Cssm Ministries Mb - Christian Camps Newsletter Winter 2009

Our fiscal year end report ending September, 2008 has been very encouraging as we ended the year in the black! We cannot help but extend our profound ‘THANK-YOU!’ to all who made this possible! In a year where so much financial uncertainty has reigned we are so grateful for those who saw God’s Work as a priority and were willing to support it regardless! Might we, TOGETHER, continue to touch the lives of the many children, adults and communities in our province! (OCTOBER - SEPTEMBER 2008)

The work CSSM Ministries - MB with the expressed purpose of ministry to the children and families of this province for Jesus Christ marches forward into another New Year. Perhaps being at another end to the taxation year you will consider an extra gift that will help change lives in 2009! Through planned giving there are many ways to support CSSM Ministries Manitoba...

• Outright gifts (cash, real estate, etc.)



• Regular donations (check out our Pre-authorized



Everyone seems to enjoy a story! And stories have been a mainstay down through mankind’s history having been passed on from one generation to the next, mainly verbally but often in other modes of expression (ex. Visually by art on cave walls, on parchments, etc.; Physically through artifacts and excavations; Audibly by recorders or by other audio-visual means). History can be told by stating the facts in point form but it takes on new meaning brimming with life when told in the context of a story! Each year we, at the Provincial Branch level, try to have a theme that will typify the intent of each upcoming summer ministry time. Last year, as laid out in the camp lesson books, we a had a theme centered around God and His ‘Adventure’ of life. It was ‘Adventure Ahead!’ focusing on the way God directs our adventure in life always wanting it to bring about the Glorification of His Name and Purpose! The theme this year relates to, as does the camp lesson books, ‘What the Bible Teaches About Man’ and we are approaching it from the theme catchall, ‘Others’ Stories!’.

Monthly Donation Program)



• Bequests - giving to CSSM Ministries in your will



• Life insurance policy (with CSSM as beneficiary)



• Charitable trusts

ASK FOR A BROCHURE! ATTENTIONS: If wanting your gift to go to a specific camp, please mark it clearly on your cheque or donation insert so we can pass it onto the camp indicated. Otherwise, donations received go for the operation of the Branch Office and the services it provides.

Too often we get tied up with “our” story and so focused in on what we are doing and going through that we do not see the individual we are trying to minister to and the ‘story’ context they are found in. To be able to see how God is working in people’s lives and how their ‘story’ is being unfolded right before our eyes takes focus and spiritual maturity. This is needed to effectively impact them for the Kingdom of Christ! It is

our desire as CSSM Ministries’ missionaries to be so aware of the ongoing story unfolding before us each day in the lives of those we are called to minister to, that we can easily be used of the Lord to impact these lives for Him! Pray with us that both ourselves as year-round missionaries and those who join us throughout the year (and especially during the summer months) as seasonal missionaries will be able to so see the story context of those entrusted to us during the privileged and opportunistic times of ministry ahead! And, will be able to interact and relate with these in such a way as to see them come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour for the very first time or will see their walk with Him deepened in a long-lasting, maturing way! We marvel at what God has done in our midst as we look again at His Story enacted in so many ways before us during this Christmas time of the year! We become enveloped in the simplicity and yet the complexity of His Story as it reaches far beyond the Babe that came to Bethlehem over 2000 years ago! And so it is with those lives we have been called to minister to and through. Might we ever be aware of the stories the lives in our pathway of life bring to us. And, be willing to practice the second commandment, “to love our neighbors as ourselves!” so much that we cannot help but see God bringing about a ‘harvest of souls’ because of our obedience!

CSSM Ministries Manitoba Branch 200 -189 Henderson Hwy. Phone: (204) 668 - CSSM (2776) Fax: (204) 667-1496 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.cssm.ca/mb National Office - Winnipeg, MB

2009 might be the BEST YEAR YET for doing ministry for our Lord!

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord our God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great command. And the second is like it; ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “ Matthew 22 v 37 - 39 “Keep Encouraged!” Dean Davidson (Psalm 139)

Jan. 1

Welcome to the Year 2009!!

Jan. 8- 9

Annual CSSM Ministries - MB Missionary Retreat Portage la Prairie

Jan. 9-10

Annual Retreat/Advance Provincial Council/Camp Boards/Missionaries -Portage

Jan. 18-23

Camp Summer Staff Recruitment Tour to Sask. Bible Colleges

Jan. 29 - Feb. 6

Camp Summer Staff Recruitment Tour to Manitoba Bible Colleges

Feb. 4-5

Semi-annual CSSM Ministries Branch Directors’ Meeting

Feb. 6-7

Annual General Meeting - CSSM Ministries National Office

Feb. 6 - 8

Missionfest at Grant Memorial Baptist Church, Winnipeg, MB

Feb. 26 - March 8 Annual CSSM Ministries - MB Branch Promotional Events (details in this issue). March 23 - 25

Spring Forum & Annual General Meeting of CCI (Christian Camping Intern’l)- MB/NW Ont.

March 26-28

Parade of Camps at St. Vital Centre

Late April or early May

CCI – MB/NW Ont. Spring Camps’ tour.

