2020 Essays on Race and Diversity was a four-essay series addressing issues of race and diversity from Camp’s perspective. The first essay in the series is a joint statement from Executive Director Ken Bontrager and Program Director Kevin Smith. The remaining three are essays expanding on themes in the first by Ken Bontrager. The project…
I’ve been eligible to vote for 30 years, but – like many in my generation – I’ve never felt like a politician or party truly represented me. They may win me at one point, but they’ll loose me in the next. When I have voted, it always seemed I was going to the polls holding…
This is Session 2 of the Prince of Peace: Jesus and Peacebuilding from the Election to the Holidays webinar series. (Click here to sign up for session invites.) This session is about what we do when the people around us challenge our peace. It requires us to draw on something deeper in order to continue…
Jesus promised his followers an abundant life. Is that just an abstract idea to distract us from earthly misery, or is there real power in Christ to live a full and rich life in the here and now? Young adults are navigating a challenging landscape as they start “adulting” and building a life, so we’ll…
Ken BontragerOctober 2, 2020Fourth of Four / 2020 Essays on Race and Diversity Camp Deerpark, from the beginning in 1969, has been a place where people of all cultures have come together to break down barriers. In June, Kevin Smith shared his perspective on race relations and diversity. Following is the fourth and final short…
This is Session 3 of the Prince of Peace: Jesus and Peacebuilding from the Election to the Holidays webinar series. (Click here to sign up for session invites.) Sometimes people seem so different from us, we automatically assume we can’t connect. Or, we tried to connect on some level, but it quickly became way too…
This is Session 4 of the Prince of Peace: Jesus and Peacebuilding from the Election to the Holidays webinar series. Advent celebrates the central fact that God began building peace with us by giving a Gift. Following this example, gifts are a powerful tool for peacebuilding in our lives, relationships, and organizations. We’ll explore how…
Ken BontragerSeptember 4, 2020Third of Four / 2020 Essays on Race and Diversity Camp Deerpark, from the beginning in 1969, has been a place where people of all cultures have come together to break down barriers. In June Kevin Smith shared his perspective on race relations and diversity. Following is the third of four short…
Camp’s mission statement says we offer people the opportunity to fellowship in “serenity”. Serenity literally means “clear skies” — a state of refuge from the storms of the World. Right now, our World does feel pretty stormy with a divided country going into an election and numerous disasters and conflicts abroad and at home. Because…
This is Session 1 of the Prince of Peace: Jesus and Peacebuilding from the Election to the Holidays webinar series. (Click here to sign up for session invites.) This session is about what we do with those in our lives who see things differently — even very differently. We do this using a paradigm from…