 For a century, laughter, prayer, and community have filled the pines and shores of Camp House in northern Minnesota. Founded in 1923 by railroad employees seeking rest from the grueling work of the Iron Range, the site has grown into a sacred gathering place for thousands who have discovered faith, friendship, and renewal on the banks of Lake George. The camp’s early years were modest — pine-branch mattresses, meals cooked over an oil stove, and a few repurposed logging cabins. Yet from those simple beginnings, families quickly recognized the beauty and peace of this wilderness setting. That spirit of joy and discovery became the heartbeat of Camp House. Last month, dozens gathered on site to mark the camp’s 100th anniversary. Former counselors reconnected with campers they had led in the 1960s, stories were told around the table, and a celebratory meal was shared. Through it all, a common thread ran: gratitude for the generations who kept Camp House alive. In his remarks, Travis Aufderheide, Executive Director, reminded attendees of their role in the ongoing story. “Each generation has been entrusted with a portion of the story. None of us carries it alone. We are entrusted with the care of this sacred ground—not to keep it exactly as it was, but to guard its spirit, to tend its ministry, and to hand it forward in strength and hope.” Camp House has faced closures and rebirths, from church transitions in the 1960s to a full restoration in the 1990s led by volunteers with hammers, paintbrushes, and prayers. Today, it stands once more as a place where faith takes root, friendships form, and lives are renewed. As the camp looks ahead, the celebration affirmed one truth: God’s story here is still unfolding. a grand celebrationThank you to everyone who joined us in August to celebrate 100 years of Camp House! Former campers, staff, neighbors, and friends gathered in worship, storytelling, music, and fellowship. The weekend was a beautiful reminder of why Camp House has long been a sacred place of rest and renewal in God’s Northwoods. Moments of praise, prayer, and music filled Camp House with gratitude as we gathered to thank God for a century of ministry. Friends from across generations reunited to share stories, laugh together, and remember their time at Camp House. From sunrise to sunset, Camp House’s Northwoods beauty reminded us of God’s gift of creation.
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As we celebrate the 100th year anniversary of Camp House, we take a moment to look back at the site’s incredible history. From the site’s first days, through a number of transitions and now as part of Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, Camp House has been supported and treasured by many generations who saw Camp House for what it is: a sacred, holy, unique opportunity to find rest and renewal in God’s beautiful Northwoods. Read the full history of Camp House and its 100 years of ministry. Camp House’s doors remained closed in 1992. The Lutheran Camp Board was in financial distress, and could not operate their sites: Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp in New London and Camp House near Brimson. A merger was proposed with the Lutheran Camp Board and Green Lake Bible Camp, due to the proximity of the sites in Kandiyohi County and the success Green Lake Bible Camp had seen in outdoor ministry. A group of consultants formed an audit and evaluation team to evaluate the possibility and feasibility of this merger in May of 1992. This team was led by Mark Burkhardt, Specialist for Outdoor Ministries, Ralph Yernberg, Executive Director of Crossways Lutheran Camping Ministries and Duane Hanson, Executive Director of Bethel Horizons. They acted as mediators, researchers, dreamers, and advisors for both parties. For the Lutheran Camp Board, merging with Green Lake Bible Camp would give their sites and campers a chance to continue camping at these beloved sites, with new leadership, a solid base of operation, and a strong reputation. For Green Lake Bible Camp, this merger would allow their ministry to grow and expand, while they were currently bound by their physical locations and resources. It would allow the ministry to be more dynamic and diverse in its offerings, in ways not otherwise feasible. Most importantly, for both parties, this meant that God’s love could continue to be shared at all sites involved, and campers would be able to continue visiting their beloved camps. While this was a promising and exciting idea, this would not be easy. The evaluation team found that the Camp House site in particular was in need of major repairs. This assessment was confirmed by a group of outdoor ministry professionals during a visit to Camp House. Team members included Jerry Olstad, Art Vorhes, Paul Fjore, Ron Nielsen, Milt Krona, Loren Teig and Paul Halverson. Camp House would need a major financial commitment to rebuild and renovate the camp site. In his reflections on this time, Roy Eliason shared, “Not only were the buildings in various states of disrepair, but all permits, licenses and grandfathered agreements had gone by the wayside.” Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp in New London was nearby and closer to operational standards. On October 1, 1992, Lutheran Camp Board merged with Green Lake Bible Camp, becoming what is now known as Green Lake Lutheran Ministries. It took some time for the Board of Directors and camp staff to live into this merger. Attention was again focused on Camp House in April of 1994, when Green Lake Bible Camp and Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp were operating at near capacities. The same evaluation team was hired to guide the next steps for Camp House and help determine what needed to be accomplished first. It was their consensus that many of the structures needed to be replaced or removed in order to safely support large numbers of campers. A plan was put into motion and volunteers showed up—with chainsaws, prayers, and hope. Beginning in the summer of 1995, volunteers accomplished projects in the summer months, paying $10 a day to help offset lodging and food costs. Guiding this building process were Erling Lundeen and Roy Eliason, two long time Green Lake Bible Camp staff members. Roy Eliason wrote “Volunteers were most instrumental in bringing back life to Camp House. They came in large groups, small groups, sometimes a couple or just one person but together they grew to hundreds of volunteers who labored thousands of hours to accomplish a mission. To these volunteers goes the credit for putting Camp House back to where it could again function as a camp for people of all ages, and our everlasting thanks is offered.”
