Sunstream Retreat Center

During our visit to Sunstream today, we learned a great deal from the camp director without much prompting.  Six of the seven questions I had prepared were answered without being asked in the first ten minutes of his explanation of how the camp works.  I will briefly relate the answers to all seven, because they are very short answers.

1.  What denomination are you affiliated with?

Assemblies of God

2.  How many churches do you have in Iowa?

123

3.  Are you their only camp in Iowa?

Yes.

4.  How long have you been director?

Almost three years.

5. When were you founded?

1973

6.  Why was this the place to build?

Rugged land and central location in Iowa.

7.  What is your vision for the next five to ten years?

To increase the camp’s capacity from 350 people to 500 people, while being good stewards of what God has already given.

Results are in: One Hour of Introspection

Strengths: Learning, History, Preaching.

Weaknesses: Lack of Prayer and Focus, Confusion.

Opportunities: Time for study, devotion, and discipleship; ministry at camp and in Boone.

Threats: Wasted time, un-dealt-with sin, idolatry, legalism.

Finding Direction

VALUES: (Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary, 1828)

Truth

-Veracity; purity from falsehood; practice of speaking truth; habitual disposition to speak truth; as when we say, a man is a man of truth.

Honor 

-True nobleness of mind; magnanimity; dignified respect for character, springing from probity, principle or moral rectitude; a distinguishing trait in the character of good men.

Devotion

-A solemn attention to the Supreme Being in worship; a yielding of the heart and affections to God, with reverence, faith and piety, in religious duties, particularly in prayer and meditation; devoutness.

-Ardent love or affection; attachment manifested by constant attention; as, the duke was distinguished by his devotion to the king, and to the interest of the nation.

MISSION:

To glorify God through Jesus Christ in all things by drawing near to Him and by being a father-figure in my family, church, and community.

VISION:

Drawing Near-To praise, trust, and love God in all things.

Family-To become a godly husband and father.

Church-To become a servant-hearted, truth-preaching pastor.

Community-To be salt and light in the world and a loving neighbor to all.

Whatever For?

            Hidden Acres exists for several reasons, some in theory, and some in fact.  The degree to which we, in fact, do what we desire to do in theory, is now in question.  To be fair, my own purpose for existence, at least for this year, is also on trial.

            This camp exists primarily to facilitate the conversion of lost souls and the building up of saints.  Our full-time staff is rarely involved directly in this process, but the purpose is still clearly there.  During summer camp this is especially clear.  The folks in the office and on the lawnmowers and in the dish room have just about no direct camper interaction.  What they are doing, however, plays a vital role in what is going on in the campers’ lives.  The counselors and campers need never give a care about upkeep or cooking, and may focus on Jesus Christ alone.  We facilitate the Gospel.  While we as a full-time staff do not usually present it to individual guests, we provide all the circumstances necessary for Christians who come here to evangelize and be built up.  This, above all, gives glory to Jesus Christ. 

            It is all too easy to lose sight of this mission.  At Hidden Acres I think the largest distraction from our mission is the desire to grow.  In the back of our minds, we think, ‘Won’t it be great when we can put up these new facilities, and get this project done, and all this will help camp grow and be better, and we can keep our doors open.’  It is easy to do this without continuing to the next logical thought, which is the real core of our mission, ‘And if we keep our doors open, more lives will continue to be touched by Jesus Christ because He is using us for His glory.  What a tremendous honor it is to be used by Him this way.’  May we never long lose sight of Him.

            As for me, my purpose for being here in theory, and sometimes in practice, is to glorify Jesus Christ by facilitating the Gospel.  This often involves emptying trashes and washing dishes and hauling chairs hither and yon, but that’s all part of glorifying Him.  Unfortunately, I too regularly lose sight of this mission and instead just view my reason for being here as a commitment.  ‘I’m here for a year,’ I think, ‘and this is what I’m doing.  So, here goes…’   This is a terrible attitude.  Work for work’s sake is a punishment.  Work for Jesus’ sake is a joy.  Fun, no.  At least not all the time.  But what gives glory to Jesus Christ is a pure heart, whether by preaching to crowds or cleaning toilets.

The Way Things Work 'Round Here

            In the world of administration four philosophies define degrees of two key components which define the way it runs.  The first of these components is focus, namely, the thing on which the organization places its main attention.  This is defined as internal or external.  The second component is function, and describes how the organizations goes about its day-to-day activities.  This is defined as flexible or controlled.  The grid thus formed with these two axis in mind leaves the observer with four categories:  Clan, Adhocracy, Hierarchy, and Market. 

            The Clan mentality is defined by internal focus and flexibility.  It is rather like a family, in which teamwork and cooperation are emphasized.  As things go along, individual roles may change, but the group ably supports all the members in it.  I think of an Amish barn raising.  Everyone is willing to be helpful to those around them in whatever need may arise, even if it is not particularly in their job description.

            Adhocracy is defined by external focus and flexibility.  I would term it “organized chaos.”  Structure and community are not so valuable in an adhocracy, but in certain settings this method sure gets the job done.  It gives liberty at every possible opportunity.  This liberty is to be used to stimulate creativity and new ideas.  This is sometimes seen in the form of individual project time with few guidelines but that it be somehow useful.

            Hierarchy is due opposite in both respects, internally focused and controlled.  In a hierarchy, roles are definite and unchanging, authority is unquestionable, and tradition and conformity are highly valued.  This system is not suited for creativity, as adhocracy, but is very well suited for order, discipline, and smooth function.  The armed forces are a good, though rather extreme example of this type.

            A Market type system is externally focused and controlled.  Instead of being driven from within, it is driven from without.  Popular demand is thus a key component in why this type exists as well as how it functions.  It seeks to outdo competition, but not without plenty of order. Many businesses fall under this category.  The difference between this and hierarchy I think may be best explained as when a job needs to get done, market is concerned that it get done, not whose job it is.