Pinebrook Retreat Center Archives

Born of Wind and Water

Staff member, Steve Landes (far right), and volunteers install goal nets for the new disc golf course at Pinebrook. Photo by Grace Nolt.

The wind blew, the rain came down, and the Pocono Mountains were drenched, receiving over 21 inches of rain. It was the flood of 1955. God moved Norm Good and the people of Blooming Glen (PA) Mennonite Church to minister to the thousands who were affected by the storms.

Seven years later Mr. Dalton, who owned the land that would become Spruce Lake, was approached by Mennonites interested in purchasing his property to start a children’s camp. Moved by the compassion of these men representing those who had given of themselves during the flood, he offered them an incredibly low price for 276 acres! God moved and Spruce Lake was born.

Dedicated to Pointing People Toward Christ

The Church of South India from Seaford, NY, represents guests from multiple diverse cultures and backgrounds at Spruce Lake/Pinebrook. Photo by Grace Nolt.

Nearly 700 people came to the first open house in May 1963 and dedicated their new mountain sanctuary to the Lord for His work on July 4, 1963.

God’s people, excited by the possibilities of pointing people toward Christ, threw themselves into the work of Spruce Lake. And oh, God has blessed the work and ministry. Facilities grew and programs expanded, growing from 98 campers in the summer of 1963 to serving over 43,000 annual guests and campers today.

Recent Developments

In 2017, through the generous gifts of God’s people, God choreographed the purchase of Spruce Mountain, giving Spruce Lake a total 888 acres of beautiful woods and hiking trails. In June 2018, a new Youth Activity Center was completed, making Wilderness Camp a truly year-round youth ministry hub. And in October 2018, Spruce Lake acquired Pinebrook Bible Conference, near Stroudsburg, PA, to steward the programs and operations of this facility for “the Glory of God.”

Core Ministries Change Lives

Summer Wilderness Camp and Day Camps, plus winter Ignite Youth Weekends, reach into the lives of hundreds of children and youth every year with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Countless young people have accepted Christ at Wilderness Camp.

“Ignite” Winter Youth Weekends at Spruce Lake’s youth activity center. Photo by Josh Reichart.

Outdoor Education helps school students and adults discover the wonders of creation and our awesome God who made it all. For many, it is the highlight of their school year.

Programmed Family Retreats & Events at Spruce Lake/Pinebrook support the entire family with biblically grounded speakers and worship leaders, with plenty of fun and relaxed time together.

Church & Community Groups bring thousands of people each year to hear God’s voice through hospitable staff and the peaceful beauty of woodlands and waterfalls.

Here, people of all ages from varying backgrounds can feel the Lord’s presence, focus on their relationship with Him, and experience the diversity of Christians interacting as friends.

Opportunities to Serve and Volunteer

At Spruce Lake/Pinebrook, approximately 150 year-round full-time and part-time staff serve the body of Christ and our communities. Over the summer, about 100 additional staff help us fulfill our call to ministry every day. Each avenue of service is of genuine value to God.

Spruce Lake/Pinebrook also depend on the generous service of volunteers all year long. Many individuals and groups help keep the ministry flourishing. Contact us to offer talents and time.

Prayer Requests

Wisdom and direction for the Franconia Mennonite Camp Association (FMCA) board members and staff as we continue to point people toward Christ
That the Lord would protect the ministry – our guests, staff and properties — from the COVID-19 virus.
Bring the campers, families, couples, and individuals back soon to experience what God has for them at Pinebrook and Spruce Lake.
That FMCA would continue to thrive as we seek to point people toward Christ.

by Ken Burkholder, Conference moderator

As an Anglo Mennonite, who grew up in Lancaster County, PA, dancing was not a big part of my upbringing. In junior high, my parents did not allow me to attend dances at my public school. In high school, I went to a few dances. I bopped around to songs from Huey Lewis and Survivor, with an occasional slow dance to a Lionel Richie ballad. In recent years, it’s been fun to have a few more opportunities to attempt dancing at wedding celebrations of family and friends.

*The Mosaic Conference Board gathered on August 17-18 to work, while socially-distanced, on vision and mission statements for delegate consideration at this fall’s conference assembly.*

On August 17-18, the Mosaic Mennonite Conference Board met at Pinebrook Retreat Center, a Spruce Lake facility, in East Stroudsburg, PA for a two-day retreat. Our meeting times were outdoors, with masks, and physically-distanced from each other. Pinebrook Retreat Center did a great job in making it possible to have a safe, in-person retreat during a pandemic.

During our retreat, “dance” came up several times in our conversations, as a metaphor for us stepping into God’s desired future for the conference. Hopefully, our forebears, who forbade dancing, weren’t turning over in their graves!

It was noted that each and every person, congregation, and conference constituency group is needed “on the dance floor,” actively participating in the mission God’s collectively calling us to. Furthermore, it’s vital that we all remain “in step” with Christ, our leader, while also being flexible to the various “rhythms” among us. We may need to learn some “new moves,” as we seek to live out our deeply-rooted Anabaptist Christian values in fresh, creative ways in this ever-changing culture. No doubt, there will surely be challenges along the way that test our commitment to remain “dance partners” with one another.

*Calenthia Dowdy (left), retreat facilitator, listens as conference moderator, Ken Burkholder (right), speaks at the conference board retreat last week at Pinebrook.*

I was delighted that we had all twelve conference board members participate in the retreat, along with Steve Kriss and Mary Nitzsche, conference staff. (Gwen Groff, pastor of Bethany (VT) congregation and at-large conference board member, joined us by Zoom from Vermont due to a travel ban). I am grateful for the guidance of our excellent facilitator, Calenthia Dowdy. I thank God for the array of gifts and personalities among our board, the rich wisdom, the spirit of collaboration, and the desire to follow Christ’s leading.

Despite meeting outside and with masks on, we still had many opportunities for meaningful conversation, dreaming, and prayer at Pinebrook Retreat. This resulted in us crafting a vision and mission statement, which you’ll be hearing more about this fall.

The Board retreat was a meaningful time of team-building and looking to the future, as we anticipate Mosaic Mennonite Conference living into the vision and mission God’s calling us to. I am infused with energy to actively engage in the “dance” of God’s movement among us. I hope you’ll join us, as we learn to dance together with God.

Pinebrook Retreat Center