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Valentine’s Day

Posted On: February 14, 2016By: Matt Graybill

By Lindsay Diener

Ruskin & Judy Clay

From the very beginning of its ministry, Pine Lake Fellowship Camp has been focused on the mission of reconciliation. Some would say that bringing people together is what camp does best! There are many stories of God working in the lives of his people at Pine Lake. And since it is Valentine’s Day, we thought it’d be fitting and fun to share the story of a couple whose relationship was impacted by the way God has used camp in each of their lives and led to marriage.

Ruskin and Judy Clay have both served as members on Pine Lake’s Board of Directors for several years. But before that, they both attended summer camp from the time they were young and later served on summer staff. Though neither of them can recall a specific “first time we met” story, they would have been campers together from the time they were preteens!

Both Ruskin and Judy tell of their memories of making friends, singing songs around the campfire, and being challenged spiritually during their years of attending summer camp. They each went on to serve as summer camp staff, and years later began serving on camp’s board. And slowly, their story evolved. As Judy tells it, “PLFC has had a big role in our love story. It’s where we first met. It’s been a ministry we’ve both been involved in for years. It’s where I first realized Ruskin was a person I really liked and wanted to know better. And it’s where we got married!”

“It is hard to explain, but there is something about serving together that brings a couple together.”

Ruskin agrees that Pine Lake has had a big impact as their lives as individuals and as a couple. “Since Judy and I lived in the same area before we were married, we would often ride together to board meetings. We would meet the other board members at camp and carpool to Hattiesburg. After we starting getting to know one another better, Judy and I decided to drive to Hattiesburg by ourselves (skipping the car-pool)!” Ruskin says. Did you know board service can lead to marriage?

The Clays’ story is one of many examples of how camp has been the tool God uses to bring people together, as well as how He uses camp to strengthen relationships. As Ruskin says, “Camp continues to be a place that is special to us, and we enjoy volunteering at Camp – as a couple! I believe that our marriage has been strengthened by the fact that we serve together at Camp. It is hard to explain, but there is something about serving together that brings a couple together.”

Camp continues to strive to be a place that brings people closer to each other and closer to God. “I think it is so important for camp to continue being a place where anyone can come and draw closer to God. As a couple, I think we both just want to see the mission of camp continue for years to come,” says Judy.

Thank you, Ruskin and Judy, for sharing your story with us and for your service to camp. As we celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, let’s celebrate all that God has done to draw us into a closer relationship with him and one another.

: Paddleboating on their wedding day

Celebrating a Vision

Posted On: January 8, 2016By: Matt Graybill

Several summers ago, an older gentleman arrived to drop his granddaughter for a week of summer camp. He followed behind her as she passed through the registration line like she had done it several times and excitedly ran off to join her counselor and cabin. Later, I noticed him sitting on the picnic table, gazing over the ball field. I wrapped up a few things at the registration table and went over to speak with him. Not knowing his connection to camp, I greeted and asked, “Sooo, how did you find out about camp?” It’s a common question I ask when meeting people at camp, but I wasn‘t ready for his response.

Bender Family observe Pine Lake in the early days.

He looked at me over his glasses and began to tell me about the early days when there was nothing here but a lake and a house. He spoke about when he was with several people who hiked around what would become Pine Lake Fellowship Camp; at the time there were only pine trees to be seen. But as they walked, one gentleman shared his vision of “building a cabin here and another cabin here; a large gathering area down here.” On and on they walked and more vision was cast. How great it would have been to be in that group walking around this place? I can only imagine what this man, sitting on a picnic table years later must have been thinking as he gazed over the lake.

I imagine he was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the beginning of camp. Thankful to see how God has developed Pine Lake to be a place for those to draw closer to Him. I imagine he was overjoyed that his granddaughter was receiving this experience decades after he was walking through a blank canvas.

Of course, this place could have remained a blank canvas used only for hunting and fishing if it were not for the vision of camp with the purpose of reconciliation that took root in several people. Through discussion, prayer, & discernment, others caught the same vision for a little tract of land that would be a place of retreat, reconciliation, & transformation for generations to follow.

Over 50 years old: Hand written minutes from the first meeting on November 20, 1965 of what would become Pine Lake Fellowship Camp.

