Where the Heart Is!
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
The beauty of not – for – profit organizations and ministries like SpringHill are that they are designed to receive resources from others free of charge. It’s beautiful not because the resources are free but because of what it says about the people providing the resources. It says they believe in mission of the organization, the people who are responsible for it, and most importantly, the impact the organization is having on the lives of others.
Dr. Kim Mitcham gives one week each summer as our Michigan camp medical Doctor. There are few other honor’s that an organization can receive then needed resources given as a gift. For an organization like SpringHill these gifts come as gifts of time, talents, prayer focus, services and products, and financial resources. Each enables us to continue to move forward in carrying out our vision and fulfilling our mission.
It’s an honor because the gift implies trust. People entrust us with resources they been entrusted with.
It’s a privilege because gifts provides us an opportunity to work on behalf of others in our common mission and vision.
It’s a responsibility because we now are the new stewards of these resources on behalf of the previous stewards and more importantly on behalf of Christ Himself.
Finally, by receiving people’s gifts we are receiving a part of their hearts (where your treasure is…) and there is nothing more important to a ministry like SpringHill then having the committed hearts of like-minded people involved.
We are blessed beyond what words can adequately express for the 1000’s of gift givers to SpringHill. From the faithful volunteer to the prayer warrior to the benefactor who provides financial resources. We could not exist without them and even if we could, with out their hearts our work would not be all that it should be.
Sally, one of our loyal volunteers who gives of her time and talents to SpringHill. Working registration on Opening Day. 
Dr Joe and Allison Kochan both of whom volunteer for at least a week each summer. 
Long term supporter and volunteer Owen Gussler. Week 1.8
Camps all over the country measure time during the summer by week number. If this is a camp’s sixth week of camp then it’s called “Week 6”. It becomes so ingrained in our language that we can slip into using this camp calendar when talking to people outside of the camping business.
SpringHill was no different until a few years ago when we started to re-think the perspective this calendar comes from and it’s implication to how we approach a week of camp.
We realized that the calendar, and it’s language, is from SpringHill’s perspective not the camper’s. For a camper, even though it may SpringHill’s Week 4, it’s still their first and maybe only week of camp.
Opening day of Week 1.4 in Indiana. Kids are getting ready for a fire engine ride to their cabins. So we decided to change the language of our calendar to better reflect the camper’s perspective. It started with simply saying that every week of camp is Week 1. Implying we should approach every week with as much diligence and enthusiasm as we do that first week of camp.
Unfortunately we still had the need, internally, to know which week of camp we were in. So as good as the language “every week is Week 1 at SpringHill” was from a camper perspective it didn’t help us in managing our weeks of camp.
So by the end of that summer one of our staff figured a better calendar and calendar language. One that communicates both which week of camp we are in and which week of camp it is for our campers.
Thus was born the new calendar that every week is Week 1.camp week. Each week is a new version of Week 1. It captures both the internal need to track which week of camp we are in and also reminds us that this is the first week of camp for our campers.
So yesterday morning at our Michigan overnight camp’s summer staff meeting we ask “What week is it?” And the answer the staff yell back was “It’s week 1.8”. It’s our 8th week of camp, but more importantly for our campers, it’s Week 1.
Opening Day of Week 1.8, a little entertainment for arriving campers. It’s All About Expectations
On the same walk with Skylar that I received the offer to buy SpringHill from one of our campers (see my post of July 29th) we ended up on the topic of relationships. Skylar has worked for SpringHill the past four summers including this year as a TST counselor so we’ve known each other for some time.
We talked about what made successful, long – term relationships. We agreed that one key ingredient is having clear and understood expectations whether it is a marriage, work relationship or friendship.
We also agreed that most relationships we knew that end up broken were the result of unfulfilled expectations. And this was because expectations were not clearly understood and agreed upon by everyone in the relationship.
At this point in the conversation, I have to admit, I felt sage like in my dispensing of wisdom about relationships to Skylar.
Then Skylar proceeded to share with me that he and his co – counselor, Will, decided to create expectations with their TST campers. Expectations that they, as their counselors, had for the campers and expectations that the campers had for them.
They wrote these all down and posted them in their cabin. The counselors and the campers referred to the posted lists when it appeared that agreed upon expectations where not being met.
Skylar said this process has helped create a very positive culture in their team and helped everyone work through difficult moments.
I loved this initiative by Skylar and Will, referred to by their campers as “Skill” (combination of Skylar and Will), to create the best possible experience for their campers. “Skill’s” example drove home the importance of having clear expectations in every important, long – term relationship.
I was also reminded of two other things.
First, we have many sages at SpringHill you just need to go for a walk with some folks, ask and listen.
Second, the truth is everything I know about leadership I’ve learned at camp.
Agreed upon expectations for the "Skill Team" 
Expectations for the counselor team of "Skill" 
One blank sheet is posted just in case new expectations are needed. Reflecting on Detroit
Yesterday I spent the afternoon with our Detroit Day Camp team and we had a moment together reflecting on the highlights from their summer so far. As it often does for me their reflections turn to their incredible week of ministry in inner city Detroit.
