A Fruitful Fall

I can't believe that summer has come and gone! It was an amazing 6 weeks of camp for our family. The best to date! This year I was able to serve as camp nurse, giving me hands on experience with the ministry of Eagle Bay. I have fallen passionately in love for the work here that we have been called to do. It is an amazing and exciting ministry, with many obstacles and huge blessings! Being able to build a deep relationship with the staff and campers was incredible. I loved all those great teens that served with us this summer and the amazing kids that came to camp. We were so thankful to see campers having an amazing "camp" experience but most importantly to see many of them put their trust in Christ. We are blessed to have such an incredible job!
On another note, Jon and I have huge responsibilities when it comes to raising funds for camp. It sometimes can be challenging and discouraging. We face fear at times that without enough support that we would eventually loose this incredible opportunity to serve the kids in the interlake. We are driven to pray feverently and our dependance on Christ is often tested through these times. We are however encouraged that many of our friends and family members have committed monthly to the support of the camp and our family. We are so grateful to all of you who have made this ministry a priority in your own lives. Your gifts are so very appreciated and we are so very thankful to all of you.
As I write, Jon is off to British Columbua. He just finished driving 20 hours alone and I just heard of his safe arrival. Please pray that he gains knowledge and wisdom as he attends the conference, that he enjoys some time of rest and that he will return home safely on friday. Pray for Aaron and Thesalee as they run camp this week.

Today I sat for a few minutes to ponder the summer and I am encouraged by the amount of kids that God has let us minister to. There were over 120 kids for our resident camp program and we have close to sixty more in our new day camp program. God graced us with safety this summer. We had very few accidents, and almost none involved campers.

God also gave us a great staff this summer. There was a small group from the Montreal area. They came a week before the campers to help finish the theme decorations and film a skit for the kids. We also had a great time bonding together as a team. It never got really hot this summer, and we had a bit of rain, but God blessed us through it all.

The first week of camp was almost perfect, the campers were well behaved and all of the activities ran smoothly. Chapel went great and the kids seem interested in what was said. There were a few first time professions of faith the first week. The second week was good as well, we had a couple of discipline problems, and it was a little harder to get the campers settled down for chapel, but all in all another successful week as we had a few more professions of faith. The third week, however, started out rough and only got worse. Chad and I felt that our whole week was consumed with discipline problems. We went from one camper to the next trying to get them to simply join their group. If we weren’t doing that we were breaking up fights or dealing with sick campers. We had no idea of why all these kids decided to act up at the same time. Luckily for us my wife Nicole has been here all summer taking care of the camper’s medications and doing our camp nursing, and we have had two lovely ladies doing all of our cooking for us. We also had a guest speaker who did an excellent job. After all was said and done I figured that we would just call that week a bust and move on, but God had other plans. Out of the ashes of what could have been a blown week I found out that we had more first time professions of faith than the first two weeks combined. Isn’t it amazing that God works miracles when we are at our worst. I don’t even know if you would call it a miracle. Things like that are just what God does. Week four was like week one. We had older campers that week ages 12-14. It was a blast. Chad and I got to shoot fireworks off the top of the climbing wall, what a blast…. (Sorry, that was lame). The kids were able to grasp some deeper concepts and had a much longer attention span. At first we were worried that they wouldn’t participate in the activities or games, but we couldn’t have been more wrong! They jumped into camp with great zeal. We played games and sang and had a great time. Several more campers accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

This summer’s journey has been amazing for me. That brings me to why I am writing to you. SCA Eagle Bay is in serious financial straights. I have written before about the loss of most of our support base, and how the addition of me to the staff has burdened the budget. To this point we have been able to rely on a surplus in the budget to make ends meet. Unfortunately, we have had to make several repairs and upgrades recently that have dried up that surplus. We have also been neglecting preventative maintenance to keep our spending down and I fear that will become apparent all too soon. I am asking that you prayerfully consider joining us in reaching the children of the Interlake area whether they are on reserves or farms or in small towns. If things continue the way they are going we will be facing a $23,000.00 budget deficit by the end of the year. This deficit is due solely to the addition of my salary. To give to SCA Eagle Bay or to support Jonathan and Nicole Welch go to www.scainternational.org or give me a call at 204-449-2293

