Title: Ferncliff Camp-Sanctuary, Healing and Hope
Date: August 20, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
98b-51
by Kay Danielson
Freelance writer
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (DNS) -- An extraordinary thing happened July 26-31 at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center just west of Little Rock. Children came, had fun, learned about themselves, then left with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
The unusual part is that all the children were from Jonesboro Westside Middle School, scene of a March 24 shooting that took the lives of four children and a teacher and wounded 10 others.
As the nation mourned the events in Jonesboro, the faith community wondered how best to respond to the tragedy. The Rev. David Gill, a Presbyterian minister and director of Ferncliff, knew the powerful spiritual and healing experience a camp could offer the children.
Gill began lining up support for the camp from Jonesboro clergy, organizations and community leaders. The Jonesboro Ministerial Alliance lent its enthusiastic support. Gill especially praised the contributions of the Rev. Roger Sledd, pastor of First Christian Church in Jonesboro, as "instrumental in making this special camp possible."
Less than 10 days before the end of school, the proposal was approved and invitations were extended to Westside students to visit Ferncliff Camp for a week, free of charge. Once Jonesboro community leaders endorsed the camp, Gill solicited outside support for the huge undertaking. Nationally, the disaster response offices of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) were quick to lend their financial and personal resources.
The emergency response/service ministries of the Church of the Brethren dispatched a consultant, Lydia Walker of New Windsor, Md. She trained Ferncliff staff, counselors, and volunteers how to work with children who have experienced trauma.
In a recent letter to Disciples General Board members, Gill singled out the support of Week of Compassion. He called the effort at Ferncliff a "special ministry that would not exist without your love and caring." WOC contributions comprised 10 percent of the camp budget. The Disciples relief ministry also arranged transportation for the students.
Other funds to round out the camp budget came from the governor's office and a Jonesboro investment firm. "The support was great as people were glad to be able to do something for these children," said Gill.
Local churches and other faith groups, including the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arkansas, embraced the cause. Sledd of First Christian Jonesboro, the Rev. Judy Crow-O'Donnell, and Arkansas regional staff helped with planning for the camp, according to the Rev. William Rose-Heim, associate regional minister.
Over the next couple of months, the camp began to take shape as the roster grew. "We set our limit at 50, but eventually we accepted 68 kids because we couldn't bear the idea of turning any away," said Gill. Many of them were on the playground during the tragedy and some were among those wounded.
The design team wove Bible study, art, music, devotionals, games, story telling and other activities into the schedule. A team of resource people led the activity blocks, allowing the counselors to concentrate on the children. The exceptional caliber of counselors was of key importance to the success of the camper's experience, according to camp officials.
"Most of the children attending this camp have never been away from home and over half are not regular members of a church," said the Rev. Jack Harris. A member of the Jonesboro response team, Harris was the camp chaplain and an adult advisor to one of the boy's groups.
There was a lot of gift giving -- material and otherwise -- at Ferncliff camp. The children received backpacks with their names on them, containing a flashlight, water bottle, drinking mug and sunscreen. A camp staffer hand-fashioned 68 metal crosses and made necklaces for each of the children.
In addition, Post Cereal of Jonesboro donated hundreds of pounds of food, the Arkansas 4-H Center loaned Polaroid cameras and members of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society brought their telescopes one evening.
Some of the gifts came from far away. Many churches around the country led their congregations in prayer for the camp and 1,400 Presbyterian youth at Montreat (N.C.) Retreat Center prayed for the children.
Camp leaders hope the children of Jonesboro's Westside Middle School will remember the love, peace and sanctuary they found at Ferncliff and carry it in their hearts. While not all of their fears are relieved, nor all their problems solved, "seeds were planted to help each child take another step in the healing process."
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