view the latest newsletter

Silver Birch Ranch
N6120 Sawyer Lake Rd.
White Lake, WI 54491
Be Our Guest
Jan. 1-3
Reedsburg Winterfest
Sacred Heart Church
Trinity Baptist Church
Faith Community Church
Chicago Tabernacle
Village Church Jr. High
Northwestern Girl Scouts
St. John Lutheran
Aspinal Family Dish Crew
NBI Student Dishcrew
Reedsburg, WI
Reedsburg, WI
Reedsburg, WI
Ft. Atkinson, WI
Chicago, IL
Gurnee, IL
Pearson, WI
Reedsburg, WI
Waukegan, IL
Jan. 8-10
Second Congregational Church
Oostburg CRC Cadets
Council Life Student Min.
First Baptist Church Men
Oshkosh Community Church
White Lake Boys Dish Crew
Rockford, IL
Oostburg, WI
Aurora, IL
Peshtigo, WI
Oshkosh, WI
White Lake, WI
Jan. 15 – 17
Bonduel Middle School
First Ev. Free Church
River Valley Community
Wesley United Methodist
Harvest Bible Chapel
West Suburban Community
Weber Family Dish Crew
Bonduel, WI
Rockford, IL
Rockford, IL
Bloomington, IL
Naperville, IL
Elmhurst, IL
Buffalo Grove, IL
Jan. 21 – 24
Antigo Middle School
Community United Methodist
Village Church of Gurnee
Prairie River Middle School
Baptist Tabernacle Church
Wausau Bible Church
Snow Camp - Come To Life Ministries
Stensbergs and Friends Dish Crew
Antigo, WI
Cedarburg, WI
Gurnee, IL
Merrill, WI
Kenosha, WI
Wausau, WI
Aurora, IL
Antigo, WI
Jan. 29 - 31
Spirit of Life Church
Faith Ev. Free Church
Hope Community Church
Living Hope Church
Calvary Community Church
Lombard Christian Reformed
Bill Harrington Dish Crew
Fond du Lac, WI
Manitowoc, WI
Shawano, WI
Green Bay, WI
Williams Bay, WI
Lombard, IL
Manitowoc, WI
Page 6
Feb. 4 - 7
Winter Jam
Winneconne Christian Fell.
SBR
Winneconne, WI
Feb. 11 - 14
Father/Chid Snow Camp
White Lake School
Cornerstone Community
Converge
School Outdoor Adventure
Wheaton, IL
White Lake, WI
Brookfield, WI
Palos Heights, IL
Byron, IL
Feb. 19 – 21
Northbrook Jr./Sr. High
Richfield, WI
First United Methodist Church Ft. Atkinson, WI
Faith Church
Manitowoc, WI
Elmbrook Church
Brookfield, WI
Redeemer Men
Plymouth, WI
Antigo Comm. Church DC
Antigo, WI
Feb. 25 - 28
The Well
Antigo Community Church
Antigo, WI
Antigo, WI
Feb. 25 - 28
Bridge Point Church
River Valley Church
Spirit of Life Church
Grace Reformed Church
Grace Christian Church
Trinity Ev. Free Church DC
March 3 - 6
Grace Point Church
Wheaton Ev. Free Church
Life Church
Bethel Community Church
Christian Life Fellowship
Salvation Army Inner City Impact DC
Green Bay, WI
Shawano, WI
Fond du Lac, WI
Fond du Lac, WI
Fond du Lac, WI
Naperville, IL
Wheaton, IL
Wheaton, IL
Chicago, IL
Port Edwards, WI
Wauwatosa, WI
Cicero, IL
March 11 – 13
Adoption Family Camp
SBR
Antigo Comm. Church DC Antigo, WI
Mark Your Calendar - 2016 Dates
WRR Blended Family
Couples’ Retreat
January 15-17, 2016
Digging Deeper
February 19-21, 2016
WRR Songwriters’ Retreat
March 3-5, 2016
WRR The Art of Marriage
Newlywed Edition
March 11-13, 2016
Adoption Family Retreat
March 11-13, 2016
Do Your Own Thing
April 7-10, 2016
AOM Couples’ Retreat
April 15-17, 2016
Ladies’ Retreat 1
September 9-11, 2016
Re-engage Couples’ Retreat
April 22-24, 2016
Ladies’ Retreat 2
September 16-18, 2016
Spring Men’s Retreat
May 13-15, 2016
Fall Men’s Retreat
October 7-9, 2016
Mother / Daughter
Retreat
May 20-22, 2016
Father / Son Retreat
October 21-23, 2016 *
SBR Summer Camps
June 4 - Aug 12, 2016
Christian Homeschool
Retreat
August 25-28, 2016
Father / Daughter Retreat
October 28-30, 2016 *
* Dates Subject to Change
Visit SBR website to confirm.
