Presbyterian Camps, Saugatuck. Nestled in the sandy hills and shores of Lake Michigan, along the lower seam of the mitten state, cool morning winds smelling of grass and fresh buds, mingling with a gentle, ever present rustle of tree branches like the rhythm of a broom sweeping away the cares and thoughts of the world outside, stirring a quiet flap-flap of tent canvas, kissing the sweat off my brow; it is at this moment that I feel God’s breath, his sweet presence around me and in me that I so often cover and pollute with earthly cares but at this time and place can hold and hug and sing with like nothing else in my life matters as much as what’s happening right now. And nothing else does.

There is no other way to describe how I feel about this Camp. It is a journey and destination, alien and familiar, calm and ecstatic, secret and wonderfully open. I have come to Presbyterian Camps every year of my God-given life from when I crawled along cabin floors to tearfully praying at my final bonfire as a high school senior, and I would never trade any experience for the growth I have felt there and the connections to friends and God I have made. It is a space where properly used, we can not only strengthen the flock of Christians we already have but open our doors to new faces and members. The camp is not a commodity that should be easily parted with. It is not a simple retreat for campfires, swimming, and hiking, it is a place where we are meant to retreat back to God. The camp is where we can toss off our bags and sorrows, our weights and concerns and run with a bounding sprint into Gods loving arms.

In my 18 years with this Camp,  I have forged bonds with other Christians that will last a lifetime. When I am at Bible Study, playing games, or simply talking with my new friends, I am reminded that these are my people, these people are Christians too. Nothing has made me happier than to be able to freely profess my faith to a former stranger and have them proclaim theirs just as loud. The Camp is where I can come to study God’s word, yet rarely do my revelations come solely during discussions.

Once I had accidently hurt another camper badly. I had tripped and pushed her over, giving her a concussion that required an ambulance and hospital stay. I sat in my cabin, praying for her, unable  to forgive myself. I felt more alone than ever before. One by one, slowly, my cabin-mates came in and they talked to me, offering me something to eat, a comforting word, or just someone warm to hug. They came to me to ask forgiveness for hateful things they had told to me, and I was overjoyed to wash their words away with them and God. In this moment I felt God’s love and presence. In this moment I knew I was in the company of love and forgiveness that I so often blinded myself from. Presbyterian Camps brings Christians together in ways that we might predict, but will always feel.

I am no businessman, and I will not pretend to offer an easy solution to the Presbytery’s woes. However, we must all think long and hard before we abandon this sanctuary that we have been so blessed to inherit. In times of strife and hardship, not only for our ministry, but for flocks familiar and alien everywhere, we must provide now more than ever a space where we can be prepared as sanctuaries for our Lord, to grow in fellowship with Christians young and old alike, to feel Gods kissing breath on our faces and our hearts.

–
Calvin Krogh

Senior High Camper