I am the director of Baptist Park, a summer camp in northern Maine set on 320 acres of wilderness.  It is a beautiful place of rolling hills, streams, ponds and lots of forest.  Occasionally, a moose or bear happens upon the grounds, but not too often.  Skunks, raccoons and deer are more common.  We just finished the first week of camp, which was Theatre Week.  We had 17 high schoolers come in and, in addition to regular camp programs like rock climbing, archery, zip line and swimming, they spent their mornings working on a play to be performed at the camp's closing service Friday night.  The play was based on the book of Esther, and I am amazed at how much the kids were able to put into it in only five mornings.  It came off without a hitch, and with plenty of humor, but the heart of the story was never compromised.

Our speaker for the week was long time friend and partner in ministry, Fred Shapiro of Willimantic, CT.  Having a doctorate in theology and having been raised Jewish, he brought a lot of insight into the story of Esther as he spoke each night in chapel.  I, for one, really want to experience a Purim celebration now that he's taught us about this holiday, instituted at the end of Esther.  Interestingly, as the Lord would have it, we had a first time camper who was also a "Messianic Jew".  She loved our activities based on Purim, and really connected with Fred.  Being a Jewish Christian, it seems, is a lot like being a male cheerleader... you can feel like you don't fit in in either world.  Fred was able to bring encouragement to this young lady.

In addition to this unique opportunity to minister to one young lady, there was another camper who professed faith in Jesus for the first time, and several other rededications of faith this week.

Pastor Fred has also recently become a published author with the printing of his book For Your Tomorrows, I Give You my Todays. (Find out more here:  http://www.fhowardshapiro.com/ )

Fred is about to start chemo again as his cancer has reoccurred, but he delayed treatment for a week so that he could be at camp.  What we pay barely covers his cost of travel from Connecticut, but he is dedicated to this ministry and our friendship.  While he clearly wasn't himself a lot of the time, he still was able to lead some singing, including "Jesus is Victor" a song I use in almost every show that I perform.  His Joe Cocker-esque voice and jazz / rock piano were as powerful as ever, if not as tireless as when he is feeling better.