Here I am
About this blog
Brian Frick is the Associate for Camp and Conferences Ministries with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He has been involved in camp and conference ministry since high school. For the past ten years, Brian has served as program director of Johnsonburg Center in New Jersey, Westminster Woods in California, and Heartland Center in Missouri.
Camp and conference ministry compliments and partners with other ministry aspects of our church to foster faith development and reflection. As our communities and our church changes, our ministries need to grow and adapt with creative and emergent programming and leadership to meet new realities.
These blogs entries, though varied, are intended to spur thought and conversation around the opportunities and challenges before us.
Recent posts
- Letters from Camp
- Step up to support reconciliation
- Does your Ministry Transform Young Adults?
- Camp Curriculum Discount Available
- Earth Day Resources from the National Council of Churches
Categories
- Religion (4)
- Food and Drink (1)
- Weblogs (1)
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Archives
Posts with tag: presbyterian
March 26, 2013Young Adult Eco-Stewards Program Applications Due
Is God calling you or someone you know to care for the environment?Now is the time to apply for the 2013 Eco-Stewards Program!
- Posted at 10:20 a.m.
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September 25, 2012
Mission board approves ‘path and process’ toward separate incorporation of Stony Point Center
The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board (formerly the General Assembly Mission Council) has approved “a path and process” to establish the denomination’s Stony Point (N.Y.) Center as separate corporation related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
The unanimous vote by the board at its Sept 12-14 meeting here came upon recommendation of a task force that was appointed a year ago. It was charged to “study the missional alignment, viability, financial sustainability and management performance of Stony Point.
- Posted at 11:42 a.m.
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September 18, 2012
Learnings from Others Failures
Can we learn how to live and thrive by learning why others failed to start?- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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September 12, 2012
A Growing Church is a Dying Church
Whenever a congregation goes looking for a new pastor, the first question on their minds when the committee interviews a new candidate is: Will this pastor grow our church?
I’m going to go ahead and answer that question right now: No, she will not.
- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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September 6, 2012
The Power of Camping in the Lives of Men
"I can honestly say that it was one of the most moving and meaningful experiences I've ever had," says Alan Wohlstetter, a resident of Erdenheim and a partner at the Fox Rothschild law firm. "We came together as grown men in middle age, and we had left camp back in 1972 when we were 15 years old."- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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September 5, 2012
Lending a Hand When Disaster Strikes
When Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp in Colorado was evacuated for the current fire, Highlands Camp (a PCUSA site) was able to reach out and accomodate them. It's so important for kids to have summer camp and being able to reach out to others in need really drives the message of living the good news of Jesus Christ home to all campers and staff!
- Posted at 4:05 p.m.
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June 13, 2012
Celebrate! Young Adult Leadership and Discipleship Experiences Starting ALL over the country!
A celebration is called for! Summer is starting across the country and thousands of our passionate young adults are embarking on a life changing summer living in Christian community. This opportunity to teach and share their faith with campers, as well as live intentionally with other committed Christian leaders will transform them in ways they can’t even imagine.
- Posted at 12:00 a.m.
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March 15, 2012
A Jewel for the Church
“The goal is to send these younger people home, have them fired up and passionate about the scriptures and with strong prayer lives and a real sense of what they believe, so they can continue to do those kinds of things in the local setting,” says Tim McNeil.
- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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December 21, 2011
Eco-Stewards Program 2012
Don't miss out! Sign up or encourage others to sign up today!
- Posted at 12:07 p.m.
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October 25, 2011
New Eco-Stewards Post
Eco-Steward Kathi Pogorelov studies public health and sociology, with a concentration in health and environment, at The College of New Jersey. She took a break from her coursework to reflect on her participation in the June 2011 Montana Eco-Stewards Program.
- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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October 14, 2011
Reaching Out at 5,000 Feet
Taking a fresh look at our mission focus as the Church and society continues to change around us.
- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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August 2, 2011
Another Blog from the Eco-Stewards
Eco-Steward Gerard Miller studied modern languages, linguistics and intercultural communication at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. He is working this summer as an intern at Greenwood Farm in Hardin, Montana. Here he reflects on a day from our June Eco-Stewards Program. Looking back on our week of active learning in Eastern Montana, the one thing [...]
- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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July 28, 2011
Breaking Through
Honest conversations about the future are essential, but sometimes tough to start and changed with emotions.
- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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July 26, 2011
Another Blog from the Eco-Stewards
There is another new blog post on the Eco-Stewards Program blog from Eco-Steward Andrew Fultz-Morrison, who is interning this summer at Krislund Camp in Pennsylvania. In the post Andrew reflects on events from the Eco-Stewards weeklong program in Montana as well as his internship at Krislund.
- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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July 22, 2011
Inspiration for a Tiring Summer
We are in week 5 of Summer Camp. My Director of Summer Camp used this quote at the end of a memo to summer staff, and I am still laughing. Feel free to use it!
- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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July 12, 2011
What Matters?
If you read my blog, you will find I am interested in a wide variety of subjects related to camp, conference and retreat ministry. I like to look at the ministry facilities we have as "Centers for Mission and Ministry" because they are one of the most flexible resources we have in our church. From facilities for education and retreat, to acres of God's creation, to skilled and multi-talented/flexible staff to help put any idea into action, to their reach into all aspects of church life, our centers are truly under-used and undervalued.
- Posted at 6:00 a.m.
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June 7, 2011
Trending up? Now what?
From my recent talks with several camp leaders, summer camp numbers appear to be heading up. I know this is not the case for all of our sites, but it is exciting to see a trend moving up when the...
- Posted at 10:08 a.m.
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June 2, 2011
Why? Community Building as THE Mission
Just had a wonderful conversation with Rev. David Ensign, (for those of you who knew Rev. John Ensign, long serving director of Camp Hanover, David is his nephew) exploring where the ministry of camp, conference and retreat is heading. It...
- Posted at 10:11 a.m.
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May 26, 2011
Welcoming the Other
Jesus tells us story after story about how we are to welcome the other even at cost to ourselves. Whether it’s the story of the persistent neighbor who knocks and knocks until he wakes his neighbor to help him provide...
- Posted at 10:41 a.m.
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May 24, 2011
Happy Birthday!
Simple communications throughout the year with your campers leads to a higher level of retention. Ask any of the “big” camps in your area and I bet you will find they are effective in reaching their campers throughout the year....
- Posted at 10:15 a.m.
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May 19, 2011
Another Sustainable Pathways event this fall!
Don't miss the Sustainable Pathways: Creation Care and Best Practices for Camp and Retreat Ministries being held September 19-23, 2011 at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center outside Little Rock, Arkasas. This looks to be a great event of learning from...
- Posted at 10:29 a.m.
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May 17, 2011
"Come on baby light my fire" ....water???
BREAKING NEWS: Fracking (extracting natural gas from underground shale deposits through fracturing) has been scientifically linked to water contamination. Take a moment and listen to the "Here and Now" episode discussing the issue. ‘Fracking’ Scientifically Linked To Water Contamination And...
- Posted at 10:45 a.m.
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May 12, 2011
10-A Passes...What do I need to know?
10-A, the amendment to the Book of Order's ordination requirement removing the 'fidelity and chastity' requirements, has been approved by enough Presbyteries to pass. This happened on Tuesday May 11, 2011. The following links will help you learn more about...
- Posted at 3:28 p.m.
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April 21, 2011
Slow Down? Speed up? Defining Relevance (For a Time Such as This – Part 4)
Is the ‘new normal’ that things will continue to change more and more rapidly? Will we continue to feel out of breath running to stay in place? About 5 years ago, when my children were 3 and 6, they said...
- Posted at 3:44 p.m.
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