It wasn’t just volunteers that helped out at Camp House. As Roy Eliason wrote, “Plans were also made to make connections with all the government agencies from the township, county and state that had to be made in order to once again reach compliance. It turned out that all these agencies were pretty cooperative. They assisted us with paperwork, documents, permits, zoning issues and so forth and met us on site whenever necessary. It seems everyone was anxious to see Camp House back in operation.” The tales of this time are hard to describe any other way than heartwarming. The memories shared are marked by feelings of joy, exhaustion, excitement, and hope. Hundreds of volunteers, old and young, from all over the state of Minnesota, tackled everything from demolishing, building, remodeling, laying new foundations, sanding, painting, staining, varnishing, plumbing work, electrical work, shingling, and so much cleaning. Erling Lundeen documented his memories from when a small but mighty group of volunteers raised the main lodge building and repaired the foundation, and said it best: “We realized that God was in charge and we were the workers. Since it was part of God’s plan, we couldn’t fail. If it had been ours alone, we would have failed long before now (...) The only thing this group of volunteers had in common was that we were convinced that this was God’s camp. He was the architect and we were going to work under His direct guidance.”  It wasn’t all work - there was some play! Rodney and Darlene Yarger and Bryce and Dorothy Wolle were among the many volunteers, and remembered “We had time for R & R. The fishing was usually pretty good, but you couldn’t leave the fish in the lake. Bryce lost some of his fish to a snapping turtle!” In typical camp fashion, coffee and cookies were served at 10:00 every morning, and campfires were enjoyed every evening. There was no doubt that the Holy Spirit was moving with and amongst them.   A grand reopening was held on July 14, 2001 and Camp House was reopened for summer programming. Around 150 attended the day with a hog roast, rededication service, tours, beach time and reminiscing. Since then, thousands of campers have attended summer camp, confirmation camps, fishing camps and family camps. Retreat groups have gone early in the spring to help open the site and late in the fall to help close the site. Ordinary Time, starting in 2024, has offered guests the chance to simply be at Camp House, enjoying the great Minnesota summers however they choose. There have been floods, sunshine, wildfires, droughts, meteor showers, sunshine and northern lights. There have been countless memories made, friendships forged, prayers answered, and faith lives nurtured. Camp House has been, and will continue to be, an amazing blessing. We are honored to celebrate these 100 years of ministry and excited to see what comes next! Were you part of the Camp House story? We’d love to hear from you. Share your memories, photos, and stories as we celebrate 100 years together. 100 Years of Camp House: A Story Worth Celebrating As we celebrate the 100th year anniversary of Camp House, we take a moment to look back at the site’s incredible history. From the site’s first days, through a number of transitions and now as part of Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, Camp House has been supported and treasured by many generations who saw Camp House for what it is: a sacred, holy, unique opportunity to find rest and renewal in God’s beautiful Northwoods. Read the full history of Camp House and its 100 years of ministry. By the 1960’s, thousands of campers had experienced “never-to-be-forgotten summers at Camp Francis E. House.” The Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range Railway (DM&IR) though, had begun to experience financial hardship and could not continue to manage Camp Francis E. House. In the March 1963 edition of the Missabe Iron Ranger Magazine, it was announced that Camp Francis E. House would soon be for sale. “Discontinuance of the camp as a portion of the employee activities sponsored by DM&IR was announced by President Daniel J. Smith recently. The camp has been operated for 39 seasons by DM&IR Employees Association with financial and other assistance of the company. (...) The joint holdings include some 80 acres of land and most of the shoreline of the lake, and the structures include seven sleeping cabins, a lodge, dining hall and kitchen, two handicraft buildings, boat house, administration quarters and other miscellaneous structures.”  During this same time, the Minnesota Synod of the Lutheran Church of America had launched a special study of camping and its impact on the synod. The church had previously established that summer camping was a profound and life-changing experience for youth, stating “The revelation of God to every soul is most important. This revelation of enlightenment is often an experience of the camper at a church Bible camp. With dedicated camp personnel from management, instruction, and counsel, this program has become an integral part of the Christian education program - not only for children but for maturing youth and adults as well. Nature as the setting with these experiences and studies centered in Christ is ideal for everyone included in our parish responsibility. This makes church-camping the challenge that it is.”  