Dear Pastors,
I pray that you are all well, and that God is moving in your lives and churches.
As you all know, within just a few days, I will be stepping aside as Florida District Supervisor and a "new season" will begin under the leadership of Scott Reece. I am confident that the Lord is bringing this change in order to better equip and empower our Foursquare family for the exciting days ahead. Scott has my full confidence as well as my full support and I ask you all to trust and follow him as well.
One of the major areas of District ministry, has always been our Summer Camp. Under the guided direction of Pastor Dan Dunn and his faithful team, we have seen the Lord "mightily bless" our efforts each and every year. We thank God for the way He has graced our Summer Camp with His presence and blessing. I also thank each and every one of you, who have labored and supported our Summer Camp vision and program. You have all helped to make our District Camp the success that it has been and words are inadequate for me to fully express my deep appreciation and thanks. You ALL are Great!
Back in September of 2008, I was given clear instructions to "proceed with Camp plans" from those in authority. We moved forward with vision and expectation once again, as we have every year. Countless hours of planning, investment and direction has since then, gone into our Camp for 2009. However, no one could have foreseen back in September, just how much the economic challenges would grow and ultimately effect our Foursquare churches and family!
You need to know, that each year we have had Summer Camp, we have had to make a large financial investment, from our District budget. I have NEVER once regretted this financial investment! As District Supervisor, I have always seen it as a "wise investment" in the lives of our young people and in our Foursquare Churches.
The sad reality however, is that due to the needed dollars for this year's Summer Camp, with the unprecedented financial challenges we are ALL now facing, leaves me with a very difficult yet necessary decision. Our Summer Camp 2009 would require MANY tens of thousands of dollars! Dollars that we simply do not have. Many of you have already told us that with the financial challenges you are facing, the funds needed to come and support Camp this year simply are not there. Therefore, I have decided that the sizable financial risk would be unwise and therefore have concluded, WE MUST CANCEL OUR PLANS FOR FLORIDA DISTRICT SUMMER CAMP.
Now let me hasten to say, that this does NOT mean that Foursquare Summer Camp will not occur. It simply means that our Florida District Camp plans, at Lake Yale, July 27-Aug 1 will not happen. Our Foursquare "Camp Courtney" in beautiful Hendersonville NC is making plans, even as I write this, to help accommodate all of our Foursquare Churches here in Florida to attend Camp this summer. More details will be forthcoming on Camp Courtney and will still provide us all a vibrant option and opportunity for Summer Camp ministry.
I know that this decision will bring sadness to many of you. No one is more sad than I am! Many of you will have questions concerning this, I am sure. Be assured however, that this decision has been made after much prayer,wrestling, investigation and discussion. We have done our "due diligence", looked at all our options and yet concluded that this decision was necessary to make.
Again, I want to thank each of you, who have supported our District Camp vision. Only eternity will fully tell ALL the fruit of your labors, support and commitment to Camp. Together we have seen God do great things across Florida, and as we move forward together, the Lord will have even greater things in store for us.
In His service,
Pastor Joe VanKoevering
Foursquare Florida District Supervisor
|
