Joy El Journal

February – March 2010

717-369-4539 phone * 717-369-2927 fax * info@joyel.org *** www.joyel.org

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful," Colossians 4:2

Take Note: ==============================/

*We’re excited to announce our Summer Camp** theme for 2010 is Messengers on a Mission: Voyage of the Envoy. Camp brochures were mailed in early January. Information on available weeks and prices is online: Summer Camp. Our summer camp web pages are updated regularly as more details are finalized so be sure to check back.

*High School Students! Get out of the routines, get away with friends and get alone with God. If you’re in grades 9 to 12, you won’t want to miss our Surge Connection weekend on Feb. 19-21. Speaker Tom Harmon is a nationally known camp and conference speaker who will challenge you spiritually. (Check out his webpage at www.tdharmon.com.) Learn more or register online** here: Surge. The retreat registration fee is $60.00. Register by February 12^th and pay only $55.

***CIA and Chi Alpha students will want to start planning ahead for their annual Overnighter. This fabulous fun event takes place on February 26-27 from 8 PM Friday to 12:30 PM Saturday. We’ll be going swimming, bowling, rollerskating, having pizza and playing basketball. We might even catch an hour or two of sleep! Cost is $40.00, but if you register on or before February 22^nd, you pay only $35.00. Friends are welcome to join you but must be in middle or high school grades. Space is limited to the first 120 registrants, so don’t delay in getting your registration turned in! Register online here: Overnighter or register with your CIA or XA leader.

*We are thankful for your financial partnership, advancing the Kingdom. Do you know that you can make your donation to Joy El Ministries without the hassle of writing a check? You can DONATE ONLINE** with your credit card via our website. Simply log on to www.joyel.org and see our "Donate" section on the menu, or click here. We accept VISA Discover and Mastercard.

***Now you can follow Joy El Ministries on Twitter and Facebook. Keep up with the latest news and events, read how God is working in the lives of students through our programs, share with us your feedback since there are occasional opportunities to receive discounts or prizes when you respond. We want to connect with you, so click here to connect with us:

God At Work: ================================/

***Jeanne Phillips, School Coordinator at Quarryville Released Time wrote to us recently about their Invite-A-Friend Day:

"We held our Invite-A-Friend Day early due to a teacher in-service day at Quarryville.for teachers), we had it today. The 42 children and their listeners have been praying for a month to know who to invite. By last week 40 friends were registered. Today all the regular staff, plus substitutes, friends from Clermont RT, Brenda Brazee, extra walkers, and a volunteer friend were anticipating God's continued blessing. God sent good walking weather, the children were very attentive during the hour, and the salvation message was presented. The listening time yielded good discussion, as everyone was learning I John 1:9 which we sang and had explained in the lesson.

"One of our prayer warriors has been praying for a year and a half for a specific girl, Jenna, to come to RT. When I picked up a class last week one child had a note from her mother asking if she could come to RT for the rest of the year. I told her to come to Friend Day first and then we could register her. She said no one had invited her. So I gave her an invitation. Little did I know that was Jenna. She came today, with a smile. I reminded her to have her mother register her. She said it will have to be her father because her mother is now in the hospital. (I called her mother last week, telling her Jenna could continue.)"

***Judy Weber of Wellsville’s Released Time encourages students there to put their faith and trust in Jesus by sharing her own journey through her battle with cancer. During a recent class time, she shared with students photos of her family members at a pizza party where they shaved Judy’s head and then of family members wearing her wigs, all to show students that difficult times can be less scary when your trust is in Jesus.

Program Events: ================================/

/files/Camp Joy El Images/Connection Images/Web_Enrgzr-Crossing.jpg ***Elementary students, join our Caravan of Faith as we set off on our spring Energizer Connection weekend—March 5-7. Students in grades 2 to 5 are invited to a fun-filled weekend of activities including go-karts, hiking, campfire, and a special new group game called "Raiders of the Caravan." Chapel times will focus on teaching campers how to walk by faith. To register or get details including pricing, go here, or call us at 717-369-4539.

/files/Camp Joy El Images/Connection Images/Father-Daughter2.jpg ***A special time of relationship-building is coming April 23-25 for fathers and daughters at our spring Father-Daughter Connection weekend. Gary Hornbaker, Joy El’s Director of Released Time Ministries, will be sharing with dads from God’s word and sharing his perspective on raising a godly daughter. Exciting activities will include go-karts, games, hiking, and an evening banquet. Daughters should be in grades 1 to 8. To register or get details including pricing, go here, or call us at 717-369-4539.

/files/PublicationPhotos/Appalachian Trail Sign.jpg ***Load up the gear, guys! The time is close for setting off on the Father-Son Adventure weekend once again. Join us April 30—May 2 for this event. This year our hike will take on a whole new leg of the Appalachian Trail. Boys in grades 2 to 8 along with their dads are invited to join us. This is a weekend with one overnight at camp and one overnight on the trail. Time in the great outdoors will draw you closer to God and to one another. To register or get details including pricing, go here, or call us at 717-369-4539.