This Issue Uniquely Positioned
By Dave Wager
Uniquely Positioned
PG. 1
SBR Summer Camp
PG. 2
NBI Missions Trip
PG. 3
Helping Families
PG. 4
Canadian Adventure
PG. 4
The Cycle of Life...
Or Buildings
PG. 5
Be Our Guest
PG. 6
God has done and is doing amazing things on the
grounds of Silver Birch Ranch. What a thrill is it
to be a part of something that is much bigger than
we can even imagine. This coming summer will
be our 49th summer camping season. That means
those 8 year old campers who were with us in year
one would be 41 years old. Many of those early
campers, if they still live in the Midwest, seem to
send their kids to camp, and some of the older
campers and counselors in the first year are getting ready to send their grandchildren to camp.
ward to seeing your video. We encourage you to
work on and send your video early, so we can start
making a file of stories we can share throughout
our 50th year.
Silver Birch Ranch throughout the years has not
been a perfect place, but it has been a place that
has been dedicated to knowing Christ and making Him known. We have been blessed with an
experienced staff, ideal location, and rich spiritual heritage. Our current staff will be working to
set the stage for future generations to see God’s
faithfulness. In human terms, Silver Birch Ranch
does not make sense. The ministry was started
by a pastor in a local church in the Chicago area
(Richard Wager), on a borrowed down payment,
To think that Silver Birch Ranch has been able to and less than a shoestring budget. The work was
be a constant for all these years is a real thrill. In tough, the hours were long, and the many trips
fact, while we are preparing for our 49th summer, were exhausting. Yet, the fruit has been abundant.
we have one eye on our 50th and the celebration
we hope to have throughout the entire summer As we turn to look backwards in order to clearly
camping season. We are uniquely positioned to see God, we must also turn and look forward in
show God’s gracious hand over the past 50 years, order to set the stage for the next generation to
and are currently planning the official “party” to see and experience God as clearly as we have been
take place during the family camp session in the privileged to do. There is much work yet to do,
summer (2017) that takes place over the July 4th and we will be looking for new partnerships to
holiday week. (Nothing is carved in stone, yet… help make the work manageable and put us on
but we’re so excited about it that we want you to solid ground.
be thinking ahead.)
First and foremost, we would ask our friends and
We invite you to help us make this celebration partners to spend some time thanking God for
special by inviting you to plan on joining us, as what He has done and is doing. Then, we ask that
well as participating by sending us a short video you ask God what He would have you do to partclip of how God used Silver Birch Ranch in your ner with us to show who God is for the next 50
life in a positive way. Videos, these days, are easy years. We still have some buildings that need to
to take and send, so please join the many who will be replaced, dorms that need building, and staff
use their story to show God’s faithfulness to them we need to care for.
while attending Silver Birch Ranch. We look forContinued on page 5
Page 1
Continued from page 1
THE SHOWDOWN!
Summer 2016
Even though we are surrounded by snow, ice, and plenty of broomball , summer is always on the mind. Plans and preparations are already underway for Summer 2016. We would love for you to partner with us as we pray for the hundreds of young people, counselors,
and families who will visit camp this summer. We are looking forward to all that God has in store for each week. Hopefully you will be
able to join us as Silver Birch Ranch jumps back to the Wild West to present The Showdown. Please check out www.sbrsummer.org if
you are interested in camping, volunteering, or even counseling. So grab your cowboy hats as we look forward to seeing you this summer for The Showdown.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
The needs seem to never diminish, yet as the Silver Birch Ranch family increases, the
burden should lighten as each of those who have been cared for share in the responsibility of keeping these gates open. In the end, we can thank people for their choice
to participate, but we praise God for His faithfulness.
Chapel Construction Costs
$ Any Amount up to $125,000
As I think of Silver Birch Ranch and try to look back and understand what He has
done, the following Scripture comes to mind.
Chapel Audio, Visual, and Lighting
Equipment
$ Any Amount up to $50,000
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.
Amen.
