Wednesday, June 26
The Presbytery of St. Andrew
Mississippi
A Hopewell summer staff member interacts with campers during a type 1 diabetes camp week.
Hopewell Camp and Conference Center, the camp facility of the Presbytery of St. Andrew in northern Mississippi, is much like many other presbytery camps: it provides summer camp opportunities for children and hosts retreats for congregations, the presbytery’s youth, and others.
But for many years, Camp Hopewell has also played a vital role in the presbytery’s mission strategy. It was the original volunteer training facility for Living Waters for the World, a ministry of the Synod of Living Waters that has successfully installed water purification systems in 24 countries around the world. It has also held camps for Christians Living with Cancer and other groups.
Since 1979 Hopewell has offered camps for children with type 1 diabetes (formerly called “juvenile” diabetes). These campers enjoy the whole range of summer camp activities and experiences, but with appropriate expert supervision and monitoring. They also learn healthy living habits and develop important age-appropriate skills for managing their diabetes.
But given the state of Mississippi’s increasing problem with obesity, in 2010 Camp Hopewell began offering camp sessions for adolescents with or at risk for type 2 diabetes (formerly called “adult onset” diabetes). The camp’s leaders are working hard to expand this important and desperately needed ministry, which includes a resident physician, nutritionists, and exercise physiologists at each session to provide education, leadership, and care. The camps focus on healthy lifestyle habits and choices in the context of a jam-packed camp session that includes swimming, challenge-course experiences, canoeing, archery, crafts, and all the other elements of summer camp.
The presbytery’s 65 congregations have 5,869 total members.
Let us join in prayer for:
Presbytery Staff
Gregory A. Goodwiller, executive presbyter and stated clerk
Allyson Ashmore, Hopewell program director
Darren Ashmore, Hopewell site manager
Loretta Morris, Hopewell food services manager
Kim Nix, financial administrator
Ellen Kellum, administrative assistant
Chelsey Handley, Camp Hopewell registrar
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Janet Kennedy, BOP
Eileen Kerwin, BOP
Let us pray
Almighty God, giver of all good gifts, bless our efforts to provide good food and clean water to the people of this world. Through these efforts, may more of your children know the abundant life that Christ came to bring us. Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 15; 147:1-11
First Reading 1 Samuel 7:2-17
Second Reading Acts 6:1-15
Gospel Reading Luke 22:14-23
Evening Psalms 48; 4
