Emerson, Ann E.
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- Emerson, Ann E.
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The Advocate
ASIZS
The Rev. Ann Emerson is in
the spotlight for this issue of
the MCA . She has been director of the new Lake Huron
Retreat Center since Jan . 1.
She relates how her early introduction to church camping led
to her call to the ministry.
MCA: Let's explore your
current passion for the
Lake Huron Retreat Center.
·Emerson: Let's clarify right
off the bat that this is no longer
a camp. We are a retreat center
with our primary focu s on
adult and family ministries. I
firmly believe that there is an
opportunity for adults to be in
ministry to one another as they
participate in outdoor retreat
ministry. Camp is just not for
kids. For a long time, too, p eople thought that Sunday school
was just for kids. My 'hope is
that as we get Lake Huron
Retreat Center up and running, we can h elp adults
throughout the Detroit Conference realize that they have
an opportunity to get away for
a weekend - from the phones,
the computer, their work place
- and focus on their spiritual
walk. They can come and be
strengthen ed and encouraged
and be in fellowship with one
another and at the same time
have fun and enjoy the outdoors, and retreat for a period
of time.
MCA: Do you have any
idea when the retreat center
will be available to be
booked?
Emerson: We are taking tentative reservations right now.
As soon as we get our rates set
and can really pinpoint a startup date, then we can firm up
those reservations. I have a
number of groups that are penciled in. We are stiJI projecting
a Jan. 1, 2000, opening date.
Sometime in early 2000 is
p r ob ably mor e accurate.
We are hoping for a ground
breaking in April, and construction will get started in
early May.
MCA: What c alled you to
the ministry?
Emerson: I think a lot of it
was my times spent at church
camp as a you th. My faith
journey began as a direct result
of attending Vacation Bible
School. I was not raised in a
Christian home. It was because
somebody took the time to
invite me to attend VBS as an
unchurched kid ... that's what
I went by myself to the
church I became involved in.
That congregation took it
upon themselves to always
m ake sure I h ad tran sportation
to church each week and scholarship money to go to youth
camp. In upstate New York we
had a family camp that everybody went to every summer. I
always had som ebody willing
to sign on as my parental
guardian so that I could attend
camp. And I think a part of my
calling is that I wanted to give
back what had been given to
me. That local congregation
impacted me in ways they had
no idea about.
So we still remain in contact. I think it's such a message
to congregations that they
need to look outside into their
communities.
MCA: It's my understanding that you are new to
Michigan.
Emerson: Yes, I spent the
past 12 years in the West Ohio
Conference.
MCA: How do you see the
retreat center's ministry
unfolding?
Emerson: Our primary
focus will be adults and family
ministry. There will be children
and youth who continue to
come and be a part of L ake
Huron, maybe not in a way
that they have in the past.
There will be opportunities for
local churches to rent out our
facility and come as a congregation and do multi-generationa} ministry.
I believe there is ministry
that can be done from moms
and dads all the way down to
the youngest child. It's going
to take time to form what our
ministry will be. Until we get
this building up and running
and we have some time to use
it, it's going to be in a liquid
state for awhile. I'm open to all
kinds of opportunities for this
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