Regular Camps

We have two weekend camps and one 4–day camp each year. These are highly anticipated events that allow us to spend a great deal of time together. All of our staff (including our nurses, cooks, Bible study leaders, etc.) are volunteers, and many plan their holidays so they can join us.

We have morning Bible study groups; afternoon free times with options of swimming, walks, crafts, etc.; and evening gatherings where we present skits taken from our Bible studies.

Tent Camps

For four years we went to Porpoise Bay camp in Sechelt, to join with the Sunshine Coast Joy Fellowship group. Five members of their fellowship joined us for the entire camp. For these camps we lived in tents and cooked our own food in teams. The highlight was the addition of 40 or so others who joined us for a barbeque and an afternoon of games. During our time in this beautiful area we went for hikes, walks on the beach, and swims in the ocean, and roasted marshmallows together with much singing and worship and general fun.

This year we went instead to a Salvation Army camp at Langdale, and are looking forward to going there again. It is a great place, and they treated us royally. We have not been at a Christian camp for many years, and we have learned that we have been missing a lot.

We also have an annual leadership retreat for the members of the congregation who are part of outreach teams or otherwise show that they are serious about being disciples of Jesus. This group has enjoyed retreats at Rivendale on Bowen Island and at Camp Jubilee. Next year we may try the Salvation Army camp.

Spring Fair

Each spring we have a Jamboree that is held on a Saturday in May at Trinity Baptist Church in Vancouver. We have games, a pie-eating competition, a bake sale, crafts, a white-elephant sale, and a car wash. In keeping with the fair theme, we sell hot dogs, pop, chips, and cookies. This is a time for fun and fellowship. This year we had a great team of young people from the Burnaby Chinese Alliance Church, who helped us run the games and led in worship and song. We look forward to their help again next year.

Christmas Craft Fair

In the fall we have a large Christmas Craft Fair, Bake Sale, and Tea. Many supporters create items and donate them to us to sell. This was one of Joy Gregory’s great contributions, but few of us now are very crafty. Carol Hansen, a long-time friend and supporter, is taking this event over and moving it in a different direction. She wants to gather crafts from around the world for us to sell. We are particularly looking for crafts done by people with disabilities overseas, and especially crafts that have something to do with Jesus and Christmas. These are times when many who love this ministry come and visit with us on this day of celebration. We sing Christmas carols all day long, and we serve a wonderful “high tea” (a full meal really). Many people spend the whole day with us.