Hello friends. The following is a letter from Jesse Penna about camp for 2020.
Good afternoon EFC-MAYM!
In recent days, many in EFC-MAYM have been discussing our upcoming camps at Camp Quaker Haven, pondering options, praying about what to do related to our summer Camps. Our EFC-MAYM days at Camp Quaker Haven include the following:
Kids Camp (3rd-6th grade) May 30-June 3
High School Camp (9th-12th grade ) June 4 – 8
Jr. high Camp (6th-8th grade) June 9 – 13
For a video version of the announcement to follow, please see the following video from our EFC-MAYM camp directors here
Many have been discussing camp, because many in EFC-MAYM and beyond LOVE and cherish the place known as Camp Quaker Haven, and all that God has done in our lives as individuals. Here is a short list of reasons from Rowan Davenport ( a current high school student at Friends Community, Angleton Texas ) that was sent to me a few days ago that I think capture the essence of so much of why we have all come to love camps at Camp Quaker Haven:
- Going to CQH is good exercise for the physical and spiritual body.
- The community created from CQH is such an important foundation in Christ to have for developing kids.
- Everyone involved in camp enjoys it and has a blast.
- “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18: 20 ( Rowan adds that she remembers this verse from Bible Quiz days! )
- Get wisdom – it’s worth more than money; choose insight over income every time. Proverbs 16:16
- Going to this wonderful camp has helped me grow so much as a Christian. I’ve grown up so much from the first time I went to CQH. My relationship with God has seen me through some tough times and some great ones. I’m just glad to have a friend in Jesus.
We all share a deep love for camp, and all of us have a time or way in which God has used our time at camp to change our lives in significant ways in our relationship to Jesus Christ. In light of our deep love for God and one another, coupled with a deep love for Camp Quaker Haven, the decision about Summer Camp 2020 has been a difficult one to make.
After meeting with the Student Ministry Division yesterday via zoom, and many hours seeking counsel from God through times of prayer, talking to health officials, camp directors, and church leaders in EFC-MAYM we have decided it is best to cancel this summer’s upcoming Camp season from May 30 – June 13.
A few reasons as to how we reached this decision:
- Camp directors Jenna Schmidt, Michael Scott, Josiah Brown, Manny Garcia and Shawn Penrose all came to agreement that programming for camp 2020 would be too difficult in light of current social distancing protocols. Furthermore, our camp nurse and camp sound engineer personally believe we should cancel camp. In light of our main planners and facilitators of camp all believing it is best to cancel, we believe it would be too difficult to plan and facilitate a high quality camp experience at this time.
- Given that our camps include multiple states, the potential issue of bringing infections from differing communities is a much higher risk in a place like camp for our context in EFC-MAYM.
- We learned of several persons who would not be able to attend camp for various reasons, and thus we feel it best to have a clean cancel as so many would not be allowed to come who wish they could including several adult counselors, several at risk students/adults, and some whose parents or context would not allow for their participation in Summer Camps.
There are many more reasons that went into this decision. If you would like to visit or hear more about the rationale related to this decision, I am more than happy to have a conversation with you.
In the meantime, we are working on some potential ways to “fill the void” of not having camp which could include the following:
- Making space and a way for you to grieve and lament this sobering and sad news.
- Figuring out a creative way to still make some general and ongoing connection with God and each other in EFC-MAYM.
- Reminding one another that the “Kingdom of God is not in trouble,” and that our relationship with God and each other is not solely dependent on our experience at CQH.
Furthermore, because we have all come to love the place known as Camp Quaker Haven, you are invited to consider the option of donating funds to CQH that may have been raised this summer for camp with the reality that camp will take a significant financial hit by not having our 3 camps take place this summer. You may choose to simply keep the funds available for next summer 2021, save some in case of a future camp opportunity, or make a donation to Camp Quaker Haven in some amount that you see fit. If you have questions about this, please let me know.
Finally, there is so much more to be said about this decision. However, I want the final word to come from some of us in EFC-MAYM who DEEPLY, DEEPLY love and serve our students. If you haven’t already, please check this video out and please feel free to share this email and video with whomever you prefer that might need to hear this information. Please click here to see the video.
On behalf of our Student Ministries Division and many in EFC-MAYM – Grace and Peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesse Ray Billy Bob Bodine Penna – Director of Student Ministries, EFC-MAYM