(Romans 11:33-36 ESVST)
That pretty much summarizes it. May He be glorified in this place this year and for
many years to come.
The Cycle of Life... Or Buildings
God has continued to supply the needs of our new Chapel building, and although we
are not completely finished paying the bills for this beautiful building, we were able
to begin using it late August, and are using it now every weekend. In fact, there was a
group in the Chapel, on October 30, when a fire broke out across the road and consumed our entire maintenance building (auto/wood/maintenance shops and storage)
in a matter of moments. We were thankful no one was hurt, and God immediately
supplied some urgent needs as we were able to quickly construct a new temporary
maintenance building while we work on plans, state approval, and insurance settlement for rebuilding our permanent shop. We are thankful for the love and partnership expressed by many, as this altered our plans, but was obviously in line with God’s
planning. We invite you to keep watching and partnering with us as God cares for His
work, His way.
Auto Shop Equipment
Mechanic Tools, Auto Parts and
Heavy Equipment
Wood Shop Equipment
Planer, Drill Press, Band Saw,
Etc.
Maintenance Material
Ladders, Pipe, Wiring, Outlets,
Paint, Insulation, Etc.
Housekeeping Items
Light Bulbs, Extension Cords,
Toilet Paper, and Storage Bins
Snow Tubes (replacements)
$100 ea
High Pressure Compressor for
Paintball
$6,000
Dual Power Refrigerators for
Canadian Adventure
$6,000
Ski Boat
$15,000
Trying to think of a way to help the ministry of
Silver Birch Ranch? The above list includes the
top ten items the staff feels could help them in
their ministry. If you can help with one of these
items, please contact us at 715.484.2742.
Note: There are always needs that we need to cover
from our general fund, so gifts given to meet the
greatest needs of the moment are always welcome.
Silver Birch Ranch is a 501 (c) (3) organization. All
gifts are tax-deductible and are appreciated. If you
are interested in finding out about other ways to
support the ministry of Silver Birch Ranch, please
contact our President, Dave Wager. Once again,
thanks for your support!
Page 2
Page 5
Helping Families Grow Together at The Wolf River Refuge! - By Steve Tice
NBI Missions Trip to Tennessee By Rachel Stevens (SBR Intern)
For the fourth year in a row, a group of NBI students went to serve at Lighthouse Christian Camp in Smithville, Tennessee for nine
days shortly after Thanksgiving. Lighthouse Christian Camp is a ministry for youth who otherwise could not afford to go to camp.
Each child is sponsored to go to camp for a week to learn about Jesus’ love and sacrifice for all.
“We sat and read the Bible together as a family in a place where we could see God’s creation outside. We were able to talk together
about the Bible more. It is always good to spend time as a family, but to not have distractions makes it more meaningful.” “I spoke to
my children.” “They ranked it as one of the best family times we have had in a long time. No one wanted to leave.”
These are comments from a family who chose to spend some quality and quantity time with each other at the Wolf River Refuge. What
a joy it was for us to look out near the edge of the woods and see two of their children, sticks in hand, exploring the eight acres of the
WRR. Seeing the dad and his kids headed to the river to see if they could catch a trout or small mouth bass encouraged us that families
will use the WRR to make lifetime memories. As you read their comments, it is obvious that their time spent was of great value to them.
Family time spent with the intention of encouraging Godliness in your children will help them the rest of their lives. We have found
a real value in encouraging families to use the Wolf River Refuge for family-building. We believe in it so much that we have written
material that can be used by your family to keep God in the center of your visit. Along with that resource, we have compiled a list of
local attractions that your family can enjoy to enhance your visit. Whether your family enjoys outdoor sports, unique small town tourist shopping, museum visits, backcountry hiking, or just a trip to the local Walmart to get the sounds and smells of the city, we think
you will love a stay with us. New for 2016, we are encouraging affordable family vacations at the Wolf River Refuge. Imagine a week
or just a few days in the northwoods with the sights and sounds of just your family. You can enjoy campfires, walks along our one-mile
trail, sand volleyball, meals together, time to talk about how God cares about each of you, and even several different geocache courses
discovering some of the area’s unique places. If you are interested in more information about planning a family adventure at the Wolf
River Refuge, contact us at info@wolfriverrefuge.org.
We partnered again this year with Faith in Action, Appleton, WI, which has been going to Lighthouse for 12 years. I went along with
nine NBI students, and our group consisted of 26 total workers, from young children all the way up to grandparents. While we were
there we had three main work projects. Like every other year, our biggest project, and main goal, was to help get the gym ready for
the girls’ Christmas party at the end of the week.
