Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Peniel PostingsFall 2019
Vol. 32, No. 1
Peniel Holiness AssociationConneautville, PA
www.penielholinesscamp.com
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
—Genesis 32:30
President’s Column“A Holy celebration”
by Camp President Dan SegoolHello Friends and Campers – It has been a great camping season at Peniel. We enjoyed strong attendance, challenging speakers, excellent
music, great fellowship, and fun for all ages! But, the fun did not stop at the end of July. I had the privilege of attending a wedding at camp on September 14. Many of you know Nate McCue, who has been coming to the camp since he was born. Nate met Sydnie Tackett at Kentucky Mountain Bible College. Nate’s decision to attend KMBC was due to the great relationship that Peniel has with KMBC. In fact, we currently have two Peniel campers attending KMBC. Sydnie has served as a counselor at Peniel the last couple of years. So, for Nate and Sydnie, it made sense to get married at Peniel because of the special role the camp played in bringing them together. It was a fantastic day at Peniel. The campus looked great. The Tabernacle was beautifully decorated and the Dining Hall was converted into an elegant, rustic reception hall. Family and friends were filled with joy.Marriage is really important and very closely related to Holiness. In fact, we even refer to it as “Holy Matrimony.” Peniel camp is named after a place that Jacob called “Peniel” in Genesis 32:30. He called the place Peniel because he said that he saw the face of God, and yet his life was spared. What does that have to do with marriage? I believe that God designed marriage to be a reflection of Him. We understand the concept of The Trinity – Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Three in One, they are separate, yet together. They work in concert to submit to one another and accomplish God’s will. In a God-designed marriage, you have man, woman and Christ. A Christ-centered marriage will be used to glorify God, far beyond what that man or woman could do on their own. The challenge I gave to Nate and Sydnie is a challenge that I give to all the marriages within our
camp family. If we embrace the concept of Holiness and put Christ at the center of our marriages, when people look upon our relationship, they will see the Face of God! This will be our final publication for 2019. Lori, DJ, Courtney, Josh and Johnny wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. Our next publication is planned for early 2020, when we will kick off a special celebration of 125 years of God’s Blessing upon Peniel! Thank you for your prayers and financial support of this ministry. Please keep the camp close to your heart during the winter months!
Important Dates 2020
Please note these dates in your 2020 calendars. Your participation is essential for a successful camp meeting!
Work Days: Friday & Saturday, May 15 & 16 Friday & Saturday, June 19 & 20 Friday & Saturday, July 10 & 11
125th Annual Encampment:Thursday, July 16 through Sunday, July 26
One incident that really surprised me this year at camp was the chicken that crossed the road to come to church service. A chicken climbed the side steps to come in to the evening service, and I chased it away three times, and Harry chased him away once before it finally settled in Sandra’s chair on her front porch. I wonder what would have happened if we would have just let the chicken come on in.A note from the Editor: Coincidentally, we had chicken for lunch the next day. Apparently, this chicken was spared, as he was spotted the day after camp in the same area.
The Chicken Crossed the Road...
by Lisa Truitt
Peniel Contact Information
Phone: 814.387.8438
Mailing List [email protected]
Donation [email protected]
The Adams Road tour bus proudly announces to all passerbys that “Jesus is Enough.” Indeed He is!
It’s fairly unusual for Peniel to be planning a work project at the camp during the winter months, but we have a great opportunity to do a very important job this offseason. Much of the wiring in our Main Tabernacle is older than the great majority of our campers. When we have had electricians look at it, they have told us that it is not a matter of “if” we are going to have an electrical problem, but “when.” Fortunately, we have developed a great relationship with an electrical contractor who is willing to do the work during the winter months when his schedule is a little more flexible. Nearly all the wiring and panels in the Tabernacle will be replaced. The fixtures will all be re-wired and modernized, but still retain the same appearance. We will also greatly improve our stage lighting. This project is estimated at approximately $7,000. We have already raised about $3,000 towards this project, and we need a strong response to this mailing to put us over the top so we can begin work as soon as possible. Please read the enclosed donation card for more details on how you can support Peniel now and throughout the winter months!
Power for the Next Generation
We live in a day of attempted “revision.” Tearing down monuments, rewriting history, and discarding most anything having to do with the past. “Traditional” is out of style in just about everything.
