Sponsor a Camper!Nearly 600 campers will apply to come to our Summer Camp this year. Most of them will not be able to afford to pay. If you would like to sponsor a child to come to Camp, please complete the form below, then mail it to us along with your donation.Name: _____________________________________________________________Email: _____________________________________________________________Address: ___________________________________________________________Phone: ________________________Please fill in appropriate blanks:

I want to provide ______ scholarship(s) at $170 each.I want to provide a partial scholarship of $________

OR make your donation online at SouthMountainChristianCamp.org/Scholarships

Captain’s CornerCaptain O.A. Fish, RetiredEastern AirlinesCamp Founder/CEO

For South Mountain Christian Camp and myself, 1974 was an eventful year. It was the year I turned forty, and it was the year the camp received its charter as a non-profit organization. It was also the year of our first camp. Charlotte had recruited a half dozen lady friends from church and our bible study group to assist her with about thirty young girl campers. They all slept in an assort-ment of zip-up tents which were pitched on the ground.

I was still commuting to Atlanda as an Eastern Airlines Captain, and it so happened that first day of camper check-in I was away flying. I came home the next day and was so excited that I went straight to the primitive camp site on the side of the mountain. Fortunately it hadn’t rained for a while, and my trusty 1970 Chevy pick-up made it up the rutted logging road leading to the site with ease.

The primitive site consisted of a dirt floor picnic shelter construct-ed from rough-sawn lumber and locust post which we had cut off the property. The aluminum roof donated by a pilot friend came from a chicken house near Charlotte, NC. My brother, Jerry, had helped me remove the sheets of metal from the chicken house and cover our shelter. There was a newly completed Johnny House constructed out of the same rough lumber. The pit I had to dig with a pick and shovel. At that time, we had no source of clean water and had to haul it to the site in large containers.

It was late spring, fragrance of the many “sweet bubbie” bushes filled the air. The flowering white dogwood trees which covered the mountainside brought a sense of purity to the site. For the past couple of weeks while working alone at the site, all I had heard was the serene sounds of nature. Now with my widows rolled down, as I approached the camp site, laughter thrilled my soul after so long a wait for this special day. As an added special treat that day, I got to enjoy supper with the girls eating Char-lotte’s famous “camper stew” which had been cooked in an iron pot over an open camp fire. The birth of our dreams! It all seems like just yesterday.

Down in Orlando, FL another eventful thing happened in 1974. To a young couple, Charles and Cathy Collins, baby Steve was born.

The Mountain StarVolume 14, Issue 1Winter/Spring 2014

continued on next page

Now fast forward forty years: Yep, I’m 80 years old. The camp is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and baby Steve is now 40 and Executive Director of South Mountain Christian Camp.

What a forty years it has been! Thousands of young campers have been touched by God’s love through the ministry, hundreds of young cabin directors and other staff members have matured in their faith while serving with us. For most of them, it was their first opportunity to serve God in ministry.

All the glory belongs to God who has sustained the ministry from the beginning. Charlotte and I and all who have had the privilege to labor with Him give thanks and praise. We have grown beyond measure in our faith and relationship with Him. His provisions have come in many forms, and we are especially grateful for you the many volunteers and supporters He has sent our way.

We hope you will be able to join with us as we celebrate forty years of God’s blessing at our Open House and Banquet on May 3rd. YOUR INVITATION IS ENCLOSED.

Captains Corner (continued from front page)

TEN MOST WANTED

Top ten items needed by SMCC. All donations are tax-deductible.

1. Tractor (40 horsepower minimum)2. 12-foot mowing deck3. Golf Carts (to reduce traffic on Camp)4. Dump Trailer5. Portable volleyball net posts for Gym6. Wildlife taxidermy mounts for nature program7. Chain saws for groundskeeping8. Sports equipment9. Track Hoe10. Volunteers!