For the Christmas party the camp invited girls who had come to camp anytime in the last two years to come and bring a family
member who was six years old or older. They were given the opportunity to give and receive Christmas presents, some for the first
time in their lives. About 400 girls came and got to purchase gifts for their families with play money that was given to them, as well
as hear the Christmas story and participate in fun Christmas activities. It was incredible to see the hearts that the staff had for these
girls, and also the genuine joy and selflessness the girls had as many would shop for everyone but themselves. It was truly a privilege
to see what God was doing through Lighthouse Christian Camp and watch the NBI students, the staff, and the girls be blessed by
the work that was accomplished.
Alumni Update - Where Are They Now ? Peter “Petey” Crowley
When I was a junior in high school, I really had no idea what I wanted to do after graduation. While
I was volunteering at SBR that summer, I heard that there was a one-year Bible program with all
Bible classes, including an internship at camp the following summer, and I knew that’s what I
wanted to do. I wanted to have my own faith and discover God for myself. Up until that point, I
had always just believed what my church believed, but I wanted more than just going through the
motions.
Through my year at NBI (’09-’10), I not only learned more about Scripture and about God, but I
grew tremendously in discovering who I was as a person. I learned to love others and to empathize
with them in their struggles. The summer internship was one of the best summers of my life. I made
so many friendships that shaped me even more into the person who I am today. My relationship with
Jesus grew even more as I learned to serve and love as He has loved us.
After NBI, I eventually landed at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and I recently graduated with
a Communications degree in May of 2015. I married Kenzie Ellis in August of 2015, and I am currently
the Auxiliary Worship Leader at Christ Community Church in St. Charles, IL. The things I learned at NBI
have helped me greatly with my role as a Worship Leader, especially in having compassion for others and caring about their
own personal walks with Christ.
Page 3
Along with this new offering at the Wolf River Refuge, we have been busy hosting many different activities. We have hosted a group
from a local church planning their couples’ ministry for the year, a ladies’ group doing their annual planning, a church board outing, a
group of men praying for their church, people taking time to listen to God through prayer and meditation on God’s Word, people praying for the ministry of the Wolf River Refuge, people meeting with God and with SBR staff to talk about struggles in which they need
some support, hunters enjoying the northwoods and taking time to honor God in their adventure, and pastors and their wives taking a
much needed break. As you can see, the Wolf River Refuge is a multi-use facility. God is using this facility and we are looking forward
to how He will use it into the future!
Finally, we have four events that will be held at the Wolf River Refuge this winter/spring. Perhaps one of these events will meet a need
in your life. We would love to serve you! Registration information can be found on our website at www.wolfriverrefuge.org. We would
love to serve you at the Wolf River Refuge!
•
•
•
•
Blended Family Couples’ Retreat: Jan. 15-17
Digging Deeper: Feb. 19-21 (A retreat that gives you the tools to dig deeper into God’s Word)
Songwriters’ Retreat: March 3-5
The Art of Marriage- Newlywed Edition-1-5 years: March 11-13
Canadian Adventure Camp - 2016 - By Steve Tice
God’s plans are so amazing. A year ago we wondered if the ministry of Canadian Adventure
was coming to an end. Was the summer of 2015 the last time that people would experience
God’s creation in a setting that is unparalleled in the Midwest? Would we make our last hike
up Mt. Sinai, our 650’ rock face that looks out over 35 miles of amazing Canadian Wilderness? Would it be the last time that groups got to stand under a 200’ waterfall with utter
delight amazed at the sights and sounds of water that will not stop as gravity pulls it to the
river below? Would so many other activities at CA become just memories with no hope of repeating those special times because CA no
longer existed? Not a chance! God, in His wisdom and grace, has preserved CA. Not only has He preserved it, but He has encouraged
more people than ever before to register for CA for the summer of 2016.
The entire ministry of Canadian Adventure serves to remind us that God can do amazing things. He uses hard things to show His amazing power, faithfulness, and love. He continues to remind us that He is in control of all things. We invite you to see what we are talking
about by taking an Adventure with us and seeing and feeling God’s greatness along the banks of the Montreal River. Contact me at
steve.tice@canadianadventurecamp.org, and I will help you set up a life-changing Adventure at the place we call Canadian Adventure!
Page 4