Shalom Camp 2011

Landmark achievement - through both trials and joys, Shalom camp is back on our program! Friday supper was served in the wee hours of Saturday morning – prepared by only the finest and most daring chefs UCSF has yet known (Kinah is of special mention). We owe this supper-breakfast (which I will refer to here as superb) to logistical challenges in transport arrangements (we miss the old red van, and the high powered VW kombi); though not something that could significantly dampen the traditional camp fever. In typical UCSF fashion, our camp can be said to have begun somewhere along the way to Shalom, with much jubilant song and drumming.

It is Saturday morning, just after superb, and things are already underway. Under the careful and humorous instruction of our camp master (Size Eliah) and mistress (Yvette Chahwanda), we are introduced yet again to the camp theme “Serving Christ” and what remains of the Camp program. In three balanced groups, we retired for the morning, to rise again to a bright and hot Saturday. The breakfast team was already at work in the kitchen and so was every other group settling for their devotionals. Our morning devotions were centered on the 8th Chapter of Romans, covering the first four verses on Saturday morning, and stretching from there-on to verses 11 on the morning of Sunday. This was strategic for the group which has been looking at the book of Romans already in its weekly Friday bible studies. Gathering from the feedback, the devotionals were a life-changing encounter with the word of God.

After breakfast, Lennon served us with our first camp Talk on Salvation, which sought to expose the biblical fundamentals of “being saved” - as an act of grace, and a response in faith to the work of Christ. Similarly, Simbarashe presented the second talk after lunch which focused on Baptism as an essential component of the individual's relationship with Christ and with the community of faith – the church. As an integral part of the camp's theme, and building from the previous talks, Willard made a follow-through with a talk on Spiritual Gifts touching on areas such as their nature, source, and their use in the context of Church. This led to Amos' final Talk on Sunday morning which gave an exposition of the subject of Love as seen in the Scriptures: how it is to be understood, experienced and lived out. These were complemented by discussions on particular questions which arose from the talks and followed by moments of prayer.

The music team, lead by Barbara and Simbarashe, were exceptional in ushering the group in song before and after the talks. Songs relevant to the camp theme of Serving Christ were selected and complemented the teaching ministries.

Our activities were emphasized by an energetic Samantha who led the portion of “games and activities” on the program. In our groups, we were challenged to a “sweet and sweat” inducing game of chair-ball, followed by something very akin to beach volley-ball. Indoor mini soccer was also a highlight of the activities. Shalom is indeed a breathtaking playground with an assortment of outdoor activities. Of mention is the fooffy-slide and water-slide some 300m from the base. Our team of happy-campers had their share of this too. Saturday evening would not have been worthwhile had the traditional bonfire been missed. Despite being a late night activity, it registered a hundred percent attendance rate, and gave all an opportunity to reveal the camp-long 'game' of Angels and Mortals, a 'game' which is meant to foster relationships with the view of discipleship. The fire burned till Sunday morning, with shrills of giggles and laughter punctuating discussions and games alike. Come Sunday, what was meant to be a tour of the dam turned out to be a splashing and water-dipping activity that sealed the Sunday program on activities.

The stand out feature of Shalom campsite - a massive granite kopje (hill) that rears brooding over the campsite was the venue of our last camp talk. There, on top of the kopje is a stone altar with a bronze plaque inserted, bearing the words “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my strength” (Psalm 121:1). As Andrew Grant put; “Surely there would be fewer more spectacular scenes for these words to grace.”

All in all, in the words of our camp master - the program was a compact-sized one, which was wide enough to cover a broad spectrum and yet pin-point the various areas of people's lives that needed confronting and ministering to by the Word. Indeed this is one camp we will never ever... Well executed guys!

By S. Manyureni (See the photo gallery for more pics)

Calendar 2010 - 2011

Second Semester

February

Friday 18th - Prayer evening

Friday 25th - Introduction to Romans

March

Friday 4th - First Romans study

Friday 11th - Second Romans study

Friday 18th - Camp at Shalom. "Serving Christ"

Friday 25th - Talk "What is true success?"

April

Friday 1st - Third Romans study

Friday 8th - Fourth Romans study

Friday 15th - Talk "Evangelism"

Friday 22nd - Fifth Romans study

Friday 29th -Sixth Romans study

May

Friday 6th - Prayer evening

Transition progress

Since UCSF was weaned off by the Bulawayo Presbyterian Church at end of August 2010, on the grounds of limited funds, the UCSF leadership team has been working on a plan to re-establish the student ministry as a para-church organisation. This has been a challenging process yet worth every effort and dime that has been invested in securing various resources which are strategic to the continuation of the ministry.

