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.