Last week the editors of Christian Standard and The Lookout spent several days at the Hillsboro Family Camp in Hillsboro, Ohio. Family Camp is sponsored by Person to Person Ministries and led by executive director Kerry Allen.
For 46 years (since 1972) Person to Person Ministries has organized this annual gathering of families for the purposes of instruction, edification, and fellowship. The camp provides programming for adults, teens, and children.
Many families bring tents, campers, motor homes, and vans to Restoration Acres, a 158-acre campground owned by the ministry, to participate in Family Camp. This year there were 273 camping units spread across the campgrounds. Other families stay in nearby hotels for the week.
Some of the campers used the ministry’s Facebook page to express their favorite aspects of this year’s Family Camp:
“Always my favorite week of summer!”
“We brought a ten year old girl from our church for the first time this year. After her very first class she came running to give me a hug and said, ‘I loved it so much and I learned all about the Bible!’”
“Uplifting and encouraging messages! Being together with so many brothers and sisters in Christ! The singing! Felt just like a little piece of Heaven!”
Many of the comments mentioned the 22 baptisms:
“Our son making the best decision of his life by being immersed and starting his Christian walk.”
“Seeing all those baptisms, including a young woman who came with us as a first-time attendee!”
“There were so many baptisms that we had to refill the baptistery!”
Additionally, four young men responded to a call to preach. Allen estimates about 3,000 people attended the sessions throughout the week, including an average of about 200 teens and 170 children in their sessions.
“I enjoy good preaching and teaching anytime,” said The Lookout editor Shawn McMullen, “but there’s something special to me about hearing God’s Word taught in an open shelter amidst a cool breeze and the faint smell of wood smoke. It takes me back to my years at church camp and the many fond memories associated with it.”
Next year Family Camp will be held July 22-25. To learn more go to www.p2pm.org.
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NEWS BRIEFS
The Seth Wilson Library at Ozark Christian College (Joplin, Mo.) is getting a facelift this summer, with new paint, new carpet, and even a new director. Derek Moser replaces John Hunter, who retired in June.
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Hope International University (Fullerton, Calif.) has been recognized as having among the nation’s “Best Child Development Degrees” by CollegeChoice.net. HIU’s No. 22 ranking is based on several factors, including institutional excellence, student satisfaction, and return on investment. CollegeChoice.net had earlier ranked Hope’s “Online Secondary Education Degree” No. 3 in the nation.
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Manchester (N.H.) Christian Church is partnering with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (a minor league baseball team) and City Year to sponsor “One Day of Community” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Emmett-Sheridan Park. At the free event, thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies will be provided to children, plus there will be food, carnival events, prizes, and more.
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Christ’s Church in Mason, Ohio, has a “Walking Wounded Ministry” aimed at helping people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The monthly ministry this year has studied the “warrior ethos” from the perspective of the Bible’s King David and his “mighty men.”
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On Thursday, July 26, Christian Financial Resources surpassed 5,000 investor accounts for the first time. Through the years, investors have helped CFR finance more than 700 projects—including land acquisition, construction, and loan refinancing—among Christian churches and associated ministries, mainly in the Eastern United States.
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First Christian Church in Champaign, Ill., has an indoor playground and track that it opens to the public four days a week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Members of Southpoint Church in Trenton, Mich., participated this summer in GOImpact360’s “Blessfest” in southwest Detroit. Hundreds of volunteers joined in the annual event to help meet the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the community.
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Author: Shawn McMullen
Shawn McMullen serves as vice president of partner relations for the Christian Church Leadership Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio.
