Accepting Applications for Summer 2013
January 23rd, 2013 by
Hey! We’re accepting applications for the upcoming summer! You can apply to work or volunteer by filling out either the printed or online application which is just a few clicks away. Can you think of a better way to spend your summer than making good friends and changing children’s lives? Take a few minutes right now and send in the application.
Fall is Here!
October 29th, 2012 by
Wow! Fall has come quickly to Camp Gifford. It only seems like days ago that summer was ending – but now we find that Autumn is exerting itself and the holidays are just around the corner.
I’m hopeful that the school year is going well for all the students and others are enjoying the ministry that God has given them at work. For those who are looking for jobs (I know there are many of you) I am hopeful that God is leading you to the right places to find the job that He has in mind for you – and that you are trusting Him fully in the meanwhile.
Autumn is a beautiful transitional time at camp. The turning of the leaves, the brisk air in the mornings and the fog over the water all serve to remind me that God has an amazing plan that continually unfolds before us. Just as he controls the seasonal changes at Camp Gifford so he controls the seasons and changes in my life. I hope you are able to take some time this season to just walk around and enjoy the transition from summer to winter. If you are able to make it up to camp – you are welcome to come on up and have a walkabout at Gifford. We’d love to have you stop by and say hello. God bless you all!
Maintenance Director
March 15th, 2012 by
People only have until the 19th of March to apply for our full-time Maintenance Director job. It pays $9.75 per hour and comes with housing on camp property. There are qualifying statements in the job description that you will need to read to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications for the job prior to applying. If you have any questions email me at campgifford@aol.com or give me a call at 509-233-2511.
God bless!
Now Hiring!
March 8th, 2012 by
We are now hiring for our summer staff 2012. If you love Jesus and you want to serve Him this summer Camp Gifford could be the place for you. We especially need young men that love God to step up and be leaders and examples for the children coming to visit us this summer. It’s possibly one of the hardest job you’ll ever have – but it is also one of the most fulfilling summers that you will ever remember.
Fill out an application today. Girl’s – do you know some Christian guys that should be doing something awesome this summer. Refer them to our website to fill out an app.
And… keep praying for God to put together just the right staff for the upcoming summer.
God bless!
2012
January 10th, 2012 by
Happy 2012 everyone! I expect this is going to be an epic, awesome and amazing year. How much fun will it be watching a small portion of our population freak out as December 21st draws near. I guess the world could go into chaos this year – but, meh…, I don’t think so. Of course I’m always ready for Christ to return! And that would put the world into chaos… hmmmm.
We all know that a good thing to do at the beginning of the year is to look back and look forward. Look back at what you’ve accomplished over the previous year and look forward to make plans and goals for the upcoming year. I don’t think we should beat ourselves up looking at what didn’t go well, what we failed to do or what regrets we have. A little of that goes a long way. I think it’s a good time to look back at the positive accomplishments from the previous year. And even if it wasn’t a stellar year for you – and maybe you did make some poor choices and have some regrets – I know that you still accomplished some good and had some fun. Think about your 2011 and the people you were able to help, to touch, to teach, to support, to be a good friend to – all of that is important and significant!
The New Year is also a time to look ahead. A time to decide where you want to go and what you want to be – and set specific goals to get there. If your goal is something simple like ‘losing that extra ten pounds’ don’t just be vague about your goal. Set up the mini-goals that will help you reach your primary goal. For example, decide that you will plan to loose two pounds a month for five months and then keep the weight off. As each month progresses check to make sure your moving toward your goal. Decide what you will do physically, emotionally and mentally to move towards your goal. ”I’m going to give up chips and ice cream this month!” for example. If you’re goal is to move towards a degree, or to go back to school, list the steps that are necessary to make that possible – to ensure that it can actually happen.
Whatever your goals are this year I hope you’ll include talking to God about them and make serving Him a part of your life, and a part of your plan as well. No matter where you work, what you do or who you are God wants to be a part of your life and help you – and use you. I love what God has done for me and how he has used my life to help others. Nothing else is remotely comparable to it. Seek Him, spend time with him, love Him – trust Him with your life.
Have a great 2012! And, oh yeah, don’t forget to apply for our summer staff or to be a camper – or, if you’re maybe too old or too involved for that (maybe your an adult with a full-time job) then don’t forget to support us! We need your help to do what we do!
God bless you all!
Santa Claus is coming to town!
December 24th, 2011 by
So the song goes…
You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry, you’d better not pout I’m telling you why! Santa Claus is coming to town. He knows when you’ve been sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good – so you’d better be good, for goodness sake.
I don’t know about you – but that sounds a little creepy to me to think about some guy watching me sleeping? I mean, how many hidden video cam’s must this guy have!?
