NEWS

Mayfield Church shows appreciation for long-time "Aldersgate Experience"

Mayfield Church (MUMC) has a long-standing partnership with Camp Aldersgate. For forty-one years, before the official summer camping season begins, MUMC sends approximately 80-100 youth and youth leaders to Camp Aldersgate. Early in June MUMC youth leaders come prepared with their own camping program and schedule and ready themselves to become camp counselors for the week. The youth, many of whom return year after year, are excited and ready to rediscover the "Aldergate Experience" once again.

The impact of both the youth program and the “Aldersgate Experience” on Mayfield's youth can be summed up in Amy’s words:

“I first came to this church (Mayfield Church) three years ago and I loved it. I attended the High School Sunday school and saw all these pictures of a place called Camp Aldersgate and in every single picture, the kids were smiling and laughing and it looked like so much fun that I immediately wanted to be there too.

My first week at Camp Aldersgate literally changed my life. In truth, it turned my world upside down, but the world that I was in now was so much better because God was in it.

In Camp Aldersgate, you can’t escape God, even if you wanted to. Every inch of it breathes of Him, and you can feel it wherever you go. It fills you with this happiness that is almost impossible to explain. Suddenly without warning, you will break in to song or random dance, or hug the people next to you just because you are so happy you can’t contain it.

Year after year the congregation would watch the youth return from camp and lead Sunday worship.  The youth would lead the congregation in song, perform skits and offer first-hand accounts of how their lives had been changed while at Camp Aldersgate.  The stories, smiles and laughter that continued long after camp was over had a deep effect on the congregation.  New kids, like Amy, and other families found a home at Mayfield Church much because of their Camp Aldersgate experiences.

The Aldersgate/Mayfield connection made lasting impressions on church members, such as Tom.
Standing in the camp parking lot one summer afternoon in 2010, Tom asked Aldersgate Director Eric Dingler a simple question, "What would you do if we raised you some money?" Tom had shared with Eric that he had seen amazing improvements to Aldersgate throughout the years as he accompanied the youth to summer camp, but he had also seen the aging of some of its facilities. 

Tom’s question was followed by a conversation with Dingler, MUMC lead pastor Scott Wilson and youth pastor Bruce Becker.  The conversation centered on the aging cabins, some of which were a half century old.  Dingler shared that the Camp Aldersgate wish list included replacing old cabins with newer ones while also adding additional facilities to accommodate retreats and other seasonal opportunities.

(Photo: Old cabin, no longer in use)

Once key goals were set, Becker shared the challenge in a call to action to MUMC members.  The church responded and Becker and the youth went to work.  In less than twelve months the congregation responded in overwhelming fashion :  donating over $75,000 – enough to build at least two cabins.

This year, as part of the MUMC youth group's Aldergate Experience, they participated in the construction of the first cabin. The group helped haul logs and pound the nails as they saw hopes, dreams, donations and prayers become a reality.

(Photo: New cabin underconstruction)

The connection with Mayfield Church is enabling Camp Aldersgate to move into the future quicker than originally anticipated.  That future allows Aldersgate to increase its ministry from a summer camp to a year-round, life-long experience. 

“New cabins at Aldersgate help us increase capacity for more people to have an ‘Aldersgate Experience,’ said Dingler.  “The tradition at Aldersgate is to live up to our namesake.  We want everyone who comes here to have an opportunity for a personal, heart-warming involvement just as John Wesley experience on Aldersgate Street so many years ago.”

(Photo: Campers are excited to have the opportunity
to work hands-on)

Ideas and inspiration can occur anywhere at any time.  “As we celebrate today this amazing gift,” Dingler continued, “we give praise and honor to every gift that comes in.  Two new cabins are now under construction all because one guy asked one question and one church moved beyond ‘what if’ thinking.”

Find out more about Camp Aldersgate on their blog or on Facebook.

Find out more about Mayfield Church on their website or on Facebook.