The Work Behind the Wonder

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Subject: The Work Behind the Wonder

"Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.'"

-Joshua 20:1-6

CAMPFIRE THOUGHTS:
"Justice and Grace in the City of Refuge"

Spring has sprung! New life is springing up all around us in God’s beautiful creation. Baby fawns, blooming trees, budding flowers, and all the other things we think of this time of year.

The other day I was speaking with a former staff member who expressed a difficulty in seeing God’s life-giving grace in much of the Old Testament and the Law. This passage from Joshua for example, seems to focus on death and how to “make do” in a sinful world.

But there is something deeper under the surface.

I promise, it is perfectly fitting for spring.

In these verses, God is instructing Joshua to build the so-called “cities of refuge” He had ordained in the Law given to Moses. These cities were to be places where accidental killers (those that commit what we call manslaughter today) could flee to find protection from the vengeance of the victim’s loved ones. That may sound like it ignores justice, but does it?

The man who fled to one of these cities would reside there until the death of the high priest. Then, after a trial which would prove him innocent of murder, he would be free. God’s justice would be satisfied by the blood of the high priest, and His grace would be shown in the protection of the innocent man who did not mean to harm the victim. Thus, the cities of refuge served to protect God’s people and to give new life to the one who would have been killed in retaliation.

Where have we seen this before?

The cities of refuge are a type of Christ. They show us what He would come to do to a much greater extent. Christ came to save those with blood on their hands.

All of us have sinned, and as such, deserve to die. Our consciences bear witness to this constantly. We know we don’t do what we should. We know we are full of wicked impulses. We know that we are naturally inclined to do evil. Yet Christ gives us a place to flee. He is our refuge. We can run to Him and be saved.

And what of our sins? Whose blood will pay for our evil? Who will satisfy God’s justice?

The answer again is Christ. He is our refuge, but also our High Priest. It is His blood spilled on our behalf that saves us, frees us, and gives us the promise of new life. But unlike the high priest in the days of Joshua, our High Priest satisfies God’s justice forever. Our High Priest Jesus gives us an eternal dwelling with Him in paradise.

So, spring has sprung!

May we constantly be reminded of the new life given to us in Christ Jesus throughout this season!

Brandon Hall

Camp Lakeview Program Director

LAKEVIEW LOWDOWN:

Spring (Projects) Are In the Air

There's always a lot happening at camp, but most people know us the best in the summer. We always like sharing little glimpses into life at camp outside of the summer, so enjoy this laundry list of things that have been happening at camp recently:

Aerial Course Construction:
Danny (Operations Director) has been teaming up with Brandon and Hannah (Villages Program Director) to keep progress moving on the new aerial course at the Villages.

Lifeguard Training:
Brandon and Hannah got recertified as lifeguards and are ready once more to guard the open seas.

Rec Center Designing:
David (Executive Director) and Bill (Capital Development Director) have been leading conversations among the staff team to finalize the design for the new Recreation Center. The initial draft is complete and has been sent to architects so details can begin taking shape. The hope is to launch construction sometime in late summer/early fall.

Church Visits:
We've been visiting churches to support their ministries and share about camp (including trips to Zion New Palestine and St. Peter's Columbus) as well as having churches bring their groups to camp (including groups from Immanuel Hamilton and Zion Seymour). We love connecting with our churches!

Shirt Shack Designs:
Hannah and Brandon have been brainstorming new goodies for the camp Shirt Shack. Check out this sneak peek of one of our new shirts this year:

While summer may be the time people are most familiar with the work of camp, ministry work continues year-round so that God may be glorified and people may be encouraged in Christ!

INSIDER ACTION

We would like to cordially invite you to...

Dearest member of the Lakeview family,

We would like to cordially invite you to the most magnificent gathering of the early summer season.

Everyone will be there - slightly nervous young adults waiting to welcome their first campers, laughing families soaking in the sights and sounds of camp over a beautiful Saturday day, old friends who have been away from camp for too long, and new friends who have never had the chance to visit before.

