working together toward a common goal and living in community
works to bring people together in a special way, no
matter what background or culture you may be from. I
made some great friendships over the summer. Every-

Manitoba Missionary

one welcomed me into the community. I learned lots

and had plenty of great theological discussions which
shaped my beliefs.
Alongside late night conversations, staff crib games,
classic Roseau River baked-oatmeal breakfast goodness,
and wrangler fence-fixing sessions, Jenny remembers
the moments the campers lives intertwined with hers.
I think it was a junior week; at the end of our last skill
a big mob of girls came and hugged me and thanked
me for teaching them to ride. I was overcome. So often
I got into going through the motions; the wranglers go
through the skills so many times that it is not always
exciting to us anymore. The hugs and excitement from
the campers was a good reminder that what I was doing can really impact their lives.
I remember another girl during Senior-teen week
saying she had come to camp every year for I believe
eight years.... On our trail ride at the end of the week she
was riding right behind me,... [and] when she told me
she had been coming for so long, I said that she must
really like camp then. She replied that she kept coming back for the horses.... Even though some of the activities may seem like they are just there to eat up time
throughout the day, every part of camp is an opportunity to minister to the campers or at the very least help
them feel joy that they may not have otherwise.
Whats next for Jenny? Initially, working at camp

go d S MiSSio n . o ur Adventur e .

was a one-summer plan. Looking back, even though it

seemed to be mostly coincidence or convenience that
brought me to RRBC, I can see that Gods hand was in it;
this was exactly where I was supposed to end up. I am
now open to letting camp play a bigger role in my future. I still believe I am called to working with children
and horses. If anything, this summer has affirmed that
calling. Realizing the number of spiritual connections
that can be made while working with horses is encouraging, as I may be able to incorporate that in my future
practice.
Remembering where she came from before summer, Jenny is adamant that camp ministry can be for
anyone. Do it! Dont let anything hold you back. I
was apprehensive at the beginning because I felt like I
would be so much older than the rest of the staff. I was
nervous about being a first-time staff when so many
camp workers have years of history with camp. None
of these things mattered. God can use anyone with any
skills. There are so many things that need to happen at
camp and all [the] positions are so important. If you go
in with an attitude of being willing to learn new things
and have some adventure along the way, you will have
an amazing time and God will use you in great ways.
We could all use a little shake-up in routine once in
awhile; especially if Gods classroom has handed out an
invite. Routine is over-rated anyways. Just ask Jenny!

What's your earliest camp memory?

After church one Sunday in 1996 I was approached and
asked if I wanted to be a cabin leader that summer if I did,
he needed to know right then, because the bus was leaving
for staff training in a couple of hours. I told him I would go
ask my mom (I was 16 at the time) she said, sure you can
go and I quickly went home, packed my stuff, and have
not spent a summer away from camp since.

www.funkstoyota.ca
Duane
Assistant Director,
Roseau River Bible Camp

Steinbach, MB
1 877 524-4152

How old is CSSM Ministries most

senior horse?
Lucky, part of the Valley View herd, and
Hurricane from the Roseau River barn, both have
a life history comprised of 28 years.

Manitou, MB

Grain Dryer Specialists

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www.mb.cssm.ca

1-204-668-CSSM (2776)

Ministry Missionary Board Constituency

DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT

We are committed to
empowering our camping
ministries to expand their
sphere of ministry.

We are committed to
supporting, developing
and caring for our
provincial missionaries.

DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT

We are committed to
We are committed to
working with each camp
growing the number of
board to ensure long-term people who are partnering
health and effectiveness. with our camps ministries.

Your Gift to our Provincial Support Ministry

makes this possible...

CSSM Ministries Manitoba

invites you to the Support Raising Tour 2011!
Steinbach

Fri., March 25

Steinbach Bible College

Rosenort

Sat., March 26

Rosenort EMC Church

Winnipeg

Sun., March 27

Grace Community Church

Mon., March 28

Portage Alliance Church

Dauphin

Tues., March 29

Grace Bible Church

Virden

Wed., March 30

Virden Alliance Church

Portage la Prairie

Killarney

Thurs., March 31 Lakeview Community Church

Morden

Fri., April 1

Morden EMM Church

Gladstone

Sat., April 2

Gladstone Christian Fellowship

Sun., April 3

Oakbank Baptist Church

Oakbank

Publications Mail Agreement #: 40019747

Manitoba Missionary
CSSM Ministries Manitoba
200-189 Henderson Hwy
Winnipeg, MB R2L 1L7

Browns

The

from Iowa

Welcome to CSSM Ministries

2011 Manitoba Spring Concert Tour!

WELCOME to our evenings concert!!!

