Launch: A leadership development Program at Hidden Acres

Launch... sound like NASA. But it is not. I am thrilled about this new program we are offering at Hidden Acres. For years we have tried to have an internship program for college age kids; it usually consisted of one or two people who didn't know what to do with their lives so they came to camp to help out with kitchen, housekeeping, or maintenance. We worked them to death and didn't pay them too much. They were able to get some direction in their lives, or decided, "I don't want to have to work that hard for the rest of my life, maybe I should go to school and make something of myself." Either way, each young person moved on from camp after a semester or two with us.

Under Ryan Graden leadership, our new Leadership Development program, called Launch, will take up to 10 young men in the first year. The young men will arrive at camp in August, and stay with us until May. During that time we will have scheduled classroom time, assignments, outside of camp ministry opportunities, and they will help around camp doing routine jobs that will enhance and enlarge our entire ministry.

I love the concept; 10 Christian young men living together in a dorm under the tutelage of a Godly teacher, Ryan, being poured into daily with concepts and opportunities to grow, develop, refine, establish and define themselves, and understand their God given gifts and natural abilities; preparing themselves to launch into life.

Subject material that will be covered will be character development, leadership skills, service in ministry, finances, being a Godly husband, and roles in the church.

In addition to their class room time, the young men will get a opportunity to work along side other full time staff; office, maintenance, housekeepers, food service, and programs. They will learn how camp is run, but more importantly, they will be taught concepts like availability, service, initiative, perception, and drive. . We want to be able to help train these young men to become great employees for any sort of work they might do later-in-life. This is a time to refine and build up a resume with marketable skills and insights.

Throughout the year, Hidden Acres will bring in pastors and teachers to come along side us with additional teaching. Each young man will have a chance to attend a regional camping conference, visit other camps and ministries, and to become even more familiar with what could be available to them in full time service. Our ultimate goal is to point these young men into service, whether it is full time, or being very engaged in the local church.

Unlike school, each participant will be paid to learn and grow. Parents: If this doesn't excite you... not as much money out of your pockets, your son will be surrounded by Christian men to encourage and keep him accountable, he will learn to do dishes, his own laundry, and mop floors and toilets, and we pray he leaves Hidden Acres after his time with us, grown up, prayed up and ready to launch out into life of school, marriage, family and church, a stronger and more productive leader.

Check out our web page for more details and download an application: http://www.hacamps.org/

My Bus Driver Friend

Jr. High retreaters left on Sunday before noon; the Valley kids were being picked up by a local bus service from Des Moines. While the kids were packing up, I struck up a conversation with the bus driver. A 70 year old man who was looking for some breakfast; I found him some coffee and some rolls from breakfast and sat down in the Family Life Center to visit while he ate. It didn't take long for him to open up.

"I had my esophagus removed a couple years ago, " he said between bites. "I have to eat slower. My stomach is right up here," pointing to near his top of his sternum. "I had chemo for prostate cancer 10 years ago... and my wife is taking chemo for lung cancer. I can't get her to stop smoking." He went on and told me of his days in the service in Washington, about driving the bus, about one of his twin boy being still born. I said, "We know he is in heaven."

I stopped him when I asked, "If you died today, do you know where you will spend eternity?" He replied quickly, "Heaven." There was no more conversation, the bus needed to be loaded. I wanted to spend time following up his answer with a question about the time when he accepted Christ as his Savior. I pray that he remembers our talk, and that he might return and we can visit again. He said heaven, I pray he knew, but I have some doubts. When asked where he went to church, he said, "I can't remember the name of the church, but the preacher is the son of the former preacher... and I can't remember his name."

It is never too late to have an encounter with the Almighty. Never too late to start fresh. Never too late to become a new creation. For many, when we think of Hidden Acres, we think kids; but I think, "If he is breathing and walking, he should hear the good news." Pray with me for my bus driving friend.