While we certainly can become slaves to tradition, there are some things of tradition that can serve to keep us in touch with what is “real.” I increasingly believe that campmeeting is one of those things that can help to keep us connected to the truth of God’s Word and a holiness message that is more needed than ever. I believe this is verified by a noticeable trend in younger families coming to try out holiness campmeetings in recent years. They are looking for something real and solid upon which to base their families. I was impressed with this value of tradition again in my first time to Peniel this past summer. Part of what impacted me most about my time at Peniel was the incredible history of this camp, nearing 125 years of existence. One of my favorite things at the older holiness camps is to look at all the old posters for the campmeetings of years past. It was a joy to see these posted on the walls of the main worship tabernacle at Peniel where they were so accessible for anyone to see. I was awed (and Dr. Chris and I were almost giddy) to view these old posters and see how some of the greatest preachers of the holiness movement had preached at Peniel. It was a great reminder of a Biblical message of holiness that has been faithfully proclaimed over the decades, and which has been entrusted to us. Thank you to the Peniel family for your faithfulness to Jesus and the truth of His Word over these years. Thank you for offering me the opportunity this year to be a part of His ongoing work there. I am humbled and grateful to be alongside of you in being the vessels for His message to the next generations. As Robert Coleman wrote in The Master Plan of Evangelism, “One must decide where he wants his ministry to count --- in the momentary applause of popular recognition or in the reproduction of his life in a few chosen men who will carry on his work after he has gone. Really it is a question of which generation we are living for.”
What a great camp it was this year! There are still things stirring in my heart that God awakened during our time there. We are grateful for the friendships we have made, the messages we heard, and the time to
come apart from the world and just focus on the One who has redeemed us! I hope that you don’t take for granted the great opportunity and blessing that Peniel offers each year! Most believers across our land never experience anything like what happens there. We are in 150 or more churches each year, and I would say the majority of them do not ever experience it. I believe it is so important to occasionally hit the reset button, pause, and listen for God to speak. Andrea and I are attending a conference next week for that very reason. Peniel offers such a great opportunity for this. I think some of the real benefits will be seen years down the road through the lives of our children and grandchildren. As the things they soaked up come to fruition in their lives, you will be able to look back and say it was a great investment to spend summers at Peniel. The world has such a pull on the church as a whole today. We are bombarded with things that take over our schedules, thoughts and priorities. It is needful that we set apart time to be still and listen for direction, instruction, even rebuke. It is paramount that we allow the Holy Spirit to shape and mold us. The Foresters look forward to returning sometime in the future. Hopefully sooner, rather than later. Thank you to Dan and all the staff and volunteers for the hard and tireless efforts they expend to see Peniel be what it is.
The Value of Tradition
by Evangelist Dr. John Juneman
Stirred and Awakened
by Song Evangelist Mark Forester
I was blessed to be a part of this year’s encampment at Peniel Holiness Camp. This was my first time attending – and it came about through difficult circumstances. I was a replacement for my late boss,
Wesley Biblical Seminary President, John Neihof. He loved Peniel Camp. He often said going there fed his soul. I now know why. Everyone’s experience at camp is a little different. It depends on what activities you participate in, what crowd you are hanging out with, even how you spend your free time. I can tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations around the table, the early morning prayer meeting, and lots of long walks in the surrounding countryside. That is where my soul is fed. These are days when camp meetings are quickly becoming a thing of the past. I want to encourage the people of Peniel to preserve this place and experience, not only for the future generations, but for this present one. As the author of Hebrews said in 10:24-25: And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Food for the Soul
by Evangelist Dr. Chris LohrstorferComings & Goings...
As we prepare for our 125th Encampment, we have some staffing changes to announce. Marsha Jones is retiring from the Kitchen Superintendent position. We have enjoyed Marsha’s gifted
cooking and spirit in the Dining Hall for the past five encampments. Marsha and her husband Jerry live nearby the camp, and Marsha is looking forward to attending services at camp and maintaining the fellowship she enjoys at Peniel.
Adam and Valerie Vanaman are stepping down from the Youth Superintendent position. A little over a year ago, Adam joined the staff at Hillsboro (Indiana) Church of the Nazarene as Youth Pastor.
The time commitment of their duties at the church led them to make this difficult decision. Adam and Valerie shared that camp has become like a family to them and they are planning to join us for at least a portion of camp this summer to spend time with their family.
In addition to these positions, we are also looking for one or two people who would be willing to join our mowing ministry. Someone who lives in the greater Crawford County region and has time available during the weekdays would
be ideal. Knowledge of how to operate or the ability to be trained on a tractor and/or zero turn machine would also be helpful. We have a dedicated crew who will welcome newcomers and assist in training. We typically mow about twice a month, more often as camp time approaches.
Finally, our younger campers will be very happy to hear that Jason & Lora Campbell will be returning as Children’s Ministry Directors for our 125th Encampment! If you
know of someone who may be interested in serving in these various ministries at Peniel, please contact [email protected]
Leaseholders Update
During camp we discussed some upcoming revisions to our cottage leaseholder agreements and assessment costs. The board has been working on this and we expect to have the revised lease agreement and costs out to leaseholders before the end of the year.
South Row RedevelopmentCurrently, the trustee board is looking at plans to redevelop the South Row cottages. We are working on plans and funding, and we hope to have some ideas out to leaseholders of the South Row Cottages before the end of the year.
