Introducing...Forest Springs Adventure Ministries Staff 2014!

B to F/L to R: Dan, Tim, Brice, Jordan, Michael, Caleb, Cassie, Peter, Reanna, Katy, Abby, Missy

This summer they will be growing, teaching, praying, kayaking, climbing, canoeing, packing and preparing food, leading alongside youth pastors, counseling, managing the details of many trips, handling the care of the camp gear and vehicles, caring for hundreds of campers, caring for each other… Thank you for your love, prayers and support!

Dan, Laura and Charlie Jacobson—Adv. Min. Director and wife (Full-time Staff)

· Pray for  wisdom in leadership.

· Pray for wisdom in parenting and for the heart of our son who is learning that Dad is gone a lot.

Tim, Andra, Ben & Kaylee Petersen— Adv.  Ministries Associate and family (Full-time staff)

· Pray for the delicate balance of Camp/Church/Family.

· Pray for spiritual growth and awaremess for my children.

· Pray for care and attentiveness to my wife.

· Pray for love for all people.

Brice Niemond—Trip Leader (Moody Bible Institute—Spokane, WA)

· Pray for my emotional and physical endurance as this summer will be draining.

· Pray that I would be focused on Christ as my source of both strength and effectiveness as I serve this summer.

 Jordan Scott—Specialist/LTD (Pine Island, MN)

· Pray for confidence in leadership and wisdom throughout the summer.

 

Michael S. Nimesheim Jr.—Specialist (Nanzdietschweiler, Germany/Prairie Bible Institute)

· Pray for the love of God to be shown through my life to others for His glory.

· Pray that I would be fully invested while here at Camp.

· Pray that I would make wise choices and good judgement calls all summer.

Caleb Bishop—Trip Leader (Felch, MI/Cairn University)

· Pray that I would rely on God’s strength as I serve.

· Pray that I would be drawn to my knees this summer as I see His love, affection, and grace for me, in my campers lives, and through us working through the Spirit.

· Pray for growth in leadership with good uplifting communication between trip leaders, trip staff, and trip groups.

· Pray for boldness to take the opportunities to challenge and grow campers in the Gospel.

Cassie Whitstone—Trip Packer (Full-time Staff)

· Pray that I make the most of every opportunity this summer.

· Pray that I daily remember that God has never failed me.

· Pray that I rely on Him fully for my fulfillment.

Peter Hoyt—Trip Leader (Rib Lake, WI/Cairn Univeristy)

· Pray that God would be working through me to share Christ’s love with those I come in contact with and in all my actions and words this summer.

Réanna Baumgarten— Adventure Ministries  Coordinator (Full-time Staff)

· Pray that I will be intentional in my relationships with our summer staff and campers

· Pray that I keep the details organized well for trip staff!

· Pray for solid time in God’s word in the midst of a busy season.

Katy Beasterfield—Trip Leader (Rib Lake, WI/Bethlehem College and Seminary)

· In Matthew 20:28 we see that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.  This summer my desire is to serve both the campers and other staff with the humility of Christ.  Not out of obligation, but out of love.

· Pray that my heart would be soft and moldable to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Abby White—Trip Leader (Cedarburg, WI/UW-Stevens Point)

· Pray for growth in seeing my sin and God’s holiness.

· Pray for the ability to communicate the gospel clearly to campers and love them where they are in life.

· Pray for the team of trip leaders and staff to increse in grace and truth for one another.

 Melissa (Missy) Pranke—Trip Leader (Cannon Falls, MN/LTD graduate)

· Pray for humility in leading.

· Pray for patience and grace with campers.

· Pray that the love and power of God would fill me and be used to encourage others.

 

 

 

Congrats!

                                                       Congratulations, Friends!!--May 2014

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12

This famous passage was the text we used to close out the first Trailhead program year. The students, having just studied the book of Hebrews together, knew this passage well and many of our staff, as well as their families were present to be part of their “cloud of witnesses.”

As a final message to close out nine months of learning, I could think of no better words. Just like the Hebrew Christians in their day, these students strike out on an adventure of faith in a culture that is increasingly hostile to their beliefs. This race will require perseverance, but it is so great to realize that Christ also endured hostility, and did so for the JOY set before him.

It is our prayer for these young friends that they will rise up as men and women of faith in their generation, leaning on the promise that they too have JOY set before them.

The students left on May 10^th which gave us only two weeks to switch gears. Our summer adventure team is now here and preparing for a full summer of ministry!

Our little Charlie is also learning and growing (…and so are we!).  He has added so much fun to our lives.  Some of his favorite pastimes these days include peekaboo, going for hikes, seeing Dad come home, trying new foods, creeping on the floor and trying to eat grass.

The Lord has blessed us greatly in the last year. By His grace we got to glimpse growth in ourselves, in our son and in the students.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Dan, Laura & Charlie

                                                    River-Ready! --June 2014

Okay, after a major backlash (2 verbal comments which probably constitutes 50% of the people who read this) regarding the canoe post yesterday, I want to clarify that I didn't intend to say that the students have done anything wrong necessarily.

The canoe project has always been presented as an optional activity, and the disappointment I expressed was in regard to the realization I have been coming to that not everyone is interested in the same things I am. They simply haven't caught a vision for this project. They haven't seen the reward as worth the effort. 
I don't play video games or golf  for the same reason and that is okay.

I loved the idea of watching them enjoy the completion of this project and my disappointment is in the fact that it probably won't happen, not in the students themselves. They are great :)

Oops again... its been another month. If you can't tell, things have been busy. The students are experiencing a class-heavy month, with worldview taking center stage. Yesterday we attended the film

 "God's Not Dead" in Wausau and that provided some good discussion. Please pray for the remainder of the year. There is much to discuss and debrief. The time will slip away quickly. The students are already getting emotional. 

 A few updates:

 

  

Ah the canoe... I am going to have to admit that this has become a pretty major disappointment this year. The hope was that the long monotonous task would end with the glorious unveiling of a beautiful boat and a trip with the group in the canoe. Unfortunately, despite my pleas, bribes, threats and nagging, they lost interest and now it is probably not going to be possible to finish the boat before they leave. Jesse and I will finish the boat, and it will still be great. People will marvel at the size of it and enjoy it. We just won't be able to say that the Trailhead students built it, and that is sad for me.

I haven't put an AWANA picture up here before, but you should all know that the students have helped weekly in the local churches and this has been a HUGE blessing. This is Tyler Morecraft helping the kids do some kind of a dancy, songy thing. I have actually been quite impressed with the way the young men have stepped out of their comfort zones to assist in this way.

Charlie Boy in his favorite spot. Hanging in the swing.

God Bless!

Oops. Its been a month. What a month it was. Several thousand people have visited camp in the last month, skiing, snowboarding, tubing and hearing from God's word. The students have been troopers, keeping spirits up even during brutal polar vortex conditions. Serving in this way has challenged them, and I truly believe that they have grown in character during this time.

Now, as the sun gains warmth and the days get longer, the winter craziness begins to fade and we can resume a more class-oriented lifestyle. Besides an in-depth study of Hebrews, the students will be exploring worldview and media topics, learning more from Larry Den Hartog about community and communication, and continuing their gospel-application discussions with Matt Hoffland.

All this in addition to finishing the canoe I hope! Should the ice ever melt, I would love to take it for a spin before they leave in May. Will they finish? Its up to them. We have a long way to go still. Pictures coming soon!