Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp

            Yesterday we visited Riverside, my home camp, over by Story City.  We also got to drive by my house on the way because there was plenty of time and it was more or less on the way.  It was strange to be in a familiar place with people that I was not used to being with there.  Since I was a camper at Riverside for six years, I knew most of what I normally ask camps, so it took some effort to come up with questions to ask.

1.  How does the board work in relation to the member-Churches?

I knew that Riverside was basically owned by the member-Churches, but I didn’t know how the Board came out of that, or how much power they had.  Apparently, the members of the board are picked by the Director, among those in the churches who care about the camp and its mission, “To know Jesus Christ, and to make Christ known to all.”  The board members are to be proportional by synod with the member-churches.  Right now, that means about half ELCA and half LCMC, because that is the representation of the member-churches in those synods.  Formerly, the ELCA had more, but in recent years the ELCA has shrunk considerably because of its ungodly decisions.  The camp, however, has not followed in those steps, but remains focused on the Gospel and on personal relationships with Jesus Christ.

2.  Was the barn here originally?

My sister has stayed in the barn before, but I had never been in it, as it was a Ranch camp thing, and only girls stayed there.  Apparently, it was indeed original, having been on the farm spot with the house and the old shop.  The upstairs of the barn now has basketball hoops.

Some other things that I got to see that I never had before were the costume room in the chapel, which is absolutely loaded with costumes, the barn, the staff lounge in the basement of the dining hall, and the back of the kitchen.  They had also moved the old banners from the chapel ceiling into the rec hall on the wall, which was really neat.  So many memories for me with the various banners, from Christ in Action in 2005 to Sent in 2010, I was glad to recall them all and remember what God had done for me and so many others in that place.  It was there that my attempt at Judaism was majorly challenged in 2009, and I spent my week at camp wrestling with God and my salvation, eventually repenting and believing the Gospel upon my return home.  And my Eagle Scout project, I could see the picnic tables scattered throughout camp, and remembered with fondness my first real experience with leadership in the shop, directing twenty-two people to build seven picnic tables in three hours.  It was a blast.  And so many times God working through the mime, and the counselors I met and still know and respect, and whose example I now hope to imitate at Hidden Acres.  It is a good place with a rich history and I was glad to visit it and see that God is still at work and doing His mighty purposes there, within the context of the Lutheran church, which is sadly becoming a more and more hostile environment to Him.