OREGON
CONFERENCE // IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS More more online at glnr.in/115-04-or_biglake
BIG LAKE YOUTH CAMP’S LODGE GETS NEW LIFE
T
he 116 mph winds were far stronger than anyone had expected, sprinting down the Clackamas River through Portland in 1962, tipping over trash cans and snapping off giant trees as if they were stalks of wheat. When calm finally came after what was dubbed the Columbus Day Storm, Gladstone Park Campground looked like giants had been playing pick-up sticks with the largest trees.
When the conference leaders toured the grounds, their words whispered despair until one — tradition says it was the youth ministries leader — began to praise God for His special gift. God had just logged the biggest trees on the campground to finish out the new lodge for Big Lake Youth Camp. Since then, the BLYC lodge has served through 58 winters of 10 to 25 feet of snow and 58 summers of indoor “campfire”
The Big Lake lodge once had a large fireplace and accompanying chimney.
programs. The bones of the lodge, nearly 60 years old, are now failing under the weight of winter snows. Camp leaders have been in a quandary. When were they going to have time to tear the lodge down and build a new one? Then a new storm, COVID-19, hit, forcing the camp to close this summer. Construction should be completed in time for hundreds of campers to come to camp in 2021. And, neatly
designed into the new lodge, the old Gladstone timbers will be there. This project can only be completed with people who once again see potential in challenging times. You can be part of this effort by going online to BigLake.org. Dick Duerksen, Oregon Conference storycatcher and storyteller, and Randy Hill, Oregon Conference youth ministries associate director
Rogue Valley Adventist Academy
Southern O regon’s PreK–12th Grade Academy www.rvaa.us • 541-773-2988 • 3675 S Stage Rd. • Medford OR 97501
Educating Young People Today, to be Christian Leaders Tomorrow
• Christ-centered/Bible-based curriculum • Small class sizes • Dedicated teachers • Community service opportunities • Music, fine arts and PE programs • Member of OSAA sports program 30
july/august 2020
Located in the beautiful Rogue Valley, just minutes from downtown Medford, is a ... •
Thriving Adventist community;
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Two award-winning community hospitals;
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Mountains, pristine rivers and lakes, and a short drive to the Oregon coast.