We will sip on lemonade and eat barbecue, ride horses daintily in the woods, splash our toes in the water, chat with new friends and old, and enjoy a truly delightful time.

This gathering won't be the same without you. Truly.

So please, accept our humblest invitation to our Open House, occurring on the fourth Saturday of May, the 23rd.

We eagerly await the day.

Sincerely,

The Lakeview Ministries Staff Team

RSVP (you know you want to)

STAFF SPOTLIGHT:

Meet Ben Rust

For Ben Rust, coming back to Lakeview feels a lot less like starting a new job and a lot more like coming home.

Lakeview recently welcomed Ben as our new Facilities Assistant, where he’s helping with a wide range of responsibilities that help camp run smoothly every day. From indoor and outdoor maintenance to vehicle upkeep, firewood collection, sewer system management, and even helping with the high ropes course, Ben is stepping into a role that touches nearly every corner of camp life.

In many ways, he’s been preparing for it for years. With experience in vehicle maintenance, landscaping, welding, and fabrication, Ben brings a practical, hands-on skill set to the job. He developed the skills in high school weld shop, picked up more experience through side jobs, and even spent time building off-road Jeeps, roll cages, and bumpers.

But Ben’s connection to Lakeview goes much deeper than maintenance work. He grew up as a camper here! His childhood home was just two miles away, and Lakeview became part of the rhythm of his early life. He rode his bike here, played basketball here, and made memories that lasted. One of his current co-workers, Pete Bolden, was even one of his counselors.

“Lakeview has always held a place in my heart,” Ben said.

Ben briefly served on year-round staff previously in 2021-22. After leaving for another opportunity, he quickly realized something important: Lakeview was where he wanted to be.

“I don’t ever plan on leaving again,” Ben said. “The first chance I had to come back, I was going to take it.” He got started at the beginning of March, and is excited to be part of what God is continuing to do at camp. “Lakeview is always changing. It’s always getting better,” Ben said. “I look forward to whatever camp has to bring and what God allows camp to become.”

We’re grateful Ben is back at Lakeview, using his unique gifts to serve in a place that has shaped his own life. We hope you'll join us in welcoming him the next time you see him hard at work around camp!

DEEP DIVE:

The Work Behind the Wonder

Behind every campfire, cabin, and life-changing moment at Lakeview is something deeper: long-term stewardship. The ministry people know and love is supported by faithful planning, wise leadership, and a vision that reaches far beyond today.

In this deep dive of a post, read about the work that the Board of Directors, the Lakeview Foundation, and David Vandercar, our Executive Director have been doing recently to safeguard camp well. They have been hard at work strengthening the foundation of camp and preparing for a future that will continue impacting campers, families, and churches for generations to come.

(It might sound a little boring, but this is some pretty awesome stuff, we promise!)

Dive Deep

WORK WEEKEND:
A Mini Mission Trip for All Ages

According to a Barna study on short-term mission trips, a majority of people participating in such trips said that they "changed their life" in a positive manner. Benefits included such things as increasing their sense of compassion, deepening and enrichening their faith, and boosting their financial generosity.

Yet despite that, only 1 in 10 churchgoers have ever participated in a mission trip.

Are you one of the 9?

If so, here's a perfect opportunity to change that.

Each spring, camp holds a Work Weekend to help get camp ready for the summer season. The work done during this retreat directly impacts the thousands of kids and families who attend camp in the summer and experience the life-changing love of Jesus.

It's a weekend filled with serving and bonding together. There are projects for all ages, from kids to grandparents. We serve together, eat together, laugh together, sing together...

Work Weekend is a mini mission trip. There’s meaningful work to do, but there’s also something deeper: serving side by side, sharing meals, building friendships, and leaving spiritually encouraged.

This is a great opportunity to gather your family, your friends, a group from your church or Bible study and come serve together.

You’ll help prepare camp for summer — and you may leave feeling just as filled up as camp itself.

Learn More

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Subject: The Work Behind the Wonder