Well done on that dash…
-
It is hard to think that such a closing date applies to my husband of 36 1/2 years. However, I have agreed to write a memorial for him, as it expressly applies to camp. A poem I have read suggests that it is not the beginning and ending dates that really matter (which right about now I don’t buy), but what is implied by that dash in the middle.
Many of you will have memories of Dennis from camp, and it would be wonderful to hear them, but for now I will give you a brief collection of thoughts on the changes in camp over the years, and Dennis’ specific contribution. Oddly enough, many years ago we thought it might be fun to go to the National Camp in the United States. We did go and were told that we had nothing to offer. We didn’t even ask again until years later when Dennis became Pastor of two churches in eastern Ontario and our girls made good friends in both areas. We were to move to that area but when that was aborted we asked if we could stay involved in the area so the girls could maintain their new friendships. This included a desire to be part of camp if possible. Everyone agreed and, in 1995, Dennis began helping with the canoe program, rusty French and all (in those days things were far more bilingual). Our roles expanded over the next few years and, in 1999, after we were transferred to Montreal, then director Roger Labelle, asked Dennis if he would take over as director of Camp Vendee. (I believe it was a temporary offer…lol!).
Camp, and the purpose of camp, was going through some dramatic changes over that time. Our sponsoring church was making huge theological shifts, as well as growing in understanding of how God works with “church kids”. Camp, in our fellowship, was a Christian environment offered to young people to meet others of similar beliefs. Based on our own experiences, as well as input from camp directors in the US, we felt that camp should also grow in the area of challenging young people to consider their personal beliefs and relationship with God. Although Dennis had been a lifelong Christian, he made a public commitment to Christ when he was 16, and never deviated from that. It seemed to us that there was no established date in God’s head as to when a young person could accept responsibility for their relationship with God.
With that in mind, Dennis set about looking at each area of camp. We “borrowed” the American camps’ creed of surrounding campers with “the wall of love”, and each area of camp was considered in that light: that is, are we surrounding these youth with a wall of Christian love, the way that Jesus did? Our Christian education programs became more personal, and more challenging. Christianity was not something Dennis believed was a far off goal for our campers; he believed it was something they could embrace no matter what their age.
In the early 2000’s the Whitney family joined us at Camp Vendee, and based on the charity in the states honouring their son, one of our staff members suggested we begin our own charity. Dennis researched the possibility and a team of us began what is now known as “Friends of Camp Connections”. We were so blessed with an amazing group, who came to be known as the “Planning team” and who helped with the planning and re-visioning of what Camp could be. It was a learning process for us all, and perhaps this team idea stretched Dennis the most, as he had been used to working on his own for years.
The next challenge came when we were told Camp Vendee was to be sold. We had seen so many amazing young people, and watched them change in just a few days at camp. It was hard to think of not continuing, so Dennis helped with the camp search and, thanks to a relationship Katherine Brockman had developed, we “wound up” at Providence Point.
It’s hard to say what Dennis’ biggest legacy at camp is. While at camp, at the end of the day I would often ask him what he did for the day. He never really seemed to know; he would joke that he MBWA (managed by walking around). However, my guess is that we might not have an annual camp without him. The church was making major changes when we came on board, and camp wasn’t a general priority. To have a Pastor that was such a firm advocate was/is a gift. We can also thank him for encouraging the change in worship style, and for the good solid Christian base we have at camp. But maybe there is one thing that we will all remember him the most for: Dennis came to camp knowing every camper’s name. Maybe Nathan Knapp tells the story of Dennis’ legacy the best. Nathan explains (and my apologies to Nathan for not telling it quite the same way) about how he came to camp the first year, and would hear Dennis call out “NATHAN!…”, with his usual burst of enthusiasm. Nathan remembers feeling that perhaps no one, in his entire life, had been that exited to see him. Perhaps others of you can relate.
Dennis Lawrence, June 1952 – Dec. 2011, well done on that dash. You will be missed.
With love,
Lynn
Comments are closed.