Impact Report | North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries

An
Experiential
Christian
Community
After 90 years of camp ministry in the Cane Creek valley, we’re still
discovering ways to improve creating Christian community in God’s
creation. 2015 was a banner year for improvements to Glisson’s main
campus, greatly enhancing the camp experience for Village and
Sparrowwood campers – and we’ll get to that on the next two pages.
Before that, though, it’s important to remember what has held constant
for generations.
With room for more Village campers than ever in 2015, our focus
on small groups is still as strong as ever. Up to 12 campers and two
counselors form living groups who experience pretty much everything
together for the week. They share meals together, go on creek hikes
together, worship in chapel together, go on a camp out together, take
on the challenge course together, and more. All along the way, their
counselors are facilitating our core values of Christian community,
radical acceptance, unconditional love, and experiential learning.
Campers experience a group where the team’s needs come first, where
every member is loved and accepted as uniquely loved and gifted
children of God, and where each person’s participation is key to creating
a collective experience rather than consuming an individual one.
VILLAGE CAMPERS
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Beyond attending chapel services, which living groups take turns
planning and leading for their peers with the help of a Theologian-in-
Residence, campers are encouraged to practice living out the songs
they sing and sermons and scripture they hear throughout their day
at camp. As one camper so aptly put it decades ago: “You know those
things we learn in Sunday school? Here at camp, we do them.” With
the help of their counselors, Village campers experience what it means
to be a Christian in the creek, at the archery range, below the Alpine
Tower, inside the cabin, and around the family dinner table.
John’s
Village Story
At Glisson for a seventh-straight summer,
14-year-old John Hairston surprised his parents,
his counselor, and perhaps even himself.
“This past summer I had a strong experience with God,” John reflected.
“I was led to share a sermon for Thursday night chapel about how the
Holy Spirit flows through us; I felt that God spoke through me that night.
That week I felt closer to God than I ever have.”
John wasn’t exactly known for his public speaking, and he certainly
didn’t come to camp expecting to preach to a hundred of his peers.
John’s counselor, Dylan, recounted the backstory.
“When the TIR asked our group if anyone wanted to give the message,
John was quick to volunteer. I was a bit surprised, but definitely excited
for him. We worked on his message and it was so awesome to see him
analyze the word and apply it to his life. Then, Thursday night chapel
came and John and the rest of our living group absolutely crushed it! I
could see that their hearts were truly into it and they were understanding
what this thing called the Holy Spirit was.”
Rev. Tonya Lawrence, the pastor in camp that week, recalled running
into John the next day saying, “He asked what motivated me to ask
him to preach. With a smile, I responded, ‘The Holy Spirit.’ I then asked
him what motivated him to say yes, and he responded, ‘The Holy Spirit,’
GLISSON VILLAGE CAMP
and we both smiled. Because of the willingness to respond to the Holy
Spirit, neither of us will ever be the same.”
John’s parents, Peter and Laurie, were overjoyed with John’s experience.
Laurie shared how it felt discovering camp’s impact.
“This summer was an answer to prayer for us. John’s experience
represented an openness to the Lord we had never seen. Our insecure
teen suddenly opened up and allowed the Lord to work through him.
Playing his guitar in chapel was a HUGE deal because he had never
been willing to play outside of our home. We were so surprised to find
out that he willingly played in front of hundreds of kids each day.Then,
we found out that he gave the sermon on the last night of camp. I have
never been more surprised! John has never spoken in front of people,
and I honestly didn’t realize that he had enough knowledge of the Bible
to be able to do this. When he got home, he shared his notes from his
sermon with us, and I was moved to tears.
“Glisson is truly in the business of making disciples and bringing kids
to Christ. The counselors and staff reflect the grace and love of the
Lord. Our kids always have an awesome time doing all the activities,
but truly the activities are secondary. Non-Christian camps offer tons
of activities. The spiritual foundation is what is priceless.”
“Glisson helps me grow a stronger relationship with God,” John
explained. “Glisson is such a great place, but the best part is the
counselors and staff. They are amazing people who strive to lead you to
the Lord. In the future, I really hope that I can be a counselor at Glisson
and lead other boys to the Lord.”
More Than Just Eating: New Ministry Facility Serves Many Purposes
Glisson Village 2016 Schedule
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9
Grade May 29-June 3 June 5-10 June 12-17 June 19-24 June 26-July 1 July 3-8 July 10-15 July 17-22 July 24-29
grades 2-4 • mini • mini
grades 3-6 • • • • • • • •
grades 7-9 • • • • • • • • •
grades 10-12
•
1) SHARING MEALS
TOGETHER:
Serving one meal three
times a day instead of two
shifts
7) A NEW “DOWN
UNDER” OF SORTS:
New large group meeting
room on ground floor
Top Twelve Ways The New Dining Hall Made Camp Better Than Ever
2) EATING FAMILY STYLE:
Customized kitchen and
dining area for familystyle
dining
8) A PLACE TO ROCK ON:
Rocking chair porches
for fellowship and group
reflection
3) A SINGLE “SOP”:
One big Singing-on-the-
Porch instead of two
smaller ones
9) S’MORE STORAGE:
Customized storage space
for living group campout
supply pick-up
4) THE PRAYER CHAPEL:
Inspiring small group
space designed for prayer
and reflection
10) SAFER CREEK:
New vehicular bridge lets
old one become gathering
area for creek entry
5) LOBBY FELLOWSHIP:
New indoor area for casual
fellowship before and
after meals
11) COZIER CAMP STORE:
New camp store can
welcome an entire living
group comfortably
6) TRUCKLESS CENTER:
New back entrance keeps
service trucks out of
camp’s center
12) PLACE TO LOUNGE:
New rustic coffee lounge
for fellowship before or
after meals or store
North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries 3 IMPACT REPORT · 2015 IMPACT REPORT · 2015 4
North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries