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 JANUARY 2012
In This Issue
Preteen Missionary Stories
A Counselor's Story
Hang-Outs
Giving Opportunities

 

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Trinity Pines Partners Newsletter is our monthly communication with guests, supporters, and volunteers.

Thank you for your desire to support God's work through our shared ministry.


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PRETEEN CAMP EDITION

 

Dear Trinity Pines Partners,
 
Since the early 80's, Trinity Pines has offered an exciting Preteen Camp for children who have completed grades 3 - 6. We have seen thousands of preteens grow in their relationship with the Lord as a result.

 

I hope all of you will join us for another fun-filled year as we prepare to make the 2012 Preteen Camp the best ever. The theme for this year is "Fact or Fiction".  Churches can choose from two sessions- July 7th - 11th or July 11th - 15th. Cost is $180 if you register by March 15th and $190 after that date. Churches can register their group by contacting Trinity Pines Conference Center at 936-594-5011 and sending in a $30 deposit per person. Our camp pastor will be Scott Neal, pastor of Eagle Heights Fellowship in Mont Belvieu.

 

Scott in Balloon

 

Come be a part of this exciting tradition as we strive to share Christ's love with children from all around the Houston area and across the state.

 

Vicki Rigsby

Preteen Camp Director

 

Vicki Rigsby 2011

 Vicki has served as Preteen Camp Director for 10 years and has provided amazing leadership to Children's Ministers and Churches to partner together in providing this fantastic camp experience. Thank you, Vicki!!!

 

 

"Guests from ALL NATIONS" (Matthew 28:19-20) 

 

Yire at Preteen Camp

  

PRETEEN CAMP MISSIONARY TESTIMONIES

 

Trinity Pines has been blessed with many staff from many countries through the years. In the past several years, our Preteen Camp has welcomed those staff to share their testimonies with the campers during their Missions Sessions each afternoon.  

  • Pan shared about her life growing up in Thailand and how she came to faith while living as an exchange student with a family in Texas.
  • Eva's family serves as missionaries in the Czech Republic. We learned after she shared her story about being adopted in Poland that it genuinely touched the heart of a camper who was also adopted.
  • Ethan shared about growing up as the child of missionaries in Turkey.
  • Priscilla shared that through her family's service in their border town of Acuna, Mexico, she has felt drawn to be a missionary in India.
  • Yulia was adopted from Russia and shared that she first heard about Jesus from receiving an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox.

The stories go on and on, and we are confident that each story has been anointed by God to help change the lives of those who heard it. We are grateful that God has brought these awesome students to share their journeys with those coming up behind them. We pray that the impact of their stories will be life changing to those who hear them.

  

 "experiencing God"  (John 14:21 & 23)  

 

A PRETEEN CAMP COUNSELOR'S STORY

 

Holly Brashier is currently the Trinity Pines Preteen Camp Assistant Director. Her husband, Kevin, is on the Trinity Pines Board of Directors and has taken vacation to come help at Preteen Camp the past few years. They and their 4 children have been involved in Preteen Camp for many years, either as campers or helpers and all passionately serve together. Holly has been a Children's Minister and leader at Preteen Camp for 9 years. She was a camper at Trinity Pines 4 times and even came to faith during one of those camp experiences.

 

Here is part of her story:

 

A few years ago I was a counselor at Trinity Pines for Preteen Camp. I was attending the evening worship celebration in the beautiful new Worship Center after a very long day of great camp activities. I found myself asking, "Why are we doing all of this? Are we really showing kids Christ through all of this?" A few minutes later, Pastor Scott gave an invitation in which many kids responded. I went down to assist the kids and the counselors. One of the counselors from another church wanted me to talk to one of the kids from their group. I found this odd because I know them to be capable counselors for their kids, but of course I was happy to help by counseling with a little girl named Ashley. While talking to her, I realized that she did not know Jesus - like did not know WHO He was! What? Donʼt all of these kids know the Sunday School answers?

 Holly at Preteen Camp

I began to cry knowing that God had orchestrated the events of the evening to reignite my passion for this ministry by instantly answering my questions about why we do this: to glorify Him and to spread His great name. I was delighted to be reminded that kids DO come to know Him through the heat and dirt and heat and bruises and heat and even tummy aches. They see Him in the staff and the leaders and the games and activities. I had the awesome privilege of explaining to Ashley who God was and how He loved HER so much that He sent us Jesus. I told her what Jesus had done for her, who Satan was, our NEED for salvation, for fellowship and for prayer. She knew none of this. 

 

It is so reassuring to know that even though some parents do not understand the importance of raising their children in church, they will entrust us with them for these few short days, so they can enjoy the ropes course and the lake and games. What they may not know is that God is eagerly seeking their child's heart, and in the loud craziness of Preteen Camp, He can whisper His still, small, quiet voice and it will be heard! I LOVE this place!

 

Ashley prayed that evening that God would make Himself real to her and that she could fully understand the decision she was making. This is a girl that did not know church words or concepts, and to see her honestly seeking Jesus was a humbling experience. I do not know why God orchestrated the events of that evening the way he did, but it was a night that neither of us will ever forget.

 

Preteen Camp Decision Time

 

 "through a Christ centered spiritual setting"  (Isaiah 58:10-14) 

 

HANGING OUT: BLOB DECK, WORSHIP CENTER DECK & GAME ROOM

 

One favorite activity that Preteen Campers enjoy is the Blob. Trinity Pines just purchased a new Blob last year and with the new pond, dam, and deck situated proximate to the Snack Shack, this has become a great hangout.

 

Blob with Deck

 

The new Mary Helen Smith Worship Center has several new hanging out spots. The covered deck and patios are great gathering places for small groups and this is where snacks are served for Preteen Camp.

 

 

Also located at the Worship Center is the air conditioned game room. It has been a huge blessing for campers to have a cool place to relax, shoot pool, play air hockey and have a snack.

 

air hockey at the game room

 

This past fall, Texas Baptist Men Camp Builders built some new covered areas close to the lakefront. These will hold 10-12 folks for small group gatherings. Also, we will have some new covered outdoor gathering places right around the office when that remodeling is completed (pictures to come in upcoming newsletters)

 

In January, we have had 3 SOWER couples and the TBM Brick Masons who are also working on the office area remodeling. We couldn't make it without our awesome volunteers who help make camp possible.

 

  

   

"so that they might know Him better"  (Ephesians 1:17)

 ARCHERY 

 

PARTNER WITH A PRETEEN

 

Every year at this time, plans are made for our upcoming projects. God has caused tremendous growth and development in the past 10 years of Trinity Pines' ministry. Much of that is a result of His leading the donation of time, finances, and resources by our supporters and volunteers. The majority of Trinity Pines' growth is financially supported by individuals.

 

Please pray about how God may want you to be involved in partnering in His work at Trinity Pines.

Here are the upcoming projects & some financial opportunities for ministry: 

  

PARTNER WITH A PRETEEN -Assist with a 
Trinity Pines Preteen Camp Scholarship                           $50

 

PAVE THE PATH TO WORSHIP- Develop the 1,000
foot path between the Office/Dining Hall & the new 
Mary Helen Smith Worship Center. This will include 
lighting, benches, walkways, retaining walls, and 
fountains                                                                            $100/ft.

 

LIGHT THE WAY- Help purchase the 50 roadway lights 
needed around the Mary Helen Smith Worship Center $100 each    
PAMPER THE PASTOR SPONSORSHIP-Each year, 
Trinity Pines hosts dozens of pastors and their families
for a free retreat. This is a much appreciated ministry
that God has used to minister to many of His
servants through the years.                                               $200

 Preteen Camp Staff

SUMMER MINISTRY TEAM SCHOLARSHIP- Trinity 
Pines hires around 28 additional high school and college
aged staff members each summer. They are provided 
room and board and a modest salary for their service.     $500 

 

We hope that you will plan to come see for yourself all that God is doing at Trinity Pines.  In the meantime, prayer is what created this ministry and it is your prayers that will strengthen and sustain it.  Please continue to lift this ministry up to the Father.  If you would like to receive monthly prayer requests throughout the school year, please subscribe to update your options and check the "prayer" option. Thank you!

 

Phil Springer and the Trinity Pines Staff Family 

 

 

Trinity Pines Conference Center

4341 FM 356

Trinity, Texas 75862

936-594-5011/800-672-7079

www.trinitypines.org