Ryan’s Reflections on
Rickman...

Summer greetings from the Rickman Center!

    As I am writing to you it is Monday morning; less than 24 hours since the final camp of the season pulled out of Rickman Center. A few tell-tale signs of campers remain: masking tape on the walls, the usual smattering of forgotten apparel, the occasional flashlight and the fading sidewalk chalk-drawings of welcome and multiple declarations of Christ’s love. Although the sun is shining and the heat wave has broken (for the day, anyway), without the laughter, singing and joyful greetings of campers and counselors, things around Rickman feel a little empty.

    NEOLA (Northeast and Ozark Lakes Areas) camps were a tremendous success once again this year. Thanks to the gifts, skills and committed leadership of Martha Jolly, Northeast Area Minister to Youth, our children and youth experienced Christ, fellowship and spiritual growth as they participated in one of the eight camps offered here at Rickman Center. Martha’s enthusiastic spirit was quite evident in the leadership of NEOLA’s three program staffers (Amy Fisher, Emily Viers and Josh Barnickol), the camp directors and the volunteer who gave their time to provide leadership for our youth.

    I also want to commend my Rickman Center staff for their “second mile” efforts and commitment in providing loving, personalized and heart-felt service to all who enjoyed Rickman’s facilities this summer. Mary Vida, Rickman’s Coordinator, is really a “renaissance woman,” whose joy and willingness to meet our guests’ needs was and is a gift to all who meet her. In the kitchen, Martha Love and Sara Walz worked tirelessly to provide quality food, personalized service and an abundance of smiles. As is our practice each summer, we employ two part-time staff members to serve as lifeguards and kitchen staff. I couldn’t have chosen two finer young women than Katie Lofton and Sara Amick, who served most willingly. And finally, the men behind the scenes: Jeff Silvey and Brian Hayes. Together, these two men, with the help of Community Service volunteers, coordinate and complete the daily and long-term maintenance needed for Rickman’s 17 buildings and 200 acres! Amazing!!

    Finally, my thanks to all of you, the members of Mid-America’s 288 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations. It is thanks to you that Rickman Center continues to exist to provide a quality environment where Christ is encountered, faith-seeds are planted and life-long relationships are born.

Please continue to support Rickman Center prayerfully and financially.

Sincerely,

Bill Ryan, Director

Rickman Conference Center

CLICK HERE

FOR REGISTRATION AND GIFT FORM

(PDF file format—you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the file.)