During their study, it was found that of the 38,000 youth who were eligible by age to attend a summer camp, only 7,000 were able to due to space limitations. The committee found that even if “any respectable percent of those 38,000 youngsters” were able to attend camp, they would have neither the space nor staff to be able to accommodate them in a single summer. The Lutheran Church of America was operating sites like Lutheran Lake Camp near Chisago City already, but there was no camp in northern Minnesota. Pastor Maynard Wellington saw these pieces coming together, and sparked the initial interest in Camp Francis E. House on behalf of the Lutheran Church of America. He organized a group of leaders to help solve arising problems and take the first steps, including Pastor Malcolm Gustafson, Pastor Joseph Dahlquist, Pastor Gerald Eisle, Phil Eckman, Dale Carlson and Hjalmer Laine (lead site maintenance for 46 years).  This small but mighty group secured the necessary $10,000 down payment from congregations in that area, and purchased Camp Francis E. House and its contents for just $40,000. A dedication service was held in June 1963, where 45 churches in the Duluth and Iron Range area were represented amongst 367 campers. A name change was considered, but ultimately decided against, as the committee wanted to continue to honor and celebrate the local residents who made Camp Francis E. House the special place that it was. Instead, the name was shortened to Camp House.  Beginning in 1964, the area churches managed Camp House under the direction of Dale Carlson. After some needed maintenance projects were completed, Lutheran Church Board ran it’s first season of programming at Camp House during the summer of 1964, serving 350 youth and their families, including canoe trips down the Cloquet River. Boys and girls were bused to Camp House from the Twin Cities, while local children were brought by their parents. Buildings were repaired and added, including a sauna, shower building with flush toilets, a bunk house for the canoe groups, and addition on the Dining Hall. Due to a shortage of funds, the head Minneapolis office for the Lutheran Church of America took over the management of the site. William Bahe became the full time Director of Camping in the Minnesota Synod in 1966, based out of Minneapolis in the Minnesota Church Center. In 1969, a switch to full-time staff was instituted. “The practice of weekly counseling staff provided by the congregations camping that week was inhibiting the growth of camping.” Camp House, along with the two other camps owned by the synod, were accredited by the American Camping Association, ensuring that the camp environment was as healthy and safe as could be. A scholarship program was created and shared widely in the summer camp brochure: “The cost of camping is expensive, but everything worthwhile usually is. We want every youth to be able to attend camp and no one is turned away because they can’t pay the entire fee.” By 1972, Camp House was able to serve nearly 1,200 campers a year. The next generations of campers were loving their time at camp, just as generations before, and learning about God’s overwhelming and abundant love for them.  In 1988, the Lutheran Church of America and the American Lutheran Church merged to create the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). In the process of merging, the Lutheran Camp Board of the Minnesota Synod drew up articles of incorporation and bylaws, becoming the Lutheran Camp Board of Minnesota, Inc. The Lutheran Camp Board continued to manage the sites, including Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp near New London and Camp House near Brimson. But, by 1992, Camp House had once again closed. The Lutheran Camp Board was in a difficult financial position and was looking for solutions to keep their camp sites open. The future of Camp House was uncertain. This site, so loved and cherished by many, was looking for a new owner. References:
Were you part of the Camp House story? We’d love to hear from you. Share your memories, photos, and stories as we celebrate 100 years together. 100 Years of Camp House: A Story Worth Celebrating As we celebrate the 100th year anniversary of Camp House, we take a moment to look back at the site’s incredible history. From the site’s first days, through a number of transitions and now as part of Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, Camp House has been supported and treasured by many generations who saw Camp House for what it is: a sacred, holy, unique opportunity to find rest and renewal in God’s beautiful Northwoods. Were you part of the Camp House story? We’d love to hear from you. Share your memories, photos, and stories as we celebrate 100 years together. It’s fitting that Camp House originated from two men’s longing to find the perfect getaway during the beautiful Minnesota summers. While you wouldn’t know it today, Two Harbors was a “rough” town in the 1920s, and families were in need of a place to find peace and rest. George W. Watts, a dock agent with the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad, and George Mumford, a banker from Two Harbors, purchased the land and plotted it into lakeshore lots and a main wilderness recreation area. The lots were sold to local residents and employees of the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad in Two Harbors. This spot was ideal for railroad employees and their families: it was close to the townships of Ault and Fairbanks, just miles away from the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad station at Brimson, and a beautiful spot to spend time away from the grueling work on the railroad. The small lake, Lake George, was named in their honor, in thanks for their passion for the space and their foresight of preserving this special spot.  