THE SMOKY TRAIL HOTLINE
Give me this mountain . . . if the Lord be with me, . . . then I shall be able. Jos. 14:12
The Olympics finished with a bang. Canadians were high with pride in their hockey teams and the accomplishments of their athletes. When the excitement dies down and the fans return home will these things count for eternity? The world will move on and very soon all these exploits will be forgotten. The gold medals will become tarnished and the ribbons on which they hang will soon fade.
Brothers and sisters the Word of God says "His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed." Ps. 72.17. You are sowing for an eternal reward that your God has reserved for you, not a temporary one. Peter says, "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you," 1Pe.1:4. The world sows to the flesh but you are sowing to life everlasting and yours is not a gold medal that will turn to dust, but an eternal crown that God will give you. "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Gal. 6:8. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 1Pe 5:4. The campers who come to know the Saviour are your "joy and crown" just as surely as those at Corinth were to Paul. Come and be part of the real gold medal game!
Now we have begun together to prepare ourselves to receive God's blessing at this summer's camps. A number of you have already given to our sponsorship program so that no child would be denied the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and come to faith in Him. Thank you for responding so quickly. As we trust God and work together as a team, we will rejoice together with Him, and give Him the glory due His name.
This past Friday a committee of the Georgian Board met in Parry Sound. They were planning for the calling of a new camp director couple or couples to minister through our three camps and our other outreach programs. Your input & suggestions are warmly invited. An addition to our statement of faith showing our commitment to strong godly families was one of the results of that meeting and will soon appear on our website.
The process of recruiting volunteers for the many positions is underway. If you need more staff posters, we would be pleased to send them. All positions are open, starting with program directors, counsellors, lifeguards, kitchen positions, literacy & grandpa-grandma.
As executive director we draw no salary and continue to be faith missionaries depending on God and His people for our support. We are trusting to be more available for various ministry opportunities as the Lord provides a new camp director. This would allow us to be able to expose others to the native ministry. Then more prospective partners would be aware of the Lord's leading so the work might expand. Thank you for your continued camp support and for your personal support of Carol and myself.
The knitting teams are working overtime. A second shipment was sent north. We were talking to one of our northern pastors and the first one has arrived. Thank you ladies for serving so graciously in Jesus name. Carol and I will visit two of the teams this month. The AIR MILES program is getting off the ground. Call if you can help, and we will send you details and a collector's card for your wallet. This will assist us in our travels.
2010 camper sponsorship forms, volunteer forms, and camp posters are available on line at www.smokytrail.org. Thank you for your much needed generous support.
A visit to Carpernwray Bible School with prospective students is scheduled for April 11 to 13. If you have been on staff or planning to join us this summer, you are invited to come. Be open to God's leading. Let us know so we can finalize plans for an appropriate vehicle & pickup locations. Your opportunity to investigate, don't delay. CALL NOW!
Good Seed-The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus grows again with "Large Print" volumes. We sent some material to Pastor Taylor at Constance Lake Reserve to assist his outreach. Uphold him in prayer. Please call if you need to order books &/or videos.
*Note address & support name change, "Georgian Native & Outreach Ministries,"
PRAISE
*for invitations to minister in new places this spring, and to present the camp work.
*for the assistance we receive from a very supportive and active board.
*for the support team that God is building and using to strengthen the work.
PRAYER
*volunteers to continue work on the new chapel building at Dorothy Lake Bible Camp.
*for camp support, our personal support, & staff as we trust God for a great summer.
*for two missionary couples to join the team & direct the Smoky Trail Bible Camps.
*staff-counselors, cooks, program directors, & lifeguards. Reply enclosed & are on line.
*needed-grandpa & grandma literacy leaders & volunteers to love the children.
*for retiring board member and former camp cook, David Andrus, who has not been well.
*for board member Bill McNeice had successful hip replacement surgery on Wednesday.
*for Jim and Theresa McCoy as they plan to bring a team to Canada this summer.
*for sponsors needed for our 10 new canoes & trailer. 3 of them are already sponsored.
*for God to open many new doors wide as we progress in camp preparations.
*more opportunities to present the work. Can You Help arrange an engagement?
God is going to work at Smoky Trail Bible Camps this summer. Are you going to be part of His team? The apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian church, "We are workers together with Him." Thank you for being a member of the team as partners together with Him.
Hugh & Carol
Your Missionaries to Native Children.
