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Reflections with Camp & Retreat Ministries
Discovering your Spiritual Gifts and Calling
Calling
By Peggy Lovegren, Director at Wallowa Lake Camp
One of the most powerful studies I’ve been blessed to participate in, was the United Methodist 36 week Discipleship Course. By the end of the journey, we discovered our spiritual gifts and how we could best us them to serve God, the church, and our world.
Every person has individual gifts and callings from God. “There are different gifts... There are different kinds of service, but the same God.”- 1 Corinthians 12:4-5.
Just like parts of one body, each part is essential to serving its own unique function. We have different gifts to serve in different ways; teaching, evangelizing, encouraging, giving, serving, leading, healing….
There are also “callings” that each of us has. In Bob Goff’s book Everybody Always, he says “loving God and loving our neighbors, even the ones we don’t understand, or who are difficult, are one inseparable mandate.” We are all called to Love everybody always and live that love. The book explains how!
In another great book, The Book of Joy with the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu by Douglas Abrams, the text says “we are all called to live more from the compassionate part of our nature and to have a sense of responsibility towards others and the world we live in, living with joy and purpose!”
The Bible talks about us being “called” by God. We are called to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. To be" completely humble and gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love. Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1
Camp is a place God calls to us. Sometimes in community, sometimes in nature, sometimes in quietness. It is a place we can teach God’s love, joy, hope & calling.
At Wallowa Lake Camp, many people have heard their calling; Cathy Love’s call to ministry, Doneva and Kerry Bolen’s call to lead Horse Camps for over 20 years, Bobbie Bourne’s call to prepare camp for emergencies, Dave Cook and Tim Funk’s call to build, David Lovegren’s call to be camp director- people who heard God tell them to not give up on life, donors who heard to give generously, and hundreds more who serve in so very many ways; boards, executive directors, kitchen staff, housekeeping, office staff, maintenance staff, dean, chaplains, counselors, dishwashers, donors, site teams, camp nurses, lifeguards and so many more!
One way to tell if something is your calling is to ask how it makes you feel? Does it give you energy? Make you excited? Feel joyful? Or does it drain and exhaust you and make you grumpy and unpleasant? Does it feel more like an “obligation” or do you look forward to it?
Are you listening to God’s call? Do you feel called to serve God at camp?
I encourage you to let me help you discover your gifts, hear your calling and find the right place for you to serve God with JOY!
This Week around Camp and Retreat Ministries
- Wallowa Lake Camp continues work on the construction of their new shower house!
- Suttle Lake Camp celebrates a successful weekend of their Winter Youth Retreat.
- Collins welcomes the Damascus Elders Council this weekend.
Registration for "Q" Camp at Magruder is Open
Q Camp is an opportunity for LGBTQ+ high schoolers to focus on their road of faith: where they’ve been in life, from out or not out LGBTQ+; for those who are questioning; to those who know where they are today on life’s road, and open to exploring where they are headed on the road of faith with Jesus as their guide. As they gather together at Camp Magruder and explore the theme of Sacred Roads, they will have the opportunity to safely walk with others on this journey toward a future that embraces them for who they are as out LGBTQ+ people of faith.
To learn more or register for Q Camp, follow the link below:
https://www.gocamping.org/campsession/13248772
Blessings Report
- For the opportunities made at camp, to discover our spiritual gifts, through fellowship and activities.
- The guidance of spiritual leaders, who help to make camp a space of growth.
Please send your blessings to share in future issues of the e-news. Click on this link