On November 20, 1965, “a group of eight persons interested in the development of a church camp near Meridian, Mississippi, met to discuss plans. Those present were Nevin & Esther Bender, Glenn & Emma Myers, Titus & Ann Bender, Ann Zimmerly, & Mildred Bender. The purpose is to provide and promote Christian fellowship and recreation (from the meeting minutes). At that meeting, a vision was sparked into life that would paint a picture which continues to add brush strokes year after year.

That exploratory meeting could not have happened, but they were faithful with the vision laid on hearts. Today, we’re grateful for all those who were at the exploratory meeting on November 20, 1965, and many others individuals and churches who jumped on board to support taking steps of faith in the development of Pine Lake Fellowship Camp.

Praise the Lord for those who allowed His spirit to lead them in starting this ministry 50 years ago. Please celebrate Pine Lake Fellowship Camp with us as we enter our semi centenary in 2016. Join us for a celebration of God’s faithfulness on Labor Day weekend, September 2-5, 2016!

Written by Matt Graybill, Executive Director of Pine Lake Fellowship Camp.

: Guitar playing at Pine Ridge Pavilion

: Early promotional material

Reflections from Camp Sale

Posted On: October 15, 2015By: Matt Graybill

Standing in the sanctuary of Gulfhaven Mennonite Church in the late afternoon on October 3, one would not even know that there were hundreds of people flooding through the doors of the same church only hours before. The chairs were already set up for the next morning’s worship service. The floor was vacuumed & the tables were put away. The only traces of the event that was just held were the people who still remained working to put final details in order. We all looked (and felt) exhausted.

Even so, there was still an undeniable sense of joy in the air throughout the clean-up process. A joy and fulfillment coming only from a sense of community where many people work together for the common goal. It makes me think of 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul is talking about unity and diversity in the body of Christ. Each person has a gift and role to play and each person is essential to the function of the body. At Camp Sale, there are many different roles in organization, children’s activities, cashiers, cooks, and more. Without the different gifts being put to use, there would be chaos. But on this day, we had witnessed the body working together in a remarkable way, exactly how God had planned.

As the cleaning finished that evening, the sense of knowing that the money raised at Camp Sale will further camp’s mission of reconciliation was extremely fulfilling. It was evidenced by the people who prayed for this event, by the people in attendance and by the countless others who spend all year crafting & quilting to sell for the benefit of reconciling people to Christ. So today, I’m thankful for a this community; for a healthy body who surrounds PLFC in prayer and support, who breaks bread (or shares gumbo, or jambalaya, or egg rolls- yum!), who cleans together, and who serves God with all their mind, soul, body & strength.

Matt Graybill is the Executive Director of Pine Lake Fellowship Camp. He is a husband, father, and follower of Christ. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and being outdoors.

“Where is the Church?”

Posted On: November 14, 2014By: Matt Graybill

There are times in everyone’s life where all that is left is to seek the Lord. Last month, we witnessed just that sort of thing happening in the life of a young woman. While many were busy preparing for PLFC’s annual Camp Sale, my husband Scott and I stayed at camp to host a men’s group from a church in Louisiana. It would soon turn into a weekend we will never forget.

As we were being filled in by a phone call from Matt about the day’s Camp Sale events, our daughter said there was a lady standing outside. Upon being approached, her first words were, “Where is the Church?” She went on to explain that she had heard the noise from camp from her house in a nearby neighborhood, and even though the singing was in Spanish, she recognized it as praise. She was in a bad place in her life and had stepped outside to call upon the name of the Lord. She then heard the praise band in the distance through the woods, so she began walking and listening for the direction the praising was coming from.

Her anxiousness to get to the place where this worshiping was taking place was beyond what a normal individual would be willing to do. She even stated that we could just “call the law” if we would not allow her to get to where the “church” was because she was going there regardless. Even though it is not common practice to disturb a rental group, we sensed the Holy Spirit was moving and chose to take her to the men’s group.

We approached the group and located an individual who spoke English. We explained the situation and asked if they would be willing to allow her to join them in worship. They welcomed not only her, but our family as well, for supper and worship. And worship they did! The time with them was exactly what this young woman needed ….to see the Lord worshiped with no hindrance or shame of what another might think. Her words as we carried her back to her house that evening was, “This has been the best night of my life.” The Lord uses all situations to minister to all who are willing to walk that extra mile to seek His face.

Melissa McClure is the Office Administrator at PLFC. If you call the office, you’ll likely talk to her. She has been married to her husband Scott for 24 years. They live in Enterprise, MS with their two children, Corey and Zoie.