One of the these memories we talked about were of all the abandoned homes around the school where we had Day Camp. Our staff remembered one morning as they were setting up the equipment for the day (climbing wall, euro bungee, etc) a wall from one of these homes fell in with a huge crash (now that creates a memory).
I have to admit I continue to be moved by all the abandon homes (and more importantly what they represent) that we saw around the school and when we toured the community with Eric and Keltie Nielsen of Mack Avenue Community Church. There are 40,00 abandon buildings in Detroit compared, for example, to only 1000 in Chicago. I keep asking myself how can a city be so abandoned?
I especially think of this Detroit as I have been reading Michael Wittmer’s book Heaven is a Place on Earth. Is it possible that Heaven could be a place like Detroit? Here is what Wittmer says
“Because we are human, we will continue to develop culture, but now, because we are Christian, we must also strive to redeem it. It is not enough to merely salvage a few souls from the wreckage of sin. The entire world (including Detroit) belongs to God, so it must be the entire world (including Detroit) that is redeemed. To paraphrase Abraham Kuyper, we must diligently labor to bring every square inch of human existence (including Detroit) beneath the Lordship of Jesus Christ who proclaims, “It’s mine (including Detroit)!” (italicized words are mine)
This is my prayer for Detroit and it’s people. It’s the only Hope there is and the only thing I know to pray.
See my posts “This is the Best Place Ever” and “48214” for more stories about this week in Detroit.
Ageless Proverbs!
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding – indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5
This past Sunday I had the opportunity to be “the son..” when we had our second annual former SpringHill board member reunion. We had a number of former board members and their spouses join us for staff worship (they got to sing, clap and dance with the SpringHill Gospel Choir), attend the weekly “staff meeting” and then have lunch together at our Founder’s House.
Because their board tenures spanned a number of decades, I asked them to share their SpringHill history with the group. We were blessed to not only hear their histories but also to hear many great SpringHill’s stories.
And, most importantly for me, I heard bits of wisdom and proverbs that each one has gleaned over the years, especially from their involvement with SpringHill.
Here is a sample of these proverbs and encouraging quotes that I took note of:
“Never let SpringHill lose its focus.”
“Always leave room for God to work.”
“Keep the first things first.”
“I am thankful that SpringHill continues to keep Christ first and foremost at its center.”
“This place will be something special.” stated by Janet Doctor our first camp cook in 1969
“Keep the main thing the main thing.”
“When Enoch Olson (our first Director) prayed for something you’d better get out-of-the-way.”
“Let’s go for 100%.”
“We put forth what we can do and then let God do the rest.”
“Thank you for keeping SpringHill focused on sharing Jesus Christ.”
“His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1:3
Former board members worshiping with our summer staff. As Iron Sharpens Iron Part 2
Moving on from my time with my friend Mario I flew to Indianapolis on Tuesday evening to join up with the SpringHill leadership team.
In addition to our weekly conference calls, which focus on the business at hand, we meet face to face once a month. We have two objectives in our monthly meetings.
The first is team building and the second is to work on future/strategic planning topics.
So on Tuesday evening we attended an Indianapolis Indians Triple A baseball game. We had a relaxing evening together watching the field crew dry out the infield (which took nearly 2 hours because of a late afternoon rain storm) and 5 innings of the game.
On Wednesday we met in the offices of Baker Daniels in downtown Indianapolis for our monthly meeting. Our agenda was to discuss our 3 year financial plan, the 2011 ministry planning process and a legal review with our attorney.
As usual we had a productive and lively meeting together. Because we invest in our relationships with each other (for example going to minor league baseball games together) we can have very open and honest discussions. These dialogues are an “iron sharpening iron” process for us as a team, as individual leaders and ultimately as a ministry.
In this meeting we had more than our normal share of open and honest discussions. There was a lot of “iron sharpening”. Though some of it was hard it was also good because there were important things we needed to agree upon. Iron needed sharpening and it got sharpened.
I love these guys. I love them as people and as a team. They “sharpen” the ministry of SpringHill and they certainly “sharpen” me.
Left to right: Andy Westmaas, Michael Perry, Doug Nienhuis, Craig Soderdahl, Todd Leinberger, Bill Dinsmore As Iron Sharpens Iron Part 1
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 I’m living this proverb this week. I just finished spending 24 hours with my good friend Mario Zandstra.
Mario Zandstra in front of Middleton Tavern in Annapolis, Maryland. We met together in Annapolis, Maryland, the home of our nation’s Naval Academy. An appropriate place to meet because, in many ways, it symbolizes our friendship and work together.
As we walked around the Naval Academy and through its Chapel we saw this book. The 2010 graduating class all signed it “dedicating their commissions to the Glory of God.” I think Mario has signed the same kind of book for his “commission.” This is why his “iron sharpens my iron” and why I love being him.
Mario is a committed husband and great father of 7 children. I know these things because Denise and I have spent time with he and his wife and Monday night Mario and I had dinner with one of his sons, Will. I believe that a man’s spouse and children are a reflection of who he is as a husband and father.
So being with him is to have his “commission” as a husband and father sharpen mine.