Soon after, in June of 1923, the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad in partnership with their chapter of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) organized and founded a camp for young boys and girls from the railroad families. With just two abandoned logging buildings and no equipment, the camp hosted around 40 young campers. Campers slept on bunks filled with pine branches and straw and cooked meals on an old oil stove found on the premises. Despite these rustic accommodations, campers enjoyed their time at camp, exploring the untamed wilderness and savoring all the joys of a summer by the lake. After seeing the joy that campers experienced during the first summer, the Board of Directors decided to purchase 4 additional lots, about 40 acres, to establish a permanent camp. Between 1924 and 1925, the camp really began to take shape. The old logging buildings were renovated to be more comfortable for campers and families, while plans were made to build a main lodge space and a proper sleeping cabin. Iron beds were repurposed from old pulpwood camps in Two Harbors to offer more hospitable accommodations. Oliver Aas was hired as the Camp Director, and that summer, during one week sessions, 96 boys and girls attended camp. Francis E. House, President of the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad, saw that summer camping was more than just a passing trend. He understood that children and their families would continue to need this respite for years to come. Despite its popularity though, House also saw that the site would not pay itself off and decided to pay off the balance of the camp property himself. Just before his death in 1926, upon their request, House gave his permission for the camp to be named after him: Camp Francis E. House.  DMIR Employees Association Board of Directors 1944 Following in the footsteps of House, Horace Johnson, the newly appointed President and General Manager of the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad, encouraged the Board of Directors to invest in Camp Francis E. House. More land was purchased and an accelerated improvement plan was put into motion, calling for the construction of additional buildings, an ornamental gate, a fence along the road, an improved playground and to remove dead trees. Inspired by this progress and these improvements, the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway and Duluth and Iron Range Railroads YMCAs coordinated with Iron Range Employee Associations to run a broader program in 1930. Charles E. Carlson, President of the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway, authorized an even larger building program including an administration building, first aid room, two wash houses with running water, a boat house, a swimming crib and beach improvements, electrical light plant to furnish lights for the entire camp with wiring placed underground for the protection and safety of campers, a dining hall and kitchen with a walk in cooler, a council ring, and picnic grounds. Building projects and innovative outdoor education programming continued through the 1940s, with the construction of concrete tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, water pump house, project building, additional sleeping cabins, and the purchase of more land. The main lodge was expanded to include three large picture windows to enjoy the view of Lake George.
Brochure from 1960s season For families associated with the railroad, the camp became the finest camping and recreation destination in the area. By 1959, Camp Francis E. House accommodated over 800 campers per season, serving boys and girls between the ages of eight and eighteen. The weekly rate was $12.00 per week, promising an enjoyable outdoor program for all who wanted to participate however they wanted. Campers did all the same things that we associate with camping now: shared meals together, played games, swam and boated, explored, made arts and crafts, sang, laughed and enjoyed their time away from home. Awards were given, including Best All Around Camper, Best All Around Athlete, Best All Around Swimmer. The first leaders of Camp House built a strong base for the following years, with their abundant creativity, strong initiative and overwhelming generosity. We are so grateful for their foresight and belief that Camp House should be preserved for generations to come.  References:
 Every year, our staff joke that I start counting down to the next Quilt Auction as soon as guests leave from under the tent. “Just think, Kirsten! We get to do it all again in 365 days!”