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IN MEMORY OF...Mrs. Moine Hall by Joyce DesantisHelen Talton by Mr. & Mrs. William ReevesBertha Miller by Central Baptist ChurchKathy McGee Cooper by Susan InmanBarbara Caton by Mr. & Mrs. Randy ReynoldsPaul & Bonnie Danforth by Mr. & Mrs. Carter ThornsburyJohn George by Mr. & Mrs. Curtis GeorgeErnie Gunder by Ruth GunderJim Hefner by Louella HefnerMegan by Mildred BlantonBeth Godfrey by Nancy JonesBill Ross by Carolyn RossGuy & Bessie Pitchford by Donnis PitchfordJohn George by Mr. & Mrs. Martin BridgesBarbara Caton by Mr. & Mrs. Randy ReynoldsEreka Crowder by Mr. & Mrs. Dennis CrowderJohn George by Mr. & Mrs. Curtis GeorgeMark Holland by Louise HollandKatherine Cooper by Phillip Morgan

Katherine Cooper by Louise MorganKatherine Cooper by Sandra T Hearn Living Trust

IN HONOR OF...OA Fish by Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Hamrick OA Fish by Mr. & Mrs. William HigginsOA Fish by Bernice Kaut OA Fish by Mr. & Mrs. Joe GodfreyPark, Fairchild, & Prolansol families by OA & Charlotte FishBarbara Shuford by Caroline BaynardOA Fish by Mr. & Mrs. Ray HaynesMartha Debrule, Dr. & Mrs. Joe Godfrey, & Betty Stapp by Barbara ShufordFamily and Friends by Mr. & Mrs. Joe GodfreyLib Godfrey by Mary CostnerMichelle Haynes by Mr. & Mrs. Donald Butler

Charlotte’s WebCharlotte FishChief Operations Officer

I’ve heard a lot of talk lately about the many things God has done to bring us to this point in the Camp’s history. We have seen so many miracles and met many wonderful people who have made all this possible over the last 40 years.

My mind keeps going further back to how God used situations to prepare especially me to have a love for country living and camp-ing. If you have read Fingerprints of God, there is a chapter called “My City Wife Becomes a Country Girl”. This is OA’s story, but it actually goes back a lot further.

My experiences as a child in the country were not good ones. Once I went on a weekend camping trip with my girlfriend and her Scout troop. We were walking in a creek, and she fell, cutting her hand, and I had to hold a cloth on the wound to stop the bleeding to get her to the hospital for stitches. Afterwards she was taken home, leaving me there not knowing anyone. The next time, I was helping a Sunday school teacher with a group of young children, and one of them decided to run away, and I had to run him down. Another time my family rented a cabin on Lake Erie for a week. When we got there it was a mess. Dust was an inch thick and we found dead birds, dead mice and a dead squirrel. We spent days just cleaning the inside and then the over grown shrubs outside. One time we lived for a while with my Uncle and I was going to school and cut across a fence line with my friends and got at-tacked by a goat. I have more “don’t like the country stories” but space says it is time to stop. Country living was not for me!!!!

As the girls grew up and wanted to be involved in Girl Scouts I took an active role, but before I could be a leader I had to go on a camping trip with all the other new leaders. We got snowed in, no electricity, no stove for cooking and had to go to the woods to get wood for the fireplace in order to stay warm. What a wonderful time! I After that I wanted to go camping all the time. Even tried to talk OA into buying a camping trailer but he had other ideas.

That’s how God has prepared me for county living!!!!!

Memorials & HonorsSpecial gifts received 9/11/2013 - 3/20/2014

Camp NewsJen’s Journal“Wow! That would get really boring after a couple hundred years!” That’s what I thought the first time I read: “Each of these living creatures…day after day and night after night keep on say-ing, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.’” Rev. 4:8. I know. This sounds bad. It’s not what a Christian should be thinking, but I couldn’t help it -That is what went through my mind!

Then God helped me to understand. Jesus, Savior, Redeemer, Emmanuel, Comforter, Friend, Healer, Prince of Peace, Righ-teous One, Holy One--these are only a few sides of our Lord. These angels are constantly going around the throne of God getting a new perspective of God with each new angle; con-stantly seeing a different part of God. Each new perspective they encounter with Him is so amazing that they cannot help but to praise Him, “Day after day and night after night they keep on…”

We are all seeing life - every moment – in a different perspective than anyone can. God is the only one who can understand every circumstance fully! Yet, He wants to use us to minister to others in moments of need. Your God, my God is ready for each mo-ment. He is what you need, what I need, and we get to share him with our staff and campers this summer! How exciting is that?!

We’ve got a great event coming up for your church youth group! • The So-Mo Dis-Go is a disc golf team tournament on April 27th that includes a free lunch, prizes, and a youth devotional time following. Details at www.SouthMountainChristianCamp.org/DiscGolf

We are in the process of building our new high ropes course tower. • This project will include 11 climbing elements and double zip lines! Pray with us that it will be completed in time for summer camp.

We are still working toward building a new cafeteria. Pray that we • will gain favor with the health department and that the funds will come in to complete this much-needed addition to South Mountain Christian Camp.