So, without me giving any spoilers about Santa and his existence and stuff (nudge, nudge – wink, wink) this song always (or at least nearly always) make me think about Jesus. Seriously… he knows when you’ve been sleeping, yeah… knows when you’re awake,… definitely. Knows if you’ve been bad or good? Oh yeah. So you’d better be good… well, for your own sake (and His glory). Yep. Better not pout? fo sure… - he says in his Word not to complain and whine. Jesus Christ is coming to town. Don’t know when, don’t know how… but I want to be ready.
Here’s a new version…
You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Jesus Christ is coming to town
He’s making a list
get rid of that vice;
‘Cause Jesus he knows who’s naughty and nice
Jesus Christ is coming to town
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for Jesus’ sake!
O! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Jesus Christ is coming to town
Jesus Christ is coming to town
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
What do you see?
December 23rd, 2011 by
There must have been a lot of people in Bethlehem when Christ was born. I don’t know how many – but people had been called to go to their ancestral home and all the people from the line of David would have made their way there. Here’s the thing… with all the hundreds, or thousands, of people that were there we don’t hear anything… nothing… about any of them. The only people we hear about in the story of Jesus’ birth, besides Joseph and Mary (and Jesus) are the shepherds. The guys that were out in the fields abiding with their flocks.
I’m sure a few people must have heard about the baby that was born in the craziness of the census and stopped by to say hello. Or maybe when Joseph was getting food, or Mary was getting water they shared their happy news with others in the village. But we don’t hear about anyone worshiping Jesus – nobody recognizing him as the Messiah – except for the shepherds. All the normal people were going about their lives and missed out on something extraordinary.
So… this Christmas season, what do you see as you go about your daily business? What might you be missing? What might be hiding from you in the noise of your day? Take your headphones off and look around. Look for Jesus. Look for opportunities to see him – and to be him. He came to the least, the lost and the lowly – you know, the people you walk by all day long and take no notice of.
Why did God send his angels to the shepherds? I don’t know… maybe he knew they would listen. Maybe they weren’t too busy. Christmas is, by definition, the feast of, or celebration of Christ. Let’s celebrate him not only with gifts, food and fun (although those are great things to share with family) but let’s celebrate him – worship him – with our lives. Time, talents and treasures.
Merry Christmas.
Christmas is coming!
December 8th, 2011 by
We held out annual winter retreat for our staff and volunteers this past weekend (if you join our summer staff – which is definitely a life changing experience – you’ll be invited to come up for our two annual retreats each year! Sweet!). It was an amazing and fun time of fellowship, worship, games and decorating… Yep. We spent many hours decorating the dining hall, inside and out, for our 15th Annual Camp Gifford Christmas Celebration! we had over 120 people come kick off the Christmas season with pizza, lot’s of cookies, candies and goodies, wassail, cocoa, coffee, Christmas carols, games and lot’s of fun just hanging out together. The dining hall was beautiful with thousands of lights, a well decorated Christmas tree, thematic decorations throughout the building and pine chips covering the floor.
Most importantly, though, we took a few minutes to remember that Jesus wasn’t just a human baby like everyone else. But that he was (and is) the Son of God – sent on a mission to renew our relationship with God. What an amazing plan God put into place for us. He wants to have a life-changing relationship with everyone on this planet. He wants you to belong to him and to provide you with eternal security – a home in heaven with Him forever. I would so love to talk to you about God, Jesus and how that can postively effect your life if you’d like to know more about it. Email me: campgifford@aol.com, or give me a call (509) 233-2511, or come visit me for a walk around one of the most beautiful places in the Inland Northwest. Have a happy Holy-day Season! God bless!
Winter Staff Retreat
November 17th, 2011 by
‘Sup everybody! Winter is coming (the snow outside says so…) and it’s time for the Staff Winter Retreat and our annual Christmas Celebration. Look in the events section for more information. Everyone who has been a staff member (volunteer or paid) is invited to come. And everyone (EVERYONE) is invited to the party on Sunday, December 4th at 5:00 p.m.
Let’s all celebrate!
Fall is in the air…
October 12th, 2011 by
Camp is slowing down for the season. The leaves are beginning to turn – the mornings are cool and crisp – and we wake up to find the lake covered with beautiful fog drifting out of the narrows. I love the changing seasons! It reminds me that life is dynamic and not static. Whether we are experiencing amazing good times right now – or maybe not so much… we can be sure that things will change. God will continue to provide, at the right moments, seasons of growth and change. He will also provide seasons of calm and rest. Whatever season you find yourself in right now – trust God with it. He loves you, He knows what’s best for you, and you can trust Him. Look for the lessons… allow Him to bring you calm in the storm… Talk to Him, love Him, trust Him.