My journey with Camp Hebron started in a blink of an eye when I met Ralph Swartzentruber at a college camp fair. He was standing by a display that had an actual running waterfall! Up to that point I had no idea of how my summer would work out but during the next class I leaned over to my friend Kevin and said, “Let’s go and serve at Camp Hebron next summer”, and so we did. That was the summer of 1987. What started in a blink lasted four summers and turned into a full-time position in 1991. Since that time, I have served on the Camp Board, brought Jr. High students to do work projects and over the years served as Family Camp pastor.
I was not a “camp kid” so being at a camp was foreign to me, but it was a journey that solidified God’s calling on my life and offered a fresh way to experience God and ministry outside of the “classroom.” The year I began to restore the Nature Hut and became the Nature Director was transformational as God showed me so much of His creativity and the many ways, He draws us toward Him through creation. I remember one teachable moment when we were given four baby skunks, which were a huge hit for parents and campers. That is until one day I was holding one and it peed down my arm. They might have been small, but their stink was potent! It took a few weeks for me to smell “normal” again, but every time someone would smell that aroma it gave me an opportunity to share God magnificent design in creation.
One of the wonderful things about camp is how lifelong connections are formed. During the time I spent at camp I saw campers come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior, while other grew in their relationship with Him and later on while pastoring at Family Camps, I saw relationships healed and hope restored. The friendships I made while serving at Camp are still important to me 33 years later and the connections opened doors of ministry opportunities beyond camp. Is it the staff, the atmosphere, the location that allowed this to happen? Yes! With God at the foundation of each of these, camp provided the space, for me to hear from Him in new and creative ways.
I remember those first years at camp, and I was confused when people would talk about their trip over Peters Mountain, for I always came from the NW, so the mountain never came into play. But no matter how you get to camp the drive always brought anticipation and when I would finally arrive it felt like I was entering into a sanctuary designed just for my specific needs. Camp is a place for me to take a deep breath, find rest for my weary soul and be transformed through the hearing and teaching of God’s Word. I think of Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV) “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
I am soon beginning my 30th year in pastoral ministry and though my degrees gave me the information I needed to know, Camp Hebron gave me the opportunity to learn hands on lessons about life and faith. My prayer is that Camp Hebron will continue to prosper as Christ continues to be its foundation and that for many years to come it will impact the lives of children and adults so they too put their trust in the Lord and find rest in Him.
There is so much more to be written, but that will have to wait for another time!
Peace to your Homes,
Curtiss Kanagy
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