Flying With Our Feet on the Ground was the theme of the evening as we gathered at the Slovak Legion with volunteers and supporters to review with gratitude the last seven years of DBCCC ministry and to look forward to the future.

After an excellent meal, music was provided by The Transparencies and The Sunday Night Choir led by Diane Wolframe and several long time Camp volunteers were honoured. Executive Director, Charlie Wilson, highlighted various changes and answers to prayer experienced recently at DBCCC. The goals developed by the Board and fulltime staff were presented:

Leadership: (flying)
Camp
To provide a holistic Christian camping experience that is unique, exciting and challenging.

Conference Centre
To become the major Christian Leadership training facility in North Western Ontario.

Stewardship: (our feet on the ground)
Camp
To develop and maintain facilities that are safe, secure, functional and inviting.

To operate with a full complement of full time and volunteer staff who are committed and consistently being equipped.

Conference Centre
To maximize the use in accordance with our vision statement.

The week of October 12 - 20 was one of action and miracles at Dorion Bible Camp and Conference Centre. Funds had been left to the camp from an estate and the camp board had directed those funds towards a much needed staff home for permanent staff with an office attachment. Prior to the beginning day of the Quick Build a cement slab had been poured on which to build the house/office complex.

Each of the eight days saw an average of about twenty-five adults working together framing, roofing, siding, wiring, insulating, dry-walling, painting, flooring and installing kitchen cupboards, resulting in a 32' x 68' building. What a miracle! Charlie and Margie Wilson moved into the house on October 25, only fourteen days after the Build began.

Our thanks go to the fifty-eight people who volunteered their time to lead in the project. The excitement of those days brought volunteers from five provinces.Special thanks go to Dennis Seargeant for heading this whole operation up for us!. Once again we praise the Lord for VOLUNTEERS.

New Van Donated to Dorion Bible Camp & Conference Centre by Local Businessman

In the last year I have been blown away by the focus on prayer there has been with God's people. It seems that I am constantly hearing about a prayer meeting starting or continuing and the blessings that follow. God is calling His people to pray.

I personally have been challenged to pray more often, more fervently and more expectantly. This challenge has been the focus of all of us here at DBC. We as staff determined to make 2001 a year of prayer and we have been awed by God's response. At our fundraising dinner in November 2000 we made known three needs:

1) The elimination of the debt from constructing Eagles Nest.

2) A new 12 or 15 passenger van for camper transport.

3) Another staff residence on the property.

God prompted supporters and by March much of the debt was paid. In March we received a large legacy which eliminated the rest. Part of the legacy was put aside towards the new residence. We were amazed.

One day also in March I was contacted by a local business man informing me that he wanted to donate the cost of a new van to DBC. Wow!! In May I was contacted by a faithful supporter who wanted to donate the balance of the cost of the new residence.

Our God is faithful, isn't He?

We have seen many other answers to prayer this year--staff shortages, safety issues, zoning issues, camper concerns and many other things have been fervently prayed about.

On Saturday March 24 there was not a seat to spare in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church as family and many, many friends gathered to remember and to celebrate the life of Monty Parks. Lamont Royce Parks, age 67 of Thunder Bay, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2001, following a lengthy illness. Monty has gone home to be with the Lord Jesus he loved and worshipped.

For 48 years Monty served at Dorion Bible Camp every summer, singing, playing his guitar and telling Bible stories to the children in a way that only he could. Eventually, a small cabin was furnished for his use and is still called "Lamont".

In 1996 Monty shared these recollections of his summers at Camp Dorion:

In the Summer of '52 I arrived to be a counsellor at the camp after a two day bus trip from Michigan--a green American in a foreign country. What I found was a rather small clearing on the shore of Black Bay. There were five cabins, a rustic dining room and kitchen, a chapel with dirt floor, no hydro, no running water (except when we ran for it and drew it from the well with a bucket) and a small staff which included Eleanor Moyer, "Mo" Mouland and Millie Pytyck. I loved it. This became "home" for each summer.

Years came and went and so did many campers and staff. Lifelong friendships have been formed here. We changed from oil and gas lamps to hydro power and from outhouses to flush toilets and other modern conveniences. But I'm glad to say that one thing hasn't changed: The purpose and message of the camp is still the Good News of Jesus Christ; to know Him and make Him known.

Monty was born and raised near Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from the Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music, he worked for Youth For Christ in Belleville until 1968, when he moved to the Lakehead to work for ARC Industries. Many of Monty's friends from ARC Annex attended his Memorial Service.

Charlie and Millie at the DBC reunion at Briercrest Bible College, Caronport, SK.

Charlie Wilson, Richard Pepper and Keith Adams travelled to Camp Days at Saskatchewan's Briercrest Bible College January 28 - 30. While there connecting with other camps and potential staff recruits, they visited with Glenn, Kathy, Jeremy and Corey Runnalls (Logan now lives in Alberta), Katie Underhill and Sarah Jansen, Jesse and Liz Jones and MIllie Pytyck (pictured). January 31 was Summer Ministries Day at Providence College near Winnipeg. There they had lunch with Raili and Doctor Michael Gilmour now no longer a student (first time since age four) and teaching New Testament at Providence. Mike is very proud of his Marvin the Martian mug given him by Kyla. (Check the picture). As this is being written, Raili is visiting Jenni in Cambridge and is also anticipating a knee operation. We are all hoping that it won't be scheduled for the summer! Other people who have been at DBCCC at one time or another who were visited on this trip include Mark and Tina Mast in Rainy River, Albert and Maureen Dean in Winnipeg and Fred Penner in Lorette. Checkmate, Stalemate or Soulmate? was the title of DBCCC's first Marriage Workshop at Eagles Nest (Feb. 2 & 3) with Eric and Christina Long. Eric and Christina have a long association with DBCCC through their own participation and that of their children, including Aaron and Stephanie on staff. Participants turned in very positive evaluation comments and we look forward to similar events in the future. [ Top ]