Dear Friends, April 2009
The date says “spring” but the thermometer is still in “winter.” Yes, we are still dealing with snow and cold temperatures. But summer’s coming!SCA Eagle Bay Ministry Centre & Camp had two great Snow Camps this winter. There were new and returning campers from the summer. And plenty of snow to play in. Chad Bruneski (Associate Director) and I have been very busy with summer preparation for camp as well as attending various conferences. Twice we have been to Winnipeg to set up a booth for SCA at Missionfest in February and then Promise Keepers in March. We attended the annual general meeting for the Manitoba Camping Association and the Spring Forum for Christian Camping International. I spent 10 days in Toronto at the end of January to meet with other Ministry Centre directors for our annual conference. So we have been busy as you can see.However, though God is blessing us with encouragement, we are still battling several concerns that require prayer. There is ongoing opposition from many people that want to see this camp fail. These people come under the guise of innocent accountability, but their true motivation is vengeance. Please pray that God will protect the camp and us from their slander.On another note, there has been some confusion regarding our financial situation. SCA Eagle Bay has a surplus at this time and is healthy financially. However, I personally am feeling guilty for not pulling my weight in drumming up support. In the past, SCA missionaries were required to have at least 80% of their support raised prior to beginning work. Due to the extraordinary circumstances when I was hired, that requirement was waived. I am receiving my full salary but it is taking a toll on the camp’s operational budget as I have only raised around 15% of that salary. I am asking those of you who are receiving this letter to pray about supporting us in an ongoing manner. God is providing for all of our needs and blessing us amazingly. By supporting us you will be freeing up assets at SCA Eagle Bay to go toward upkeep and new development at the camp, and most of all, new programs for the kids we serve. If you are already giving, I thank you with all of my heart for supporting us in the work of Christ.May
God bless you.

Here is a direct link to donate to SCA-please specify that you would like your donation to be designated to Jonathan and Nicole Welch

http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=d9912

Jonathan M. Welch
Director SCA Eagle Bay Ministry Centre & Camp

In Response to a Legacy

The other night I watched a video about the life of Billy Graham and about the legacy he has built. Part of me would love to have that type of legacy. Fiery preaching in front of millions of people. How cool would that be? But then I contrast that with a video that my own Granfather gave me this christmas. A video that he put together with some help of people at his church. I am reminded that my Grandfather's legacy means more to me than that of any great evangelist. Why? Because this man's legacy is me. If it were not for my grandfather's faithful life of prayer and following Jesus Christ I would not be who I am today. My Grandfather raised my father to love Jesus and in turn my father raised me in a faith that was grounded in scripture and focused on a loving God. I also know that this Man of faith that my children call "Opa" has spent much of his life in prayer for me. He has prayed for me in tough times and prayed for me in good times. He even prays for me when life is not going well for him. Opa has told me that he looks forward to the day when he will be in glory with his savior, but he also has said that as long as God keeps him on this earth even if he can do nothing else he will pray. What a legacy to have. So many people owe a great big thanks to Opa for his years of unselfish service for Christ and for his prayers on their behalf, but you will never see him asking for thanks. Opa sees prayer as his duty; like a soldier doing his job. The only difference is that Opa enjoys talking with his heavenly father. I have felt that prayer and I know that God has used Opa's prayer in my life. Now that I have children I know how important Opa's legacy is and I plan to continue it in my life and in the life of my children. Thank-you Opa for lifting myself and my family before the Lord of all creation in prayer.