When UCSF’s doors closed, the ministry lost the Manse, a house which belongs to the Presbyterian Church which the church repossessed for its own use. This house was housing UCSF female students as part of its discipleship program. The guys’ house, the Den, was put in the process of transfer back into the hands of its owner with intentions to market it out to the public for either lease or sale. Over and above these key facilities, UCSF lost the financial support that it was getting from the church which catered for staff salaries and other ministry expenses. Key ministry expenses included fuel, housing, and camping expenses. However, except for the fuel and staff salaries, the other ministry expenses were not all covered in full by the church, but shortfalls over and above the rents, camp fees and other contributions which were made by UCSF member students.

Although UCSF stood to lose so much, not everything was lost. UCSF continues to benefit from the love and spiritual support of the Presbyterian Church plus the freedom to use the church premises for meetings as before. The church has also been so generous to continue to support the Students Worker with a living allowance while he continues to study at the Theological College of Zimbabwe.

In light of the above, the first step that was taken by the ministry leadership with the mind to re-establish UCSF was to secure the Den (guys’ accommodation). The acquisition was successful but it came at a price because a financial commitment was required to ensure rental payments just at the time when students were going on holiday and there was not going to be any rental income coming over the four months holiday. This financial backing has continued to sustain the house as it has not yet filled to capacity and as a result not generating enough income. The house has not filled up, partly because the ministry has not been running, which served to draw the right kind of students into the accommodation, and also because the rentals have had to increase by about 50% as there is no longer housing support, and this has been a deterrent.

As a second measure, efforts have been made to call on all UCSF alumni to come in and support UCSF. The alumni have been working together to establish a UCSF trust fund through which donations can be made for UCSF, and also to help manage the ministry finances. This is a much anticipated development by the ministry team which would help alleviate some logistical and accountability challenges which are currently at hand. Many thanks for the great job done so far by the alumni in keeping the UCSF Alumni group on Facebook buzzing and other communications going.

Thirdly, many thanks go to the Kuttners, UCSF’s former ministry coordinators. Their passion for student ministry and in particular, UCSF, has been the linking thread in all the efforts being made by the various teams to see to the resuscitation of UCSF. There have been UCSF’s voice of appeal to the international community and they have really poured their hearts out for UCSF’s plight. In October 2010, the Kuttners managed to set up a meeting for UCSF, represented by Willard Mudzimiri the last standing ministry coordinator, with Fritz who is the current director of Student Y in South Africa. The meeting was fruitful and indicated a possibility for Student Y to partner with UCSF in the process of getting it back on its feet.

A key factor in re-establishing UCSF has been the issue of finding a ministry coordinator. The ministry coordinator would often be at the heart of any proposal or application for financial support for such a ministry as he would be responsible for all ministry operations. Ideally the UCSF team has been looking for a self funded couple with a sound theological background and a heart for students. In this regard, some progress has been made in identifying a potential candidate who would possibly be available for this position in March 2011 at the earliest, but no commitment has been secured yet. In the mean time, Willard Mudzimiri is keen and available to act in this position until August 2011, beyond which his presence in Bulawayo is uncertain.

Over and above the ministry coordinator, UCSF still has the commitment of its students worker Lennon Mazonde, who is currently dwelling in the guys residence and running the discipleship program therein. The ministry has also had a number of its members returning from attachment for their final year at NUST plus a number of other members from various tertiary institutions in Bulawayo. This remnant has had occasions to meet for much longed-for fellowship, and updates on progress being made to restore ministry operations. It has really been a very sad chapter in the life of UCSF to have gone through a whole semester without the ministry in operation.

It is the UCSF team’s greatest hope and deep desire that the current efforts being made to revive UCSF can attract the greatest financial and spiritual support from those who have gone through its doors. Some significant progress has been made to achieving this goal yet there’s still more to be done. UCSF’s friends and supporters from abroad have been a great pillar of strength. Their financial and spiritual support has kept the ministry afloat at times when our hearts have been willing but our resources limiting. Indeed the ministry has thrived on their love and consideration. May the Lord who started this work continue to sustain it for His glory through the humble services and sacrifices that so many of you have made and still hope to make.