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Pioneer Village Fundraising Completed |
 Northland Ministries — especially Northland Camp & Conference Center — is rejoicing in God’s provision through our most recent fundraiser. Almost $800,000 was raised in a major fundraising effort to see expansion and improvements in the portion of Northland Camp known as “Pioneer Village.” Historically, God provided for Northland through its board and we had no need for outside fundraising efforts. Tackling the large sum of $800,000 seemed like a daunting task, but God is faithful! When God gave the administration a vision of expanding the camp, they knew it would not be easy. However, after three years of praying, working, and building, camp manager Paul Whitt reports, “We are extremely excited and grateful that the project is 100% paid for because of the goodness of God and generosity of many friends of Northland. In addition to the $800,000 plus that has been given over the past three years, there have been hundreds of hours of labor donated, as well as thousands of dollars in supplies. The entire project, from start to finish, has been a testimony to God’s faithfulness in using His people to provide for this ministry.”
Northland Ministries (which includes Northland Camp and Northland Baptist Bible College) began with the vision of Paul Patz, who sought to reach young people for the glory of God through the means of a summer camp. From this grew the vision to further that ministry by the founding of a Bible college to “prepare the next generation for Great Commission Living.” For almost 40 years, the Patz family supported the camp and the school in a significant financial way. However, God called Paul “Papa” Patz home to heaven and we now have the need to raise funds externally. Dr. Matt Olson, president of Northland Mission, Inc., views the successful fundraising efforts for Pioneer Village as evidence that others have a burden for the same vision and mission started by Paul Patz. Dr. Olson says, “We feel a great sense of gratitude for the spiritual heritage and financial resources we had in the past, but face the future with a sense of anticipation that the best years are ahead. We see every building tied to God’s glory and Great Commission Work—a temporal means to an eternal end.” He looks forward to the vision God has given, though it seems “beyond our resources and capacities, we know He will provide.” Pioneer Village is an example of God’s provision in the past that gives hope for future plans.
Over the past three years, the Pioneer Village project has been built in three phases. The first two phases—two quadplex cabins—are complete and currently in use. The third and final phase of the Pioneer Village expansion project is the construction of a multipurpose Activity Center, anticipated to be ready for use for the 2008 camping season. The Activity Center will include a meeting room, gymnasium, and snack shop. According to camp director Steve Pettit, the newly completed Pioneer Village (including all three phases) provides proper and adequate housing facilities; a location for a year-round program with multi-faceted retreats to reach all kinds of people; a rental facility for groups to hold retreats; and housing for events hosted by the college. The college will also benefit by having additional gym facilities for use during the school year. Dr. Pettit points out that the camp will now have larger and broader capabilities to minister to more people – double or triple what the camp has seen in the past. He states that our “message and motive goes back to our mission statement: ‘to glorify God by supporting local churches and helping campers take another step spiritually.’”
So, what can you expect to find at Northland Camp in the near future? The list starts with events we already host on a regular basis, such as Rodeofest and Men’s Heart Conference. But you can also look forward to a Father/Son Retreat, a Paintball Retreat, a Hunters’ Retreat, a Snowmobile Retreat, and College and Career Retreats over the next twelve months. In addition, we have already received interest from churches desiring to use the facility on a rental basis for their own events.
How can you get involved? Come join us for summer camps or fall, winter, and spring retreats. Or, become a financial partner to assist in future developments at Northland Mission, Inc., As Dr. Olson has stated, “We want to continue the ministry of Northland borne out of Paul Patz’s heart for young people. What greater ministry could you have than to invest in young people?”
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