Our 18-hole disc golf course continues to grow in popularity. Disc • golf is a great form of recreation for the whole family, and our course is open to the public for just $2 per person. Come try it out

Our annual Open House and Banquet is coming up on May 3rd. An • invitation is enclosed with this newsletter. Please feel free to bring as many guests as you like. We sincerely hope to see you there!

Jo’s Tidbits Our theme for summer camp this year involves a time machine. I have been fascinated with time travel since I saw the 1960 science fiction film The Time Machine. The first place for me to go would be when Jesus started to gather his disciples.

I would follow him around and take notes. I would inter-view his mother Mary and ask her what it was like raising the Son of God. I would talk with all the disciples and ask them what made them want to hangout with Jesus. Going to the wedding where Jesus turned water to wine would be fun just to see the look on the servant’s faces. Lazarus coming out of the tomb, now that would be something to see, and I could ask him what he remembered about the last 4 days. I know Peter felt really bad after denying Jesus 3 times. I would find him and try to comfort him a little. I’d never miss the resurrection. They could find me camped out at the tomb, just talking to the guys guarding it. I could easily stay in that time period for awhile. So if you had a time machine where would you go? If you would like to sponsor an upcoming newsletter call us at 828-245-3322

Open House & BanquetMay 3, 2014

Jen CollinsGuest Group Coordinator

Jo HoseltonOffice Manager

Duffie’s Copier Consultants671 Oak StreetForest City NC 28043828-245-5116duffiescopier.combumbargr@nctv.com

Steve’s StorySteve CollinsExecutive Director

The day my son was born, things got real. My wife and I had been awaiting his birth for months. Shopping, painting, and reading were all part of our preparation, but the day I saw my son’s face, I gained a whole new perspective. He wasn’t just “the baby” to me any more. I now saw him as a unique individual, and his face unlocked a new brand of love inside me that I couldn’t comprehend before.

Every summer, I experience something similar to this when our first group of campers arrive. Although it’s not as powerful as the day my son was born, seeing their faces stirs something within me.

After spending months working on camper applications, designing t-shirts, writing chapel services, and painting decorations (not to men-tion recruiting, hiring, and training our summer staff) it can be easy to loose sight of the real reason for all the work. Clearing the trails, planning the menu, and repairing the ropes course mean nothing if there aren’t any kids coming to enjoy these things.

The first day those campers walk in, however, I am able to see things from a better perspective. Their faces are literally beaming with ex-citement and joy in anticipation of their week of camp. It’s then that I’m reminded that all this preparation isn’t just for “the campers,” but it’s for Tara, for David, for Robbie, and every unique individual that walks through our doors.

Some of those faces are forever embedded in my memory. I’ll never forget the look on Warren’s face when he found the courage to go down the zip line, or the enthusiasm on Kristin’s face when she told me about the crawdad she found in the creek along the trail. And I’ll always remember the sincere, peaceful look in Amanda’s eyes when she gave her heart to Jesus.

Over the past 40 years, thousands of children have come to South Mountain Christian Camp. It’s been a tremendous blessing for me to have seen their faces for 17 of those 40 years. Occasionally, God gives me the opportunity to see some of those campers years later,

Summer Camp Forecast

Our theme for Summer Camp 2014 is called “Discover Who God Is.” It’s based loosely on the “Doctor Who” TV show about the adventures of a time-traveling doctor. In each of our chapel services, we’ll be taking a journey back to Bibli-cal times to discover the true nature of God. We’ll fill these chapels with skits, games, object lessons, and prizes; and all of it will be to fulfill our key verse from Hosea 6:3, “Oh, that we might know the Lord, let us press on to know Him...”

--Steve

1129 South Mountain RdPO Box 9Bostic NC 28018

PH: 828-245-3322FX: 828-245-1659smcc@blueridge.netSouthMountainChristianCamp.orgfacebook.com/SouthMountain

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDBostic, NC

28018Permit No. 2

now that they are grown. Their faces are a little older, but they still testify to the fact that their experience at camp impacted their lives.

If you ask, I’ll tell you how many campers came to camp last summer and how many of them received salvation, but South Mountain really isn’t about the numbers. It’s about the individuals. When their hearts are changed, it shows in their faces. And that’s a look I never want to forget.

Read more at stevesmcc.blogspot.com

Banquet InvitationEnclosed!

ADDrESS SErviCES rEquEStED