But really, they are not all that far off from the truth. Once all the equipment has been put away, the quilts and items have been picked up, and the dust has settled, I do start to feel an ache for the next Quilt Auction. I think about all the quilters and makers who watched their meticulously created treasures find a new home. I wonder who found inspiration for their next project, and who has already started carefully planning and selecting their materials. I think about the hundreds of joyful guests, excited to be back at Green Lake Bible Camp again, and the additional hundreds of people who bid online from afar. I want to invite them back to camp to ask about what motivated them to visit and bid on the items they won, or lost. I think about the campers who get to experience the best summer of their lives, drenched in sunshine and surrounded by God’s unwavering grace, all because of the generosity shared by others. I wonder if the quilters, makers, donors, bidders and sponsors know just how big of an impact they made on thousands of lives. I start to dream about what comes next and find myself in awe of what this powerful community has done over the last 40 years. Over $2 million has been raised to extend God’s community through summer camp and day camp programming, service opportunities, retreat ministry, and so much more. Putting the impact you have each made into words is near impossible, but it’s surely heartwarming. But there are other things to work on and focus on before the next Quilt Auction comes around. Gosh, it’s hard to be patient. It’s hard to wait for something you want to experience again and again. It’s hard to wait for that next quilt to arrive, for the tents to go up, for that next summer full of sharing God’s overflowing, beautiful, messy, wonderful love. Beautiful things come together, one stitch at a time. This event, this place, this community - it has been coming together with a purpose and a mission, one stitch, one moment, one person at a time. And it’s here again! Each and every quilt, item, bid and donation during the Quilt Auction helps to stretch God’s love further and further, and this community is ready. Let’s stitch something beautiful together. Kirsten Palan, CFRE Associate Director of Development As children count down the last remaining days of school and look ahead to what summer will bring, many are thinking about when they will get to come back to camp. Campers quickly feel at home during their time on site, like they have “found their place.” The sense of belonging and feeling free to be who they are is powerful. Revisiting memories of their favorite counselor from last summer, warm sunshine, the sandy beach, and the fun campfire worships can make it feel like a long wait until they can come back. They can’t wait to be back, and we can’t wait until they are back either! We rejoice every time a registration comes in, for new or returning campers alike. We also know that this can be a financially hard decision for some parents. Sending a child to camp can be expensive. At Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, we strive to make summer camp as affordable as possible, and we firmly believe that everyone who wants to experience a week at camp should be able to. To help make sure that financial barriers do not keep campers from participating, Green Lake Lutheran Ministries has an established scholarship fund and we receive scholarship applications for assistance. We joyfully accept donations to this fund - and we need your help. Your gift to the scholarship fund is so much more than a charitable donation. It’s a promise to a young person that they will be welcome back at camp, and invited back into a space where they can learn and grow in their faith. It’s a promise to them that if they want to come and spend a week in “their place”, they can. Because don’t we all deserve to have that place we can land when we need it most? You always have a place here at camp. To help a young camper find their place at camp, please make a donation to our scholarship fund! Make your gift online today at www.gllm.org/give-today or send your donation to our office! May 15, 2025 6:01 AM So much to share—and so much to be grateful for. A few of us were able to briefly access the Camp House site, and we’re relieved to confirm what we had hoped: all buildings are intact and undamaged. The fire did burn along the western and northern shores of Lake George, and signs of fire are visible across parts of the property. But among the ash, there is life—green buds, alive and well, trees still standing, and the familiar shape of that white pine watching over it all. We don’t yet know all that went into protecting this place, but it’s clear that a major