May 15–17:

CSSM Ministries - MB Leadership Training & Semi-annual Camp Directors’ Meeting

June 2-6

Seniors’ Work Camp at Roseau River Bible Camp

June 15-18

Seniors’ Camp at Turtle Mountain Bible Camp

June 27-30

Corporate Summer Missionary Training Days (held at Gimli Bible Camp)

June 30-July 2

Individual Camps’ Summer Missionary Training Days

July/August

Neighborhood Bible Day Camps/VBS & Children’s Residential Camps throughout the Province

Do you have experience working with children? Do you love children, crafts, sports, dramas, music and the Manitoba countryside? If yes, then you’re invited to join the Neighbourhood Bible Day Camp ministry next summer as the head teacher. Please contact Ela Klaue at the Branch office for more info. Phone: 668-2776

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 was a busy day at Winkler Seniors Centre in downtown Winkler. The musicians and singers of CSSM’s Seniors’ camps were gathering for their annual music night, with benefits going to CSSM Ministries Manitoba. After spending several hours practicing, the musicians dined together in a nearby eating establishment, then shared their music with about 200 attendees from the community at large. An offering was taken and $2302. 35 was received for CSSM Ministries Manitoba.

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! God is at work in the world and He has called for each of us to join him in serving both believers and unbelievers. Our mission involves two great privileges- working with God and representing Him. To fulfill this mission, God requires that we abandon our agenda and accept his agenda for our life. Matthew 28:19,20 says: “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” For a number of years Gimli Bible Camp has primarily been a summer ministry dedicated to showing God’s love to the children and leading them to know Him on a personal level. My wife and I have worked full time compensable jobs. Recently, God has called my wife and me into full time ministry at Gimli Bible Camp in the area of Campsite Management and Maintenance. Since our children were young we have always been involved at GBC in some way and God continues to press this

Aug. 30-Sept. 4 Seniors Camp at Gimli Bible Camp

[Cut schedule out and post as a reminder to pray for these events and those involved in them.]

Hockey-Playing/Farming Family to be featured on CSSM Ministries Manitoba concert tour 2009! • Replacement Laptop Computer Needed Older (IBM 2000) needs to be updated. Cost of replacement: $1,400.00 Received so far: $800.00 • Manitoba Mission Car Replacement Fund (2nd of three year project) Cost of replacement: $15,000.00 Amount needed this year: $8,925.00 Received so far: $1,075.00 • Mission Promo Display Replacement Needed Cost of replacement: $2,500.00 Received so far: $00.00 Perhaps you can help make one or more of these projects listed a reality?! Often items such as these can only happen if the Lord’s people respond to the need. Is there a project listed you can get behind and help make happen?

Assistant Camp Manager/Director For more detailed information, please see our website. www.cssm.ca/mb

We would love to hear from you regarding that possibility! Your gift would be tremendously helpful and encouraging!

CSSM Ministries Manitoba is excited to announce that the Hunter Family from Shaunavon, Saskatchewan (http://www.thehunterfamily.ca) will be touring Manitoba from February 26 - March 8, 2009. This rather unique musical family spends their summers on a grain farm in Saskatchewan, and their winters playing hockey (the eldest son, JJ Hunter, played with the Manitoba Moose two seasons ago). This year, we are planning a change from the annual banquet theme and are opting for a “Concert, Coffee and Cheesecake Night!” Admission to the event will be free, with a freewill offering taken for CSSM Ministries Manitoba. We are also currently seeking sponsors for the event. Please contact Harold Giesbrecht if you or your business would be willing to assist us in this way.

(Jake [Martha] Friesen have joined our MB Branch missionary ranks taking on the role of GBC Site Manager mid-October after having served for numerous years on the Board of this Camp)

All concerts start at 7pm, with the exception of Oakbank @ 6:30pm & Rosenort @ 7:30pm.

With special musical guests

Thanks to all who gave their time and resources to make this a success!

ministry upon our hearts. It’s been incredible to see how God has timed our arrival into full time ministry at GBC! Although it is a big responsibility, it is also an incredible honor to be used by God at GBC! It is our hope and prayer that through these short testimonies you have also seen a glimpse of God’s agenda for the ministry of Campsite management. We hope you sense our excitement for the journey ahead and know that we rest our future in God’s Hands so that He can continue to mould us and make us what He wants us to be. We thank everyone for their prayers and support as they have been greatly appreciated!

Steinbach Thurs., Feb. 26

Christian Fellowship Church 417 Hanover St

326-2228

Morden Fri., Feb. 27

Westside Community Church 831 Thornhill Ave

822-5172

Rosenort Sat., Feb. 28

Rosenort EMC 509 River Rd S

746-8519

Winnipeg East Sun., March 1 (Oakbank)

Oakbank Baptist Church 4655 Springfield Rd

444-3348

Gladstone Mon., March 2

Gladstone Christian Fellowship Church, 201 Morris Ave. S.

385-2915

Portage la Prairie Tues., March 3

Portage Alliance Church 2375 Saskatchewan Ave W

239-1112

Killarney

Calvary Baptist Church 310 Mountain Ave

523-4311

Virden Thurs., March 5

Virden Alliance Church 375 Frame Street East

748-2621

Altona Fri., March 6

Altona E.M.M. Church 158 2nd St. NE

324-8432

Winnipeg West Sun., March 8 (West Perimeter)

Grace Community Church (formerly Charleswood Gospel Temple) 280 Caron Rd

895-1210

Wed. March 4

We need your assistance in promoting these events! Enclosed you will find a poster with numerous blank areas. Please take the information for your community from the chart below and enter it (using a marker or dark pen) on the enclosed poster, and post it on a bulletin board in your apartment complex, church or in a nearby mall.

FREE ADMISSION!

(free will offering for CSSM Ministries Manitoba)

With special musical guests

Hockey Playing, Farming Family to be featured on CSSM Ministries Manitoba concert tour 2009!

For more information, call 668-CSSM or visit

www.cssm.ca/mb

Place: ___________________________________________ Date: ___________________________ Time: __________