SpringHill Alumni
There have been tens of thousands of SpringHill campers and summer staff over our 42 year history which means there are SpringHill alumni literally all over the world.
I had this reality driven home during my “pastor day” this past Tuesday when I ran into two former SpringHill summer staff, one who’s now working for Kensington Community Church and another serving Mack Avenue Community Church.
First I had the opportunity to reconnect with Cameron Underdown who’s the high school and college director for Kensington’s Orion/Rochester campus. Cameron’s playing a key role in a significant ministry. Talking with him reminded me of the part SpringHill play’s in the spiritual, personal and professional development of college age people.
Later that day while touring with Eric Russ I had the opportunity to talk with Kristen VanderPlas Selle. Kristen and her husband Scott live in one of the poorest communities in Detroit (and thus in the country) where they’re both involved in the Mack Avenue Community Church family. In particular Kristen leads Mack Avenue Community Church’s literary and tutoring program designed to serve the young children of the Mack Avenue neighborhood. As I watched Kristen working with some of the students I couldn’t help feeling a bit of pride knowing that a SpringHill alumnus is serving the “least of these” in this way.
These two friends represent the literally thousands of SpringHill alumni who’ve committed their lives to the service of others and to expanding Christ’s Kingdom. We, at SpringHill, pray every summer that God would use us to help our summer staff and campers grow in their faith as well as to develop as people and leaders who’ll make a difference in Christ’s Kingdom.
So “pastor day” had a second blessing – to see our prayer answered in two SpringHill alumni.
4 Comments
Wendy Badeau
SHC does have alumni all over the world, including Cairo, Egypt, where we are in the midst of the second “revolution” in just 10 months! One of the greatest joys during difficult days is to read the FB posts of so many SHC alumni with whom I am still in contact. For “belly laughs” I go to the “80’s page” and read the memories posted.
I am still being blessed by SHC, and all the staffers I have the honor of calling friends.
Michael Perry
Thanks so much Wendy for sharing your “alumni” story. As a SpringHill alumni has often said there’ll be a special street corner on the new earth where we’ll have a SpringHill reunion.
isaiah fenior
Scott is a childhood friend of mine. Glad to know what he’s up to and that he is doing such good!
Michael Perry
Hey Isaiah, wish you could see where Scott and Kristen live, it’s quite remarkable. God’s using them to make a difference in a place that so desperatly needs God’s people, love and grace. I’m a young life kid and fan (if you didn’t my previous post title “The interesection of the past, the present and the future”. My wife and I, as volunteer leaders took kids to Southwind a few different times way back in the day.