wfn.org | Ferncliff Camp-Sanctuary, Healing and Hope

["Wilma Shuffitt"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Date: August 20, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.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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