How are you at taking on a challenge? If you were a child from a remote village in the Yukon or Northwest Territories, doing the rope course for the first time would be only one of the welcome challenges offered at Kamp Klondike, near Dawson City, Yukon Territory. Over the week you would spend at camp, you would learn new things. Some would be related to skills such as archery, stilts, and canoeing. But the most important thing you would learn is that you were really loved. For that week you would be the star, the center of attention, the absolute awesome “king of the mountain”. Most importantly of all, you would learn that you are special to Jesus, that He loved you and died for you, that when you weep—which you often do—He weeps with you.
Kamp Klondike is a small Bible camp with a big mission and a big heart. It is an outreach ministry of Dawson Community Chapel, affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of Canada. The church has only about 35 people attending regularly. The camp began as a ministry to the church family and local community. Imagine our surprise when we were challenged to look beyond ourselves and take on the ministry to children from two northern villages! And not just any two villages: villages which were particularly needy. Served by a missionary from SEND International and one from NCEM, these villages have a high percentage of alcohol and drug abuse, with its attendant physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. One of the missionaries said, concerning the 7-9 year olds, that each of them had seen more violence in their lives than all of the staff combined. There is little stability in their home lives—registrations from year to year see guardians change, social workers involved, and single parent homes melding or parting.
Kamp Klondike is now in its second decade of ministry to the needs of these villages. The Lord has showered us with blessings. From wall tents to eight cabins, from a tarp over the tables to a kitchen/dining complex, from nowhere to play on a rainy day to a brand new chapel and activity hall, every challenge we have faced has brought an outpouring of His love. And however over-stressed our staff feel, one look into the eyes of a hurting child makes it all worthwhile!
We set a challenge to you: we challenge you to share your love of the Lord with needy children in a cross-cultural ministry. It may be a very real challenge and sacrifice on your part: because of our limited resources, we do not have funds to help cover your costs. We would like to have you commit to all three weeks of ministry, but if that is not possible then one or two weeks would at least give more children an opportunity to come to the Lord. This is not an easy ministry, but it is one that brings joy to any who have accepted the challenge. We pray that you will be that special one!
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“It was good to see everyone coming together to serve the Lord and make a difference in the lives of the kids...”