/files/Camp Joy El Images/GuestGroupImages/entrance_Resized_170x227.jpg ***Is your group looking for a place to get alone with God? Camp Joy El serves groups like yours year-round! Learn more about our guest ministries: Guests. In fall and winter, our cabins, lodge rooms, and other buildings are heated for comfort. In summer, activities such as the swimming pool, climbing tower, archery and mini-golf open in June and are available through mid-September. Want to take a look around without the drive? Visit our website for a photo tour: Photo Tour. For more information and availability, contact Debbie at 717-369-4539, or email her at guestministries@joyel.org.

Ministry Spotlight: ============================/

/files/PublicationPhotos/Delores.jpg Delores Ray has volunteered in our Released Time Bible Program for about 15 or 16 years now. She says she’s lost count at this point the exact number, but Delores certainly hasn’t lost her enthusiasm for that ministry. She currently serves as a listener in Southern Fulton’s elementary RT program and as a helper with the middle school level CIA’s in that same school district. And, recently she has taken on the role of school coordinator for the new Released Time class recently planted at Hancock, Maryland.

Delores’ enthusiasm for Released Time helped establish the new Hancock class. She and others in Southern Fulton prayed for more than 2 years for God to open the doors to start a Released Time in Hancock. When she heard Joy El was planning to start a class there in her hometown, she began calling local churches to provide information about the program and to seek potential volunteers and a possible location. Her efforts were instrumental in the successful start up of Hancock, and continue today in its growth.

Hancock’s RT is now at 45 students—a phenomenal number for a new class—and it’s still growing. They recently had their Invite-A-Friend Day and 8 students who came as friends have continued on with the class. They are now seeing a need for more volunteers.

Delores’ love for the students is evident as she talks about her volunteer time spent with them. Her reason for her passion for RT and kids is simple. She says, "There’s nothing better in the world than bringing the gospel to young kids."

Practical Needs: ================================/

***As the Lord leads, would you consider helping advance God’s kingdom in the lives of children and teens through these practical ways?

Leaf vacuum/chipper
New go-kart
Lodge room carpeting
Mattresses for our lodge rooms and first aid station
Video editing software

Now you can donate online here: Donate. Or mail your gift to us at 3741 Joy-El Drive, Greencastle, PA 17225.

***Are you blessed with handyman skills or enjoy cleaning and organizing? Camp Joy El is in need of volunteers to serve in many areas but in particular in the following capacities:

What about office volunteering or data entry??
On our Monday morning ELVES crew. Our ELVES crew helps clean up and neaten the facilities after a busy weekend of retreats when guests have departed.
On our Tuesday maintenance volunteers crew. The maintenance crew assists our Maintenance Coordinator with maintaining the facilities to keep everything in working order.

These volunteer roles are excellent opportunities for retirees! If you or someone you know may be interested in helping, please contact steve@joyel.org 717-369-4539.

***Camp Joy El is in need of some volunteer groups to paint some of our cabins. If your group is looking for a local community service project, we’d love to hear from you. Email Steve Rice or call him at 717-369-4539.

Please Pray and Praise Him for: ======================/

Praise for the 237 children who have begun a relationship with Jesus from September 1^st to January 31st.

Pray that the many children who came to Released Time during Invite-A-Friend day will begin to attend RT classes regularly.

Pray for extraordinary attendance so God will reach many hearts at the Surge Connection (grades 9-12), and that God will use speaker Tom Harmon in a mighty way.

For more praise and prayer needs, see a complete list at: Top Ten Prayer.

Ministry Calendar: ================================/

Please check out our website for more details: www.joyel.org

All events occur at Camp Joy El unless noted otherwise.

Feb 12	Surge Discount Deadline		Click to register
Feb 19-21	Surge Connection	Fri-Sun	More Info Here
Feb 26-27	CIA & Chi Alpha Overnighter	Fri-Sat	More Info Here
Feb 26	Energizer Discount Deadline		Click to register
Mar 5-7	Energizer Connection	Fri-Sat	More Info Here
Mar 11	Barnabas Fusion Event		Contact Stephanie
Mar 12	York County Celebration Banquet	6:30 PM
Mar 16	CIA Special Event
Mar 18	RT Camp Time (Summitview, Mowery)
Mar 23	RT Camp Time (Greencastle, Maugansville)
Mar 25	RT Camp Time (Spring Forge, Forbes Rd, Hancock, St. Thomas)
Mar 26	Lancaster County Celebration Banquet	6:30 PM
Mar 31	Summer Camp Final Discount Deadline		Register Here
Apr 2-4	Summer Leadership Team Weekend
Apr 16	Father-Daughter Discount Deadline		Click to register
Apr 17	Camp Work Day	8 AM – 12 noon
Apr 23-25	Father-Daughter Connection	Fri-Sat	More Info Here
Apr 23	Father-Son Discount Deadline		Click to register
Apr 30-May 2	Father-Son Adventure Weekend	Fri-Sat	More Info Here
May 4	Franklin/Fulton/Washington Celebration Luncheon	12 noon
May 8	Camp Work Day	8 AM – 12 noon
May 15	Camp Work Day	8 AM – 12 noon

For more information on our Connection weekends, click here.

For more information on our summer camps, click here.