firefighting effort—backburns, fire lines, and tree clearing—helped defend Camp House and our neighbors’ properties. We are wildly grateful. But this is not the end of the story. These fires are still 0% contained, and the work continues. At least 144 structures have been lost across the region, and our prayers are with those whose lives and homes have been forever changed. This is not yet a celebration—it’s a moment of progress. A glimmer of hope. A step toward returning to this place we love and welcoming others for the 100th summer of Camp House. We hold tight to hope. And we keep praying. May 14, 2025 4:01 PM The wildfire situation near Camp House continues to evolve. While the fire has reached areas of our property to the west and east, **no buildings have been affected at this time.** Fire activity remains present in the area, but current wind conditions and the efforts of fire crews are helping to keep structures safe. Overnight, ground crews continued to patrol key roads to prevent the fire from spreading further. Calmer winds and slightly higher humidity were helpful, but today’s conditions remain challenging. The two fires near Brimson are being managed together under a unified incident command— referred to as the Brimson Complex. Additional firefighting support has arrived from outside the state, and the National Guard is assisting. Note: Fire perimeters shown on public maps are approximate and do not reflect structure protection work. A building within a perimeter may not be damaged or destroyed. We expect to know more in the next day and will share updates as we learn them. Please continue to pray for all those responding to and impacted by these fires. May 13, 2025 12:54 PM At this time, no buildings at Camp House have been lost. However, the fire remains active in the area, with several hot spots still burning. It’s now estimated to have grown to over 12,000 acres. Portions of the land on both the west and east sides of our property are believed to have been affected. Today’s forecast—strong winds and low humidity—will continue to make containment difficult. Please keep firefighters, first responders, and our neighbors in your prayers. We also want to clarify that the name Camp House Fire can be confusing. It may sound like the fire began at our Camp House site, but that’s not the case. Wildfires are typically named after nearby landmarks or roads—not their point of origin. This fire shares our name due to proximity, not because it started on our property. In the provided map, it shows the Camp House building site inside of the firezone. Reminder, we don't believe any buildings have been affected as of now. For more in depth information, you can watch the briefing by the state and Governor Walz https://www.youtube.com/live/J3dwdPcXj3U  May 12, 2025 7:02 PM We are closely monitoring the situation near Camp House as crews work to contain both the Camp House Fire and the newly reported Jenkins Creek Fire. We have staff in the area gathering as much information as possible, and we remain in close communication with local authorities. At this time, no buildings have been impacted, but a portion of the western property, west of Lake George, has been affected. For the latest updates, we encourage you to follow along at: https://app.watchduty.org/i/48307 https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incid.../mnmns-camp-house-fire/ Please join us in continued prayers for the first responders, firefighters, and neighbors impacted by these fires.
May 12, 2025 7:44 AM As crews continue to respond to the wildfire near our Camp House site in Brimson, Minnesota, our prayers are with the firefighters, first responders, and neighbors affected by the fire. While no one is currently on site, we remain mindful of the impact on the surrounding community. For the latest updates, follow the official incident information https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident.../mnmns-camp-house.
May 11, 2025 2:47 PM An update from Camp House: A brush fire is currently burning in St. Louis County, near our Camp House site in Brimson, MN. We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the fire, and we pray for the safety of the firefighters and first responders on the front lines. We will share updates as they become available. Thank you for keeping Camp House in your prayers.
 For decades, Green Lake Lutheran Ministries (GLLM) has been more than a summer camp—it has been a home, a sanctuary, and a launchpad for faith-filled lives. On a cold Saturday in February, Executive Director Travis Aufderheide sat down with longtime alumni and dedicated supporters, Red and Karen Mastin, to reflect on how camp has shaped their lives and continues to inspire future generations.
