Pineshore Bible Camp: What's In a Name?
Most of the time a name change indicates something new and different. For the Bible camp ministry at Camp Pineshore in Westminster, Massachusetts, its new name reflects the reality that the current ministry is building on a rich tradition of Christian camping at Pineshore that has been happening for more than six decades.
“Our new name, Pineshore Bible Camp, is easy to remember and to the point, and it’s what most people know the ministry as anyway”; said Pineshore Bible Camp committee chairperson John “Jussi”; Paajanen. “The setting at Camp Pineshore is an integral part of Bible Camp’s identity. It’s part of what makes the ministry special.”
The organization’s former name, New England Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (NELOM), reflected the ministry’s continuing goal to include more NED congregations. “We continue to reach out t o district churches to try to expand the ministry, and our growth into more congregations is mostly by word of mouth”, Paajanen continued. Most recently Pineshore alumnus Pastor Joel Kotila has brought up many new campers from his congregation in Terryville, Connecticut. “Along with hoping for returning and new campers from throughout New England and maybe even further away, we look forward to more campers from Connecticut this year because of Pastor Joel’s efforts to spread the word about this ministry that means a lot to him, just as it means a lot to many of us. It is compelling to hear someone you know tell about their positive personal experiences about a place that you have not seen, and it makes it more likely that you will be interested in trying it out for yourself.”
One of the positive long-term impacts of the Bible camp ministry at Pineshore is that many former campers go into church work, due in part to their camp experience. Along with Pastor Kotila and others, NED President Jim Keurulainen is among those Bible Camp alumni who were led into the ministry.
Bible Camp at Pineshore has been held annually for more than 60 summers. This ministry began in 1947 with a week for senior high youth. Some things have changed since that first Bible Camp week, but much has remained the same, most importantly that young people hear the Word of God in the beauty of His Creation at Camp Pineshore.
Young people going into the fourth grade through those who just graduated from high school are invited to attend and be a part of the Bible Camp experience. People are also needed to serve as camp staff: nurses, cooks, counselors, lifeguards, counselors-in-training (CITs), and cook’s helpers.