Manitoba Spring
Concert Tour with
The Browns
Friday, March 25
Steinbach
Steinbach Bible College
Saturday, March 26
Rosenort
Rosenort EMC Church
Sunday, March 27
Winnipeg
Grace Community Church
Monday, March 28
Portage la Prairie
Portage Alliance Church
Tuesday, March 29
Dauphin
Grace Bible Church
Wednesday, March 30
Virden
Virden Alliance Church

Were so thrilled that of all the options available to you, you chose to spend your
evening with us! Were glad you are here and are confident that by the end of our
evening together you will agree that the choice you made was a good one!
In the next few hours, youll enjoy some of the finest Gospel music to come out of
the heart of the US Midwest, hear the exciting things God is doing through CSSM
Ministries Manitoba, and have the opportunity to enjoy some yummy desserts and
chat with CSSM missionaries and our guest music group The Browns. In fact, were
calling it Brownies with The Browns!
While you are waiting and making yourself comfortable, feel free to flip through the
pages of the magazine you are holding. Inside you will find stories of how God has
changed the lives of people through the seven camping ministries of CSSM Manitoba; you will have an opportunity to meet our year-round missionaries; and receive
an inside glimpse into the life of the Brown Family. (Youll also have the chance to
become a camp trivia genius for example, do you know how many litres of water it
takes to fill CSSM pools and lakes? Neither did we check out page 27 if the need to
know gets the best of you, and look for other camp facts sure to make you a trivia pro.)
Here are some highlights youll want to be sure to catch:
Check out page 19 for some great background information on The Browns, tonights music guests.
Take a look at some of the special columns written by our missionaries, such as
Cooking with Kathy on page 28.
On page 24 we give you a complete breakdown of how CSSM Ministries is financially doing province-wide. This evening is an opportunity to report back to you,
our supporters, on the faithfulness of God that we see demonstrated throughout
the year by your continued support so thank-you!

Thursday, March 31
Killarney
Lakeview Community Church

We also would like to extend a heart-felt thank-you to the many individuals, businesses and organizations whose sponsorships have made this evening possible and
the printing of this magazine a reality. As you browse the pages, please keep these
folks and their generous hearts in mind.

Friday, April 1
Morden
Morden EMM Church

We invite you to get comfortable, meet and greet the folks sitting nearby, and prepare
yourself for an enjoyable evening of blessing, as you listen to great music and hear of
the wonderful things God is doing in our province of Manitoba.

Saturday, April 2
Gladstone
Gladstone Christian Fellowship
Sunday, April 3
Oakbank
Oakbank Baptist Church

Were glad you are here!

Harold Giesbrecht
Public Relations/Development Director

Bill McCaskell
Provincial Director

2011 Camp Projects

BIBLE CAMP & RETREAT CENTER

PROJECT

TOTAL

A Home for
Joey & Andrea
(Assistant Director)

$95,000

$45,000

Coal Boiler
Heating System

$50,000

$20,000

$14,000
Estimated

$14,000

A boat theme outdoor

adventure complex

$15,000
Estimated

$15,000

A new f loor
for the kitchen

$5,000
Estimated

$5,000

Windows and doors for

new Dining Hall/
Kitchen Complex

$10,000

$10,000

Use of a 8 or more
passenger van for
July and August

10 weeks

10
weeks

Completion of 4-plex
(Septic, Hydro,
Siding & Addition
of Front Deck)

REMAINING

www.mb.cssm.ca

1-204-668-CSSM (2776)

Ministry Missionary Board Constituency

DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT

We are committed to
empowering our camping
ministries to expand their
sphere of ministry.

We are committed to
supporting, developing
and caring for our
provincial missionaries.

DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT

We are committed to
We are committed to
working with each camp
growing the number of
board to ensure long-term people who are partnering
health and effectiveness. with our camps ministries.

Your Gift to our Provincial Support Ministry

makes this possible...