Many things have changed since the campers arrived for that first summer at Michigan's Camp Friedenswald in 1951. But one thing has remained constant through the years-people working diligently to aid in the spiritual formation and growth of the children and young adults in attendance.
Recent years have seen the calling of many Bluffton University students, alumni and faculty and staff members to join those individuals and become a part of the ministry of Friedenswald as permanent staff, volunteers, summer staff or camp pastors.
Sprinkled among the ranks of the summer staff this year are current Bluffton students Darin Gundy and Christine Amstutz, seniors from Flanagan, Ill., and nearby Cassopolis, Mich., respectively, and junior Kristen Rohdes from Lima.
Rohdes, a first-time staff member, learned about Friedenswald when she came to the camp last winter with Shining Through, the Bluffton music ministry team that led worship at a retreat there. Seeing the grounds that weekend convinced her to apply for the summer staff position.
Gundy is a second-year summer staff member-one of many returnees from summer 2010-and also a member of Shining Through. One of his favorite things to do is lead worship, and camp has been an outlet through which his love of worship and music can be expressed, he says.
Along with the current students, four members of Bluffton's class of 2011-Blake Zickafoose, Bracton Eicher, Gregg Beitler and Maegan Rohdes-also signed on to serve this summer. This is Eicher's fourth summer at Friedenswald, which he calls "the place where I feel closest to God because I believe I'm doing something worthwhile." In addition, he says, "the sense of camaraderie among the staff is fantastic."
Portia Amstutz and Jill Schlabach, who graduated from Bluffton in 1987 and 2010, respectively, and 2008 alumnus Eric Martin have all been called to work at the camp year-round, filling permanent staff positions.
Martin, who earned a Bluffton degree in religion with an emphasis in youth ministry, joined Friedenswald's summer staff as worship leader the summer after he graduated. He had a great experience, he recalls, but expected it to be his last time working at the camp. He was mistaken, though-the next spring, help was needed with the outdoor education program, and Martin heeded the call. From there, he was hired as full-time program coordinator.
He decided to work at Friedenswald full time, he says, because it "gives me a context where I can minister in a way that is specifically Anabaptist. I appreciate being a part of an organization that has a similar Mennonite pattern as Bluffton, which allows me to live out what I learned at Bluffton as well as continue my spiritual education as part of my job."
Members of Bluffton's faculty and staff have also been involved with Friedenswald's ministry, including Kevin Nickel, the university's vice president for fiscal affairs, who was previously on staff at the camp and is now a member of its board.
Dr. Randy Keeler, associate professor of religion, has been responsible for sending volunteers from his ministry classes to assist with off-season retreats in the fall and winter. Volunteering at a youth retreat led Schlabach to join summer staff and eventually became part of the permanent staff as guest group coordinator.
Stephen Intagliata, campus pastor at Bluffton, recently spent a week as camp pastor at Friedenswald sharing messages on this summer's theme, based on Isaiah 61:1-2a. "I always look forward to spending time at Camp Friedenswald with the campers as well as the staff," Intagliata says. "While I'm there, I get this feeling that there's no barrier between heaven and earth, and that God is moving freely among us and within us as we worship, play and share life together at camp. It's a place where the beauty of God's creation is everywhere."
Friedenswald has become a place for deep spiritual growth for many people, campers and staff alike. It has also become a place where the love of God manifests itself in both the community of believers and the majesty of creation. And for those Bluffton students, alumni and faculty and staff called to serve there, Friedenswald has become a second home.
Editor's note: This story was written by Gregg Beitler, who graduated from Bluffton University in May 2011 with a bachelor's degree in physics and is a staff member at Camp Friedenswald this summer.
The Bluffton connection to Camp Friedenswald includes (front row, left to right) Christine Amstutz, Portia Amstutz, Kristen Rohdes and Jill Schlabach, and (back row, left to right) Eric Martin, Blake Zickafoose, Bracton Eicher, Gregg Beitler and Darin Gundy.
