A Workman—Not Ashamed
by Pastor Mike Landis, Camp Director
Entering the month of May means that Camp Carl kicks off very soon. Many projects are underway to ensure everything is ready to go when the campers arrive. The pool is filled up, and the water is transforming into a nice shade of blue; the ropes course will receive its annual inspection to make sure that everything is safe, and at the horse barn, we are working on bringing the “West” to this eastern part of Ohio.
But camp would be a lot of wasted work if it were not a tool used to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that many come to know Jesus Christ and then leave camp making a difference in their world. Will you pray this also?
The theme for summer staff is pulled from the passage in 2 Timothy 2:15,
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
During training week we will look at what it means to be a workman who is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is an action one takes to publically identify with Jesus Christ. On June 3 at 7:00pm we plan to hold a worship service at Camp Carl. There are two gentlemen, Ben Reed and George Daugherty, who will stand up for Jesus Christ and identify with Him through the action of baptism. They want to boldly state that they are not ashamed!
We would love for you to join us June 3. There is an open house from 3:00–7:00pm, with the service following. Doug Ley, our new Missions pastor at The Chapel, will be speaking that evening.
Creativity, Art, and Happy Children
by Jean
“Why India?” people ask. “It’s a long and tedious journey by plane. Sanitation is poor or non-existent. You need to have lots of shots to prevent diseases. The water is not safe. It’s too hot. There is noise and traffic confusion. The food is very spicy and different. Fruits and raw vegetables aren’t safe. You could get sick. People live and die on the trash-lined streets. There is a caste system and at the bottom are millions of Dalit men, women and children. They are considered untouchable, unclean and unworthy. Illiteracy, malnutrition, starvation and human trafficking are part of their reality. People wash dishes, clothes and bodies in the same dirty river.” One needs to look beyond the comforts of home to those lacking in the most basic necessities of survival.
God has blessed me with creativity, patience and a long, rewarding career in Art education. I had been praying for another opportunity to share my education and experiences with teachers and ultimately young children. It would be another way for me to share God’s love and his blessings.
Upon arrival, I quickly realized that things are not linear in India. Life is noisy and in constant motion, weaving from side to side. Cars, cows, dogs, humans, rickshaws, water buffalo, bicycles, motorcycles, and goats vie for position on crowded streets. Camels, ox carts and shepherds herding their flocks were reminiscent of biblical times.
As days passed, I came to realize that beyond the slums, the heartbreak, and hopelessness of those living on the streets, I could find beauty in the flowers and amazing color and pattern in the women’s dresses. I was sure I would miss this beautiful color upon my arrival back home.
A Defining Moment
by Pete Keslar
Long-time Chapel member, Pete Keslar, shares a lesson from his life when he had a decision to make.
On the day that Dad and Mom took me to college, we arrived in the afternoon. My parents helped unload my belongings and got me settled in my dorm room. We walked around the campus then said our goodbyes and they left for home. Now an adult of 18-years-old, I felt I was on my own for the first time.
The new fellows I met were friendly and seemed very much to make me part of their group. After supper, four upperclassmen asked four of five of us new freshman to go out and get better acquainted.
They took us to a bar that was within walking distance of the dorm. I remember we all sat at a big round table, then the waiter came around to take drink orders. This was a defining moment in my life as my mother had told me never to drink. She grew up in a family where alcohol had caused so much sorrow.
Wild Game Dinner
1:26 Outdoors Ministry hosted their Second Annual Wild Game Dinner at The Chapel’s Wadsworth Campus. A crowd of nearly 170 folks from the Akron/Canton area were there. Dr. Jimmy Sites, a gifted communicator and former pastor of one of Nashville’s largest churches (where Michael W. Smith serves as worship pastor), was the featured speaker. Sites currently hosts a popular television series: Spiritual Outdoor Adventures which has been covered by ESPN, Sports Illustrated, New York Times, USA Today, ABC, NBC, and CBS.
The evening’s theme was to glorify God by sharing stories and examples of outdoor adventures that entertain, educate, and inspire outdoorsmen to live for Jesus Christ. Sites shared personal experiences of hunting and fishing in various parts of the country and masterfully wove them into poignant parallels of our personal journey in this life. Through these engaging narratives Sites was able to share the gospel message—to which 12 people made commitments to follow after Jesus Christ.
Our 1:26 Outdoors Ministry has a series of events that are planned throughout the year. If you would like further information about getting involved with this ministry outreach, please contact: Mike Manfull or call Joe in the Sports Ministry office at 330.315.5909.
The Great Date
Our receptionists witness many blessings from The Chapel’s front desk, but in the words of Suzanne Ludwick, one of three receptionists at the Akron Campus, the first official Great Date “was very, very special.”
The Great Date is an emerging ministry at The Chapel, managed exclusively by the New Life Community Group. Consisting primarily of young married couples and new families, the New Life group was eager to begin serving others within the church. Their Sunday morning meeting time, coupled with a desire to worship together, meant that finding time to volunteer would be challenging. Fortunately, the group members were up to the challenge.
The solution? New Life decided to take advantage of The Chapel’s well-suited facility and offer free child care for three hours on a Friday evening. In order to adhere to our security standards, every single member of the New Life community group went through the full volunteer approval and training process established by Chapel Kids. They submitted to background checks, provided references, and received procedural training from experienced Chapel Kids staff members.