When Can We Use the Camp?
This was one of my biggest questions when we moved here. Here are the rules, straight from the Camp Staff:
During Summer Family Camp (June & July):
Waterfront:
* The beach, including the water slide and canoes, will still be available Saturday through Monday-anytime.
Services:
* We can accommodate a few adults in the chapel services. Space is limited, so please email Bill Harvey (bharvey “@” lifeaction.org) or call the camp office to see if there is room for you to attend.
* HOWEVER, we do not have any room for children in the clubs or nursery. Depending on the week, the children’s clubs are maxed out.
Meals/Snacks
* We cannot add anyone to the meal or snack times.
We understand that there are times when you wish to visit friends or ministry partners while they are here. We realize that there are extenuating circumstances. Please feel free to talk to Bill Harvey (bharvey “@” lifeaction.org)
Thank you for your understanding. As always, if you have any questions, please contact The Camp leadership (Mike & Jimmy). They will be glad to talk with you about this.
Non-Family Camp Season (August – May):
Use of the Camp amenities for all times other than Summer Family Camp, please contact Bill Harvey (bharvey “@” lifeaction.org) or call the office (269)695.2191. As always, if you have any questions, please contact The Camp leadership (Mike & Jimmy). They will be glad to talk with you about this.
Have a Great Day!
Family Camp 2011!
It has been an unbelievable 9 weeks of Family Camp!
Here are some high lights from the summer:
- 231 Families (over 1200 guests) – the highest total ever for summer Family Camp season.
- We currently have 205 families registered for summer 2012; we only have 4 cabins available total for weeks 1-8 – never before has this happened this early!
- There were 8 professions of faith in Christ that we know of – 5 were adults.
- Your ministry to the ladies masseuse was truly a blessing. There is no doubt in my mind that your “authenticity” played a role in her profession of faith in Christ during week #2.
- God provided over and above what we were asking for the Chalet # 3 Remodel Project – at present, $48,000 has been given and others have stepped forward with the intent of donating materials, appliances, & labor.
- Date night at The Lodge was a tremendous success, the families absolutely loved it. Thank you for your willingness to partner with The Lodge – many families have a burden for their pastors and are intent on sending/sponsoring them for an upcoming Pastors Retreat as a result of their date night experience.
- I heard from dozens and dozens of people how they appreciated the many new touches that were added to our program this year. The extra time and energy it took from all of you to incorporate “the little things” – had an impact on everyone. The highlight for many was the encouragement they received when we personally escorted each family to their cabin after registration on Monday and prayed over them. – One father shared with me – “that is Authentic!”
- Here are just a few of the testimonies that were written, there were countless others that were shared with me personally and during our testimony services…
o This is my 7th camp but God moved in a mighty way. My wife and I have been married 21 years but we have been struggling to connect in the midst of raising 4 teens & a 3 year old. God spoke through Tom. I recognized that our marriage was in the pits and the only way out was to look up. My wife and I were each doing that separately but not together. Intellectually we were married but our Spirits were miles apart. Tom challenged us to not settle for peace but to strive for Spiritual unity. I took his advice. I held my wife’s hands and prayed with her and confessed my sins before her. She responded with tears and there is a softening that is occurring. I have hope for our marriage now.
o It’s because of Life Action that we are still married today. We have been in the church for our entire marriage, have been in small groups, gone to seminars and Christian counselors and STILL feel that your ministry is the key to us still being married to this day. We have felt the constant attack of the evil on each of us, and this year has been really hard. We both needed the conviction of the Holy Spirit this past week on our hearts to break down the pride we both had and show us that we have never been spiritually one….in over 20 years of marriage! How does that happen? My motto about family camp has been…that we can’t NOT go to family camp because it is the True North spiritually that our family needs. I don’t know how other families can make it out in the battlefield without coming back together at family camp and regrouping each year. I stamp on paper but God stamps on my heart.
o This retreat helped salvage our marriage. We were not communicating in the same language. We were going our own directions during the day and not meeting each other’s needs. This week has allowed us to stop and reevaluate things. We are now communicating in the same language and we see the areas that we individually need to work on to make our marriage better.
o We experienced the manifest presence of God’s Spirit, resulting in the healing of bitterness of children toward a sibling and even to me. Many walls came down and, although in our pride we felt “authentic”, God showed us areas of sin. Repentance, restoration and healing have taken place this week
Need to Know the Facts?
When we first moved to this area a few months ago, we were clueless. You don’t realize how much is familiar at home until you are not there, and you realize there are many things you took for granted, like, where to grocery shop, where is the best pharmacy, and what is available in the area for fun? I am still learning “the ropes”, and I am hoping to help anyone along who is also new to the area.
So, I guess the first thing that comes to mind is, what is there to do here for fun in the summer?
There are tons of things to do in our area in the summer!
Every Friday night, behind the Wonderland theater in Niles, movies are shown on the back of the building. It is a beautiful setting with the park on the St. Joseph River for the kids to play and a big lawn to set up your chairs or blankets. We have enjoyed going early, setting up our “spot” to picnic, and watching the kids play until it is time for the movie to start. You can get the schedule for these movies, as well as learn about the Summer Concert series and other fun things happening, on the Niles community calendar.
Also, check out the links to other local cities to see what fun things are going on there:
St. Joseph (Silver Beach is our FAVORITE, but more about that later!)
South Bend, IN, home of Notre Dame
There will be much more to come in the coming weeks. I will talk about local attractions, my favorite spots to shop and get great deals, and homeschool helps. There is so much I still have to learn, and I will take you on the journey with me! If you are new to the area and have questions, please feel free to contact me at JNJBryant “@” att.net. (You will have to remove the quotation marks). If you have been here a hundred years and there are things you know of that need to be shared, please let me know that, too.
Have a Blessed Day!
Jeannie
What’s the Deal?
Second Time Around
http://secondtimearoundniles.webs.com/
Like many of you I don’t have time to have a yard sale, space, or even enough items on my own. Then the next problem is what to do with those items and somehow get something back out of them, if possible. Well, a great solution to clean out your stuff and make some money is this new store in Niles. Second Time Around is on Main St. across from the fire station in. It has only been open a month and the ladies goal is to provide things at an affordable price. The owner does buy some items, but she will also take donations. My understanding is if you donate she will always give you 10% off, which for some that would add up faster and be worth more in the end then selling (may want to double check that though). The store carries clothing for all ages and anything else she gets in. It is open Tues-Sat. 9-4. This is a great way to get money on the spot and not have to wait to consign stuff somewhere. The store also provides an outreach to the community. She has stuff in the back set aside for foster children or anyone that has been through some kind of disaster, like a fire.
Take the time and go for a visit. Check out her website if you wish and if you want fan her on facebook and keep up to date as she gets new items in.
Ministry Happenings
Life Action Ministries
Cordially Invites You to Our
ANNUAL
CHRISTMAS
PARTY
December 13, 2011
Details to follow…..
Just the Facts Intro
- Around the town events, picking fruit, festivals, etc.
- Staff pictures, job titles, interviews, names with children and the year they were born
- Churches
- Schooling
- Camp, guidelines
- NMC
- Prayer/praise – IT dept. you can sign up for
Practically Helpful 