Merry Christmas to all:

Well, the culture shock wore off until the snow started. Now there are fewer cars on the road and more snowmobiles. For me, it has been fairly cold, although the locals have said that it has been pretty mild. I am not excited about what they call “real winter”.
It has been seven months since we arrived in Manitoba. In that time we have been very busy. God blessed Eagle Bay with a great summer, and I had a chance to meet a lot of young people with hearts to serve. Since the end of summer I have been busy with guest groups and I was asked to lead the local youth group. I have since decided to make that group a part of the Eagle Bay mission. There are outreach events every other Friday evening. There has been an average of about 15 kids that attend. Chad and I have also put together two fundraising banquets. The first was very well attended with over one-hundred attending. The second was only attended by two couples, but God again miraculously provided. Between these two couples we will be able to finish the bathroom project that has been underway since April 2007. I have also had the privilege of preaching at two of the local churches. We are also in the process of getting winter camp planned. We will run three weekends in February for children in the area. Pray that these are well attended due to the fact that there was no winter camp last year. Also, pray for me as there are many tough decisions on the horizon regarding camp and the programs we run. Pray that God will bless our efforts to proclaim the gospel in light of financial burdens and some latent opposition to change. I would like to thank all of you who are praying for us, and also to those of you supporting us financially. If others of you who read this are feeling the call of God to help support the ministry of SCA International and Eagle Bay Camp, or if you would like to help support Nikki and the kids and I with our personal support you can donate through the SCA website www.scainternational.org.

It is with a joyful heart that I wish all of you a Merry Christmas! I am so thankful to have this opportunity to share about what is going on in our family. This has been a faith-stretching year for me personally. In this past year I have seen the hand of God in my life work in such a personal way. He has time and time again reminded me that he is in control.
Since moving into Moosehorn, we have had the privilege of living across the road to Kurt Bork and his beautiful wife, Edie. He is among the first “shanty men” and first director to “Eagle Bay” camp. It has been with much joy to be neighbors with such an amazing couple whom we have lots to learn from.
I am so very thankful for our home, the school and the community here in Manitoba. Jon and I felt quickly at home mostly because of the great people who made room for us in their lives. I have made wonderful friendships here and was even blessed with a running partner. No matter where God leads us, He always answers my prayers for a friend that enjoys my love for an early morning run!
As for our children, they have all adjusted well. I am most pleased to share that our little Meaghan has a real joy for Jesus. We are thankful that she is discerning between right and wrong at school. As parents, that is a thrill for us both!
Over the past few months, we have gone through some very difficult and painful situations. We as believers are definitely not exempt! We are very thankful to everyone who has prayed us through some challenging days and weeks. Your continuous generosity and your fervent prayers have seen been a daily encouragement for our family!
Once again, thank-you all for being a part of God’s ministry! I encourage you to pray for Jon and Chad as they strive to serve the people of the northern Interlake. We are already looking forward to summer as hundreds of children will hear the gospel.


Jon, Nikki, Meaghan, Mallorie, Averie, Johnny

For those of you who don't know what Nikki and I have been up to for the last six months I want to give you a little background into who we are working with. SCA International started as a mission called Shantymen’s Christian Association by William Henderson in 1907. Our purpose is to glorify God by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of North America whose circumstances do not provide them easy or traditional access to the Church for any number of reasons, including social, emotional, physical and cultural isolation. Eagle Bay was added as a ministry center in 1962, then called Hilbre Bible Camp, and has been carrying on God’s work ever since. Eagle Bay has a wonderful legacy of reaching children for Christ, and being a safe haven for kids in trouble.
Eagle Bay’s core purpose is to give every person who comes to this facility a chance to meet Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by serving. We serve children with our summer and winter camps, and now with our youth outreach every other Friday. We serve adults with our guest and retreat services. We strive to serve the community by bringing groups from the city to the area, and hopefully as the years go on we will bring more and more people here. I want Eagle Bay to be a safe place that lets those who come feel like they belong to something bigger than their normal experience. We believe in building lasting relationships between our staff and the campers that come to camp, and we know that those relationships will mean more than any other thing in a child’s life.
The last two weeks we have hosted two different fundraising dinners for the camp. On November 8th we held a local dinner in Moosehorn. A great success with over one-hundred people attending. Chad and I prepared and served a nice meal with the help of some of our local youth. Over twenty local businesses donated items for a silent auction and the Solberg's, a local couple, donated honey to sell to the attendees. God provided quite a bit of money to cover many costs at camp. Our second dinner in Winnipeg was much smaller in numbers, but God provided in a huge way. The two couples that we hosted committed to finishing the bathroom that has stood unfinished for over eighteen months. Praise God!!!