If you came to Miracle Camp in 2004, see if you can find yourself in one of these videos:
Posts Tagged ‘Summer’
15 Jan
Tweeting can win you a free week of camp!
We know you want to be here this summer. We know you want you kids (if you have any) to be here this summer. We want to help. Miracle Camp and Retreat Center is giving away another free week of camp. Entering is simple. All you need to do is tweet us with #rollcamp and tell us why you want to to roll into camp this summer. Use @miraclecamp and #rollcamp in the tweet. You can enter as many times as you like; the contest ends on March 1st 2012. So get on twitter and get your tweet on!
Winner will be chosen at random and contacted by Miracle Camp on March 1st. If Miracle Camp cannot get proper information from the winner by March 15th the prize will be forfeited and another winner may be chosen. The free week of camp can only be used during the 2012 summer camping season. The free week must be redeemed during a week that correlates with the proper age group.
17 Dec
Service Camps
If you have ever been to Miracle Camp- you have seen our beautiful facilities, fun activities, and delicious food. Working here has literally been a dream come true for me.
We are reading Radical by David Platt in my small group- this book challenges its readers to think about Matthew 28:19 (Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,). I was challenged by this- how does my role at Miracle Camp and Retreat Center fit into this calling?
Then I remembered Shake-Up Kalamazoo- a new retreat here at MCRC. Shake-Up Kalamazoo is a summer youth group service program that teaches students the value of service and volunteering. Students who attend Shake-Up Kalamazoo have the opportunity to serve and share their faith in the Kalamazoo area. Youth groups spend the day serving then return to camp in the evening for fun, worship, teaching and debriefing. In my mind, it’s the perfect combination of service and fun! Participants even have opportunities to use several of our camp activities including the waterfront, high ropes and gym.
Last year I was wowed by the feedback I received by Shake-Up participants. Some said that this program inspired them to pursue something in ministry. One even said that Shake-Up was better than summer camp! I did not expect this positive of feedback from our opening year
Shake-Up, Miracle Camp, and Matthew 28:19 all come together beautifully in my mind. This has allowed us to reach out to people in the area who otherwise may not hear the gospel- it also gives students the opportunity to learn what it is like to serve others and spread the gospel. Click here for more information about Shake-Up Kalamazoo.
Frank Colarusso-Assistant Program Director
13 Nov
How did a Miracle Camp Counselor End Up on the Amazing Race?
Listen to this,
In 1998 Miracle Camp had a counselor that was used to impact many of his campers to rededicate their lives to Christ- as several of our counselors do year after year. This counselor inspired one particular camper t0 completely change. This camper went through the rest of his life growing in his walk with the Lord.
In 2005 this former camper returned to MC to give back as a camp aide. The camp aide program only strengthened his walk. It made him want to give back even more. During his time as a camp aide, he also made a camp classic- tye-dye shirt.
In 2008 this former camper and previous camp aide took his desire to serve from Miracle Camp, Michigan to Malawi, Africa on a missions trip. He brought along some old, ratty cloths from high school- including the tye-dye shirt from 2005. During his experience, he was impacted by the poverty and piety of the Malawian people. He was inspired to leave many of the belongings he had brought with him.
In 2011 This well-traveled, former camper and previous camp aide was watching television. The Amazing Race was showing an episode in Malawi, Africa. His eyes widened as he saw memories of his trip flash across the screen. His mouth dropped to the floor when in the background of one scene he saw the same tye-dye shirt he had left back in 2008.
In this way, the influence of one summer camp counselor in 1998 made its way onto the Amazing Race.
Think back over your life, how far does your impact stretch? Who have you been investing in? Who can you serve today?
I leave you today with a quote by Steve Kroschel from his documentary “The Gerson Miracle”
“For each of us eventually, whether we are ready or not, someday we will come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So, too, your hopes, ambitions plans and “to do” list will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter where you came from or on what side of the tracks you lived at the end. It wont matter if you’re beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought but what you built. Not what you got but what you gave. What will matter is not your success, but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone. What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
A life lived that matters is not one of circumstance but of choice”
Show someone the love of Christ today. Who knows how far the effort may go.
Frank Colarusso-Assistant Program Director
P.S. You only have until 11/15/11 to participate in our free week of camp contest!
UPDATE: Here is a historic Miracle Camp pic. Looks like some Miracle Camp clothing has already made it around the world.
This photo was taken by Jeff and Nancy Johnson on a missions trip to Zaire in 1990.
P.S.S. Check back Wednesday for a Wednesday rewind remake photo!
6 Nov
Win a Free Week of Summer Camp!
