Bible camp helps youth experience victory

GLACIER VIEW — It is amazing that a campout in the Bush of Alaska can have a lasting impression on people of all ages.

Since Victory Bible Camp started in 1947, thousands of children and adults have gone through its doors, coming out with changed lives. Victory Bible Camp (VBC) is about having a good time and making friends, but at the same time sharing with people God’s love for them.

Carlen Thiessen, a Servant and Leadership Training (SALT) student and son of the ranch camp director, describes VBC as, “An imperfect place that God is using to change lives.” VBC does not only affect the people who visit there, but also the individuals who live and work at Victory Bible Camp.

In 1947, John Gillespie and his wife, Nadine, came to Alaska with the intention of working with natives, but it was soon put on John’s heart to start a Christian camp.

Nadine explains that “it was really John’s adventure; I was just along for the ride.”

The adventure turned out to be extraordinary. To start the camp, Gillespie knew he would need a number of things all in one area. He liked the idea of having a high lake, good water and pre-existing road all within a mile of the Glenn Highway. These were found at a site by Index Lake near Matanuska Glacier. At this time Alaska was still a territory and the property was uncharted. In order to buy the land, Gillespie needed an OK from the House of Representatives, the Senate and have the president sign the purchase.

The land was bought for $3.25 an acre, and he later bought more property through the same process for $10 an acre. The first building built on the VBC campsite was the Alpine Lodge. Since the camp started, “We’ve had thousands of kids in the last 60 years, and hundreds of volunteers have come to build more than fifty buildings,” Nadine said.

Over the years, VBC has served thousands of campers from second grade through 12th grade who have attended the summer programs for one- or two-week sessions. Campers have a choice of going to one of the four main camps: Alpine, Frontier, Ranch, and SALT. Other options consist of weekly pack trips and an annual family camp.

Kris Heasley, a camper from last summer and years past, explains, “Whether you are a Christian or not, VBC is a place free of judgment that offers an amazing relationship with Christ. Victory is unique in that no matter what your life situation is there will be people there that you can relate to. VBC turned me from a rebellious, wannabe punk who never loved anyone into a person whose life is filled with joy and great people.”

Every summer, VBC brings in young adults from all over the nation to be counselors. These young adults dedicate their time, energy and money to keep VBC up and running during the summer. Counselors come and go. Some stay longer than others, but it seems they are all are impacted in some way.

Abbie Alexander, a counselor In training last summer, said, “Victory helped me realize that God forgives all sins. Before my nine-week stay at Victory, I was only a Christian by name.”

Counselors who come here have a chance to give hope to younger children and see children’s lives transformed as they spend time with them during the week.

“As a counselor, I got to see many different forms of changes throughout my campers,” said Camille Anders, a CIT from last summer. “A lot of campers would come to camp not wanting to be there, … and by the end of the week they wouldn’t want to leave.”

Not only is Victory Bible Camp a place to come and have fun, it’s ultimately somewhere that supportive relationships are built.

Savanna Burke, a SALT from last summer and a ranch camper from years before, said, “The relationships that I’ve made at VBC have been intimate, and on a personal level, they are indescribable to those who have not experienced them.”

Some campers have stories from summers past that show how their friendships at camp were so different from their regular relationships. Morgan Morfe has been coming to camp ever since she was a child. Now a teenager, she shares a memory that she experienced here at camp.

“Two years ago, I was placed in a cabin with four other girls and by the end of the week we were best friends,” she said. “Today, two years later, when the five of us get together, it is as if we never left camp. That bond and friendship is still there and will never leave us even though we do not get to see one another every single day.”

The staff families are the structure that keeps VBC afloat. They live at the camp, keeping it going for the entire year so campers can come back for the next summer. All of the families and family members have different jobs that keep camp running year-round. From groups in the winter to the busy summers, the staff families are there through it all.

In 1992, Doug and Chrystal Thiessen moved to VBC and have been living there ever since, raising four boys there. Doug Thiessen has been the ranch camp director since then. The Thiessens say that their main purpose is “to have every person that comes here (VBC) see Jesus Christ in the creation around them and the people who work here.”

Another couple, Brian and Nicole Wilbert, has more recently been added to the staff at VBC in 2009. Brian works as guest services director while Nicole helps to keep the houses clean as the housekeeping director.

“It has helped me to see that ministry is not easy,” Nicole said. “Just like anywhere, life is tough at times, but the benefit is knowing the God I serve is worthy. He does not need me, but he chooses to use me.”

Todd and Becca Busenitz, a young couple from Kansas started a new program last summer (pack trips). About 10 times in the summer, the couple takes groups from VBC to Dan Creek on horseback. During the winter, Todd keeps busy by taking care of the camp’s 30 to 40 horses and does a lot of snow removal. Becca runs the espresso machine, works as a secretary and does many other jobs.

“We enjoy the opportunity to use horses to teach about God and his word.” the couple said. “We also enjoy being able to be involved in such a variety of ministries.”

Throughout the years Victory Bible Camp has been around, it has encouraged many lives throughout America, and even some from other countries. The relationships made are just a part of the experience VBC gives. It seems that almost all people who come through VBC go back to their homes with altered lives, and that’s what VBC is all about — reaching out to a hurting world.

Allison Ruisch is a sophomore and Andrei Mays is a senior at Glacier View School.