The First International Partnership

This summer we're planning on having 3 young men from Hong Kong come and be part of our training program this summer.  These men will participate in SLS and will then return to Hong Kong to take what they have learned and implement it in their ministry there. 

We're excited for an new international partnership to take shape here at HoneyRock.  Working with other camps and organizations all over the world has been a part of the HoneyRock story since the early days.  I hope you enjoy this story from Coach Chrouser, the founder of HoneyRock.  It comes from his book "A Place Apart" and it tells of Peter a German young man who came here in 1951 or 1952 to learn about camping.  He was perhaps the first international partnership we ever had.

New Friends Bring Challenges - p. 22

"That June (early 1950s) brought a most interesting letter from the United States State Department asking us to accept one "Peter Schneider" of West Germany as an observer for our leadership training program.  The letter stated further that the State Department was assisting the German government in establishing American-type youth movements to take the place of military-type groups.  Peter would be coming to us from a large YMCA camp in North Carolina.  When Peter arrived he created quite a stir.  He was a handsome, well-groomed young man, sharp and alert to what his mission was.  As an 18-year-old he had been a Nazi Youth and served time as a prisoner of war working in the Belgian coal mines.  His father was an educator in the German university systems.  Peter was a student of German higher criticism, which seemed to major in reasons to doubt the Biblical record and authority.  At first Peter was cagey on spiritual matters, but it soon was evident that he was developing a thirst to know the truth.  Peter was good for all of us at camp, and the camp was good for Peter.  His Honey Rock days laid the foundation for his decision for Christ which came in late August.  He came to campus in the fall and because of over-enrollment was limited to part-time student status.  After another semester and some special courses at Wheaton he returned to Germany well-founded in the Word. 

What is significant about this story?  Peter was being prepared to be a key interpreter in the Billy Graham German Crusades and a key figure in the evangelical movement in Germany.  He has visited the campus several times since and reminisced about Honey Rock days.  Peter was good for the students.  His penetrating questions made them aware of the reasons for their faith.  All of this seemed to stimulate our counselors as they led their cabin groups."