You have the chance to win a free week of Summer Camp at Miracle Camp and Retreat Center! Why? Because Camp Craze has declared November 15, 2011 national wear your camp t-shirt day. In honor of this day we are giving away a week of summer camp at Miracle Camp! Get some friends to help you-they can win cool prizes too. And of course, do not forget to support Miracle Camp by wearing your favorite Miracle Camp T-shirt on November 15, 2011.
Frank Colarusso-Assistant Program Director
How To Enter:
- Take a picture of up to four people wearing/holding/eating Miracle Camp merchandise.
- Upload the photo to Miracle Camp’s facebook wall by November 15, 2011.
- Ask all your friends and family members to like your photo.
The person who posts the photo with the most likes on December 1, 2011 will win one free week of summer camp!
Grand Prize:
A free week of summer camp at Miracle Camp.- Miracle Camp hooded sweatshirts for the pictured group.
Second Prize:
- Miracle Camp T-shirts for the pictured group.
Third Prize:
- Miracle Camp coffee mugs for the pictured group.
Terms and Conditions: AKA fine print AKA boring AKA ask your mom to read this
The Gr
and Prize: 1. A coupon for a free week of camp at Miracle Camp estimated value: $330. (The coupon can only be used by one person. Only one coupon will be given regardless of the number of people in the photo. The coupon will be sent to the poster of the winning photo. The prize cannot be split, but can be given to someone else. The coupon must be used in the 2012 summer camping season.) 2. A Miracle Camp hooded sweatshirt coupon for all pictured people. (This prize will be sent to the poster. It is the posters’ responsibility to distribute the prizes to the other pictured winners.) Second prize: A Miracle Camp t-shirt coupon for all pictured people. (This prize will be sent to the poster. It is the posters’ responsibility to distribute the prizes to the other pictured winners.) Third prize: A Miracle Camp coffee cup coupon for all pictured people. (This prize will be sent to the poster. It is the posters’ responsibility to distribute the prizes to the other pictured winners.)
Photos must be uploaded by November 15, 2011 at 11:59pm EST to be considered in the contest. No more than four people may be in each photo. Each facebook account may only submit one photo. Likes given after December 1, 2011 at 11:59pm EST may not be counted. Photos not following the stated rules may be disqualified and not considered for any prizes. Miracle Camp reserves the right to consider unique photos in the contest- even if they do not follow all stated rules. Miracle Camp will contact the winner(s) by December 5, 2011. Only the person who posted the photo will be contacted and they will receive the prize. If Miracle Camp cannot get the proper information by December 15, 2011, an alternative winner may be selected. In the event of a tie in likes, Miracle Camp will decide a winner.
Grand Prize will be awarded to the photo with the most likes, Second Prize will be awarded to he photo with the second most likes, Third Prize will be awarded to the photo with the third most likes.
Miracle Camp merchandise is considered anything purchased from the camp store or online. Camp aide and summer staff shirts also count. Custom-made shirts can be used in the contest as well, but must have Miracle Camp written on them.
Miracle Camp may also award small prizes during the contest to creative photos. The staff at Miracle Camp may choose these photos.
23 Sep
One of the Many Hidden Rewards…
It is an occasional treat to find out that someone has used their experience at Miracle Camp in a school project. It is encouraging to know that someone’s time here may also impact their classmates and teachers. Just the other day, we got one of these rare treats from Sarah Ready, a former camper. Part of what she wrote is written below
“…That next summer as usual I attended church camp. I went to a camp called Miracle Camp in [Lawton,] Michigan. This camp is known to change peoples lives, and that’s exactly what it did. That week of camp, God made me realize that… He’s not a hurtful God and he will always be by my side. I came home from camp happy and rejuvenated…”
Thank you to Sarah and everyone else who has shared about their valuable time here at Miracle Camp. Please continue to send us a copy of any school projects or reports about your time here. Our staff love them!
Frank Colarusso -Assistant Program Director
26 Aug
Keep the “Love Revolution” Going
The idea of a love revolution is a challenge to look closely at your life and turn around from your former lifestyle. Make a change to follow Christ and take action by demonstrating your faith. You can show your beliefs in your school, home, job (if you’re old enough), and with your friends. Become a bold example of Christ in your everyday life. Make small love revolutions in your life and in the lives of others.
When someone has a true spiritual revolution, they turn from who they were and become someone new in Christ. Sin causes pain in the world and separation from God. We know that only Jesus can truly change a person. When someone has a revolution for Christ in his or her life, they eliminate their old self and become new.
If someone is a revolutionary, they use Jesus as their example to promote peace and love in the world. Revolutionaries show the love of Christ through actions and by speaking the truth. Think of some people in the Bible who were revolutionaries for Christ. Where were some revolutionaries for Christ through history? How can you start a love revolution today?
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Frank Colarusso -Assistant Program Director
