By Andrea Dujardin-Flexhaug

AHHH . . . the hot white sand and warm waters of Osoyoos Lake . . . it could not get much better than that for a church summer camp setting.

These past few months, Willow Park Church of Kelowna has headed to the southern semi-desert town of Osoyoos with their Ark Bible Cruise, and enjoyed water sports and worship in a beachfront oasis.

The teen camp grew out of the church’s 1,000-plus weekly youth group, which encourages teens to invite friends “who don’t understand Christ, or just haven’t heard about it,” explained pastor Joel  Feddersen.

He added: “We encourage that to happen, and we just have a blast – and explain and share.”

 Jennifer Wells of Kelowna has participated at the camp for four years; this was her second year as a leader. Prior to this, she had no Christian background.  

She started attending Willow Park’s youth group, and then went to the summer camp – which, up until this year, was held in the Shuswap area.  Wells said she “got involved, and then decided to serve – and for me it’s like, as a camper, you just get really tight with God. And then as a leader, you can serve – and you find joy from serving.”

Camper Kenya Pittenger is spending her first session at the camp; she attends youth group at Willow Park Church the rest of the year. “Everybody’s so nice here, that’s probably the best thing. Everybody’s just so welcoming.”

Continue article >>

In keeping with the hot and dry climate during Osoyoos’ summer months, the campfire is fuelled by propane to guard against the possibility of wildfires.  In addition, a fence burrows into the sandy ground and above it, to guard  against the rattlesnakes that inhabit the area.

A tarp to shelter the 60 or so weekly campers from the summer sun covers a small amphitheatre around the campfire, where leaders introduce them to Jesus and his teachings.

“We just sort of assume that most of them don’t know Jesus,” explained Feddersen, adding: “This is our only evangelism for the year; and then from September on, it’s discipleship.”

A giant white air-filled iceberg sits by the lakeshore and serves as a waterslide. Other activities include paintballing, tubing and a host of other water sports. An old houseboat sits stationary by the shore, with hammocks and deck chairs for relaxing on.

One benefit for the campers is that the camp leaders are also leaders of the youth group during the rest of the year.

“So all the kids that come here and meet Jesus, then they’re disciples – cause they know everybody, and they’ll come to our youth group,” said Feddersen. “So the kids don’t really fall away, because they know us.”

The Willow Park Church camp leases the land they are on from the Osoyoos Indian Band – on the east side of the lake, away from the tourists.  The natives, said Fedderson, “are unbelievable. They’re so great. They’re very community minded, and they’re very generous.”

For more information, go to kahoots.ca/ark.

September 2010