Red and Karen’s connection to camp started in the 1980s. Karen, who grew up in northern Minnesota, first attended White Earth Lutheran Camp, following in the footsteps of her brother, who worked at Green Lake Bible Camp. Red discovered camp through his church’s pastor, Howie Skulstad, and with encouragement from his parents. Neither of them could have predicted the lasting impact camp would have on their faith, friendships, and even their future together. Like many who step onto the sacred grounds of GLLM, Red and Karen found more than just fun in the sun. They found community, deep relationships, and ultimately, each other. They met in 1984, and in 1985, as Red puts it, “Karen decided she could tolerate me,” and they began dating. Even during years apart in graduate school, camp remained a touchstone for their relationship, offering a place to reconnect and reaffirm their shared values. From Thursday night banquets and the staff musical to chapel singing and talent shows, camp traditions remain woven into the fabric of Red and Karen’s story. Red recalls Camp Joy week with a chuckle, remembering the joy and camaraderie that made that time special. Separately, he fondly remembers helping set up musicals, running lights, and working microphones because, as he admits, “I couldn’t sing.” For Karen, the emotional goodbyes at week’s end highlighted the depth of connections built at camp. Red and Karen’s love for GLLM extends far beyond their time as campers. They have remained deeply connected as dedicated volunteers, generous donors, and proud camper parents. Red served on the GLLM board, helping shape its future, while both have continued to give their time and resources in countless ways to ensure camp’s impact reaches new generations. They understand firsthand the profound effect the summer camp experience has—not just on campers, but on the young staff members who dedicate their summers to guiding, mentoring, and leading others. Camp has evolved over the years, adapting to shifts in society, camper demographics, and staffing challenges - its essence remains the same: a place of joy, belonging, and growth. Red and Karen have proudly watched their children, Kris, Ana, and Eli, follow in their footsteps, experiencing camp’s power to nurture leadership and faith. For Red and Karen, GLLM is more than just a place—it’s a mission. They stress the importance of holding true to GLLM’s vision and resisting external pressures that could shift its focus. At the same time, they acknowledge the need for camp to evolve while remaining rooted in its core values and steadfast in their purpose, to embrace the joy of ministry, and to be present in every moment. We are so grateful for Red and Karen Mastin. Their reflections underscore an undeniable truth--Green Lake Lutheran Ministries is not just a camp. It is a community, a family, and a place where faith and friendships flourish for generations to come. To join Red and Karen in preparing for generations to come, consider making a gift at www.gllm.org/give-today!  Bob and Sue Anderson have been coming to Lake Andrew for over 30 years, right next door to Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp. Their kids would sit at the end of their dock and sing along to the camp songs. Most of their grandkids have been baptized in water from Lake Andrew. Eventually, Bob and Sue turned their seasonal cabin into their full-time residence. “God gets the best part of the lake, but if you can be right next to God...” Sue mused.
Bob and Sue have been inspired to give by the people around them, which motivated them to give to the At the Water’s Edge Capital Campaign. Sue shared, “We know that God’s work is being done at the camp. It’s all centered around Christ. This is about as alive as I’ve seen God. It is a living, breathing, church experience.” Their gift wasn’t about finances. It didn’t include a spreadsheet. Their gift was in gratitude for the place. Bob said, “It’s kind of selfish. We get a lot out of the ministry too.” Sue added, “This has become our church.” The Andersons’ greatest hope for Green Lake Lutheran Ministries is that God continues to guide and move through the leadership. “You can only do so much without the right facilities,” Sue said. Positive experiences can continue through people, but people need facilities to do what they were called to do. GLLM wants to have a space that is ready and welcome to inspire community in relationships with others, God, and creation. Through investment in all three of our sites, our abilities to serve groups with a wide variety of expectations and needs will only be enhanced. Sue shared, “This is the biggest gift we’ve ever given and it feels really good.” Bob added, “We don’t have anything we need that we don’t have. We’re lucky we are in a position to give and we need to step up and do it.” “To have a direction and purpose for what we’ve worked for beyond buying birthday presents for our kids or new furniture. This money has a real purpose,” Sue said. We are profoundly grateful to Bob & Sue Anderson for their gift. Please consider joining Bob and Sue by giving to the At the Water’s Edge Capital Campaign. Learn more and make your gift today at www.gllm.org/atwe_campaign. The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of those stories we think we know. Maybe we heard it in Sunday school, where it was summed up as “be nice to people.” Or maybe we picture it as a quaint reminder of kindness—a feel-good lesson about helping others when it’s convenient.