He is the CEO of Pine Cove Camps in Tyler, TX. http://www.pinecove.com/. Pine Cove is a camp ministry much like SpringHill. Mario has provide leadership that has led to an expanded reach, increase in effectiveness and improvement in the quality of their work.
So being with him is to have his “commission” as a leader sharpen mine.
Mario is a man who passionately wants to grow in his relationship with Christ and to live out that relationship for the “Glory of God.”
So being with him is to have his “commission” as a follower of Christ sharpen mine.
I’m thankful for my friendship with Mario. He has helped me become more faithful in my “commission.” My prayer is that I would do the same for him.
By the way does anyone know why we kept seeing this photo all around campus?
There’s No Bad Weather Just Bad Clothing!
Camp, by its nature, is spending lots of time outside. We design our camps and camp programs to maximize the beautiful settings we are blessed with. We believe being in the out-of-doors provides many physical, emotional and spiritual benefits to kids.
Matt Casburn our Copper Country Director welcoming campers and parents to camp in the rain. That’s why, unless the weather is dangerous, we do camp in the wind, rain or shine. We embrace all kinds of weather and believe it’s a gift from God. We just need to dressed appropriately for it and maybe adjust our perspectives.
Amanda Thompson, our Storybrook Director, prepared for any kind of weather on opening day. I love our staff’s attitudes and actions when others think the weather is less than ideal. They have fun, assure that campers have fun, and turn rain, cold or heat into something exciting.
They lead their campers in dancing and singing in the rain.
On cold Michigan mornings they turn blobbing into something manly called “polar bear” blobbing.
They take the heat and humidity of southern Indiana and use it as a chance to ceremoniously drink water together.
Weather is an opportunity to create a shared experience, not something that get’s in the way of it.
So when it rained a bit yesterday on opening day in Michigan, our team enthusiastically embraced it. So much so that arriving parents and campers were caught up in the “great weather” we were having.
Our summer staff providing a warm welcome on a rainy opening day. When you think about this approach to weather it applies to other things in life. It’s not always our circumstances that are bad it’s our attitude and actions towards them. We need to, instead, take those circumstances and turn them into an opportunity to “sing and dance in the rain.”
And as we say at SpringHill “there is no bad weather just bad clothing!”
Randy, one of our volunteers, dressed for the wet weather. A Walk Around the Lake!
If you have never been to SpringHill’s overnight camp in Indiana you are really missing something. It is one of the most gorgeous places on earth. And better yet, we have some of the best staff here creating life changing experiences for over 2200 campers this summer.
Campers enjoying some time on the lake. My wife Denise and I are spending the week here, staying at the guest house – Acorn Pointe (check out the view we have from the house), and watching camp happen. We do this each summer. It gives us time together and also the opportunity to be with our Indiana staff, campers and supporters.
Our view from Acorn Pointe in morning as we have coffee. One of my favorite things to do while I’m here is to walk around the our 55 acre lake. I’m able to see, hear and feel camp. I’ve learned over the 13 summers with SpringHill that I can gauge how camp is going by walking around and observing.
I watch and listen to staff and campers as they are walking to and from their activities. I look to see their countenance, how are they interacting with each other, are there stragglers, is there a pep in their step?
Campers spend their entire day with their cabin mates and counselors. Our goal is to create an intimate community within the cabin area. These relationships are the context within which we share spiritual truth with our campers.
This week, on one hot and muggy afternoon walk around Rust Lake, Denise and I could hear singing coming from across the dam. As we looked we could see a group of TSTer’s (our high school campers) walking towards us. There was certainly a pep in their step. They were obviously enjoying their time together.
Walking, singing and laughing together. A sign of community being formed. It’s in these simple moments that the relations, so key to the camper’s openness to spiritual truth and ultimately to Christ, are developed. As we walked by these campers and their counselors Denise and I quietly prayed (another thing I can do as I walk) that God would use this community to help these campers to know and grow in their relationship with Jesus.
College Orientation and One More Fleece
Denise and I just spent two days on Calvin College’s campus participating in our son MD’s college orientation. We stayed in one of the dorms. We were in sessions with other parents learning about Calvin, how to be a good parent to a college student and spending some time with MD.
It was a great two days. Calvin did an excellent job of providing an engaging, informative, professional and fun orientation session for the parents and the incoming students.
But the best part for me was something a bit more profound than being happy with the dorm food. I realized that this was the final confirmation, a final fleece, of the prayers Denise, MD and I had about the right place for MD to go to school.
Not that “we” had lingering doubts. I know MD and Denise did not but, honestly, I had a few. You see Calvin did not start out as either MD’s or our first choice when the school selection process started. We visited some incredible schools over a 18 month period and at the end no school was the stand out number one choice for MD.
So with the decision time approaching and no clear direction MD, Denise and I took two weeks where we individually prayed two times a day to seek God’s direction. Then at the end of two weeks we agreed to come together to share with each other what school God has put on our hearts. The clear answer for all of us was Calvin.
Now you would think that such clear direction would have taken care of any lingering doubts I had but it didn’t. I knew it was the right decision but… so I needed one more fleece. God graciously provide it. Orientation reaffirmed in an incredible way what I already knew – Calvin is the place for MD.
