Outreach English Camps
Outreach English Camps were developed by the Evangelical Free Church to teach
international students to speak conversational English. The purpose was to
give
the junior high, high school, and college students in countries like France,
Italy,
Spain, Germany, Japan, Mexico the opportunity to learn conversational English.
It is a very good tool for the ministers in these countries to develop the
students
in their church. The program is for the ministers of four or five churches
to
get their students together for a one or two weeks camping trip in the mountains
to teach them how to speak conversational English.
The students from these countries love it because it gives them the opportunity
to learn "American" English and to learn American customs. And
of course, it
gives them the opportunity to go camping in the mountains.
OEC France
In 1997, Steve was invited to participate in an Outreach English Camp in
France.
Eglise
de Cannes
After camp, we visited with the students at their church in Cannes. About
15 of the
students were from the Evangelical Free Church of Cannes or Eglise Evangelique
Libre
de Cannes. That Sunday morning, the students played their instruments for
the morning
worship and praise. Audrey on violin, Pascal on keyboards, Florence on
cello or bass,
Hélène on flute, Sebastien and David on guitar. It was like a miniature
Willow Creek
Community Church.
Music Conservatory of Cannes
After church, Pascal mentioned to me that Audrey was going to have her recital
that
evening and asked if I would like to go. "Of course!" I
replied, " I would love to go!"
And I thought that we were going to the Lycée or high school to hear her
recital.
So that evening, I had dinner with Audrey and her family. After dinner
Audrey put on
a beautiful evening gown. We all got into the family van and drove to the
Grand Hotel
on the Mediterranean. This was not a local high school recital. It
was with the Music
Conservatory of Cannes. Audrey at 15 years of age was performing a solo
violin recital
before 2,500 people with the Music Conservatory of Cannes. I realized that
Audrey and
these five or six students who brought their instruments to camp and to church
were
very gifted musicians. I was deeply moved by Audrey's performance at the
Music
Conservatory.
New Songs
During this period of time, God began to write song after song on my heart for
these
students. I began to realize that God gave me these songs as a gift to the
students in
Cannes and in France to challenge them to be creative: to write songs,
music, and
poetry. I wanted to challenge them to pursue the "arts" and use
the gifts that God has
given to them. So, I established Blue Moon Creations to encompass these
activities.
Key Pictures