But here’s the truth: Jesus did not tell this story to make us feel good. He told it to shake us up and to make us uncomfortable. To take whatever lines we’ve drawn between who is in and who is out and erase them. The Parable of the Good Samaritan isn’t just about helping people. It’s about who we are willing to help, and even more than that, who we are willing to be. We are good at thinking about loving our neighbor in the abstract, but Jesus makes it clear that love is always concrete. Love is not about feelings alone; it’s about action. Love is demonstrated in what we do. That’s why this parable matters so much, and why it continues to challenge us today. Who Is My Neighbor? Jesus tells this story in response to a question from a lawyer, a religious scholar who asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus turns the question back on him: “What do you think?” The lawyer gives the right answer: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind… and love your neighbor as yourself.” And Jesus says, “You got it.” But the lawyer wants clarity or a loophole maybe. He asks the follow-up question, the one that makes all the difference: “Who is my neighbor?” This is a question we still ask. Maybe not out loud, but in our hearts. We like the idea of loving our neighbor, as long as we get to define who our neighbor is, and when it’s people we understand. People who look like us, live in our neighborhoods, speak our language, or share our values. But what about when loving our neighbor costs something or is inconvenient? What about when it forces us to cross the road? What about when loving our neighbor means stepping into uncomfortable conversations or standing up for people who have been pushed to the fringes of society? What about when it costs us friendships, reputation, or even security? This is the question Jesus wants us to wrestle with. Not just, “Who is my neighbor?” but, “What does it mean to be a neighbor?” The People Who Walked Away Jesus answers this question with a story. A man is traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, a notoriously dangerous road, and is attacked, beaten, and left for dead. Then, along comes a priest, someone who knows the command to love one’s neighbor. And what does he do? He crosses to the other side. Next comes a Levite. Another deeply religious person, committed to the law of God, and what does he do? He crosses to the other side. We don’t know why they walked away. Maybe they were afraid or busy or had more important things to do. Maybe they had convinced themselves that someone else would take care of it. But here’s the thing: they saw him. They weren’t blind to his suffering. They just chose not to engage. How often do we do the same thing? How often do we see suffering and keep walking? How often do we convince ourselves that it’s not our problem or that it’s too complicated or that we can’t possibly make a difference? But the parable is clear: the priest and the Levite weren’t bad people. They were just people who put their own safety, their own priorities, their own religious purity ahead of love. And in doing so, they missed the heart of God. The Outsider Who Showed Up Then comes the Samaritan, where the story gets uncomfortable. In Jesus’ day, the Jews and Samaritans hated each other. The Samaritan was the outsider or the enemy, even considered “less than.” But the Samaritan is the one who stops. He is the one who crosses the road. He is the one who doesn’t just offer a prayer or a polite word, but gets his hands dirty, bandages the man’s wounds, puts him on his own donkey, and pays for his care. And Jesus looks at the lawyer, the one who wanted to know the “limits” of neighborly love, and asks, “Which of these three was a neighbor?” The lawyer can’t even bring himself to say the word “Samaritan.” Instead, he mutters, “The one who showed mercy.” And Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.” Who Are We in This Story? I helped a grandmother check in her grandson at the beginning of the camp week. He clung to her side, his eyes darting around the unfamiliar space, fear clinging to him like a heavy coat. He was anxious, hesitant, and when spoken to, quick to argue, as if bracing himself for rejection before it could come. As I walked his grandmother back to her van, she stopped, she sighed, and she said, “This is going to be a hard week for you… do the best you can.” And she was right, there were tough moments. He struggled to connect and kept his distance. He looked different from most of the other campers and had an accent that wasn’t Minnesoooooootan. I could see it in his posture, that quiet question pressing heavy on his heart: “Am I welcome here? Do I belong?” But here’s the thing about love: it shows up. It crosses the road. That’s exactly what his cabin counselor and cabinmates did. They kept inviting him in and kept making room. By the end of the week, something had shifted. At closing worship, his grandmother and I sat together and watched as he stood at the front, arms wrapped around his new friends, singing with joy, doing the actions, and smiling like he had been there forever. When I walked them back to the car, it was different than before. The fear was gone and the uncertainty had lifted. The only thing that remained was the unmistakable presence of God’s overflowing grace and peace. Love is not just about feeling something. It is about doing something. It is about seeing someone on the margins, someone who feels like an outsider, someone left by the side of the road, and refusing to walk away. At the end of the day, this parable isn’t just a story: it’s a challenge. Jesus asks, “Which of these was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” And the expert in the law answers, “The one who showed mercy.” The one who shows mercy. He doesn’t say, “Go and THINK about this.” He doesn’t say, “Go and PRAY about this.” He says, “Go and DO likewise.” Because that is what it means to follow Jesus. So may we all go—eyes open, hearts ready, hands willing. May we go and love boldly. May we go and show mercy. May we go and BE a neighbor. Written by Travis Aufderheide, Executive Director. |
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