Fathers and Sons Build Relationships at
Jenness Park
By Jennifer Lloyd
Do you want to stay the way you are, or do you want
to be transformed by Jesus? This thought provoking
question was posed by speaker Steve Diehl to the fathers
and sons who attended the 2008 Father/Son retreat at Jenness
Park on the first weekend of May. Diehl challenged the
fathers and sons to, Learn to cooperate with God
to be transformed into Christ's likeness. It is only thorough
this process that we have hope in the difficult circumstances
of the world.
The men and boys were challenged to grow in their relationships
with each other and with God. Barry Lloyd, the Program
Coordinator for the Father/son retreat said, Fathers
and sons build relationships by worshipping together and
by being active together. We try to plan services and activities
that will promote fellowship.
During free time, the men and boys participated in activities
like playing paintball, flying on the newly constructed
giant swing, jousting in an inflatable jousting ring, and
building race cars.
Several of the families who attended, have participated
in the Father/Son retreat for multiple years.
The Tuck family included three generations. Dr. Russell
Tuck, son Russell, and grandson Daniel have been coming
to the Jenness Park Father/Son retreat for eleven years.
The trio joked about the expectations for the paintball
contest. Russell commented, Last year the fathers
whipped the sons. This year the sons are out for revenge. The
senior Tuck joked, Last time I forgot my long-sleeved
shirt. Someone loaned me one, but it was red. This year
I remembered my gray shirt. Someone else can wear the red
shirt!
Terry Veiga brought his sons Wesley and Gavin to the retreat.
They all jumped from the Leap of Faith and swung on the
giant swing. Terry remarked, My sons and I do sports
and community activities together, but this retreat is
unique. We are around people who share our Christian values.
Faith in Christ is reinforced. I'm trying to make this
a tradition with my boys. We've been coming for four years.
A weekend like this takes a great amount of preparation.
For the week prior to the retreat, a group of 32 volunteers
from Fellowship in the Pass Church of Beaumont helped prepare
the camp. In that group, two sets of fathers and sons contributed
their labor and expertise. Danny Savolainen and his father
in law, Ray Sothern, painted the entire exterior of the
dinning hall. Mike McCafferty along with his seventy-six
year-old father, Pat, built an interior wall for the nurse's
station. Mike commented, My dad's fun to work with.
There is never a dull moment with him. Besides, he's got
all the tools we need in his truck!
Whether through building, playing, worshipping, or praying,
these fathers and sons enjoyed each other and were challenged
to experience the changing power of Christ. The 2009 Father/Son
retreat is scheduled for the first weekend of May.
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