by Scott Ott
THIS IS NOT SATIRE
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A note from ScrappleFace editor-in-chief Scott Ott
I will spend the next week as a Cabin Counselor at Victory Valley Camp (where I'm normally the Executive Director), with seven boys ages 9-to-11 and two other counselors.
There will likely be no new stories at ScrappleFace, as I have given 'the vast editorial staff' the week off. If you'll indulge me for a moment, I'd like to step out from behind the facade of this satire news site to talk about something truly significant.
As Camp Director, I generally oversee the operation of our Summer Camp programs, but the programs are actually run by a handful of full-time staff and a team of several dozen Summer Missionaries ranging in age from 15-to-25 years. These people are my heroes.
When you read the news, and write about it, daily you can begin to share the cynical view of life held by many journalists. 'News,' as my journalism professor used to say, 'is about coups, earthquakes and three-legged chickens'. As a result, the world seems chaotic and sometimes hopeless.
I just ordered a book called 'Think Big, Act Small
'. I don't know if it's any good yet, but according to the radio ad it's about leaders who have a big vision for a better future, but they refuse to lose touch with the ground...where the people live daily.
Someday, Victory Valley Camp is going to be the most effective children's ministry in America, not only providing great fun in nature, but effectively teaching children truth that resounds throughout life and into eternity.
As we move toward that vision, this week we had more campers enrolled than we had Cabin Counselors to lead them, and so I have taken a promotion in rank from Executive Director to Summer Missionary, if only for the week.
Our Summer Missionaries work hard from before dawn to after dark, laboring to live out their faith in the presence of many little witnesses. They spend much time in the Bible, in prayer, in worship and teaching our campers. These people inspire me with their devotion, their zeal for truth and their joy.
Summer Missionaries come to Victory Valley on faith that the Lord will provide their financial support, which most of them are squirreling away for college or to help their families with the expense of raising a teenager.
Whether you adhere to the teachings of the Bible or not, you can't help but admire a teenager who would sacrifice money, time with friends and family and air conditioning in order to serve children. These are extraordinary people, and I need your help in encouraging them.
There are two ways you can do that.
1) Join a Summer Missionary prayer team and make a contribution to support their ministry.
2) Join a Summer Missionary prayer team without making a contribution right now.
Either way, you'll choose the name of a Summer Missionary for whom to pray from a list. I know you don't know them, but the Lord does. The online form will ask for your contact information so we can send you a weekly prayer letter from that missionary until the end of the camp season. You'll also get a summer-in-review letter. If you choose to make a contribution, it will go toward their ministry. You can use a credit card or e-check through our secure online process. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and it's easy. The prayer is the hard part, and the most valuable. Your contributions are tax-deductible, but my guess is that if you're the kind of person who would support a Summer Missionary, you don't even think of the IRS when you do it.
In addition to picking a Summer Missionary to pray for and support his/her ministry, I would ask that you occasionally remember me this week in your prayers. I need wisdom and strength for this awesome responsibility.
If I post anything online this week, it will likely be at my Director's blog where I hope to capture some of my experiences.
Sincerely,
Scott Ott
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