Thoughts from the Director
Kirkmont Center
January 10, 2008
‘A place for all people in all seasons’
We, the staff and Advisory Group of Kirkmont Center strive to serve in a Shared Ministry of Nurture, Care, Adventure, Rest, Questioning, Listening, and Leadership Development. This is a ministry where we dream dreams and together recognize the endless opportunities before us. May we remain ever rooted in God’s gracious love revealed through our Lord Jesus Christ… for the living of these days!
The transformation of Kirkmont Center has been undertaken by the Miami Presbytery both as a way of preserving the center for future generations as well as expanding the reach of this historic and vital ministry. When complete, Kirkmont Center will be able to provide an environment open to all that is the fulfillment of our core values:
· All God’s children need to be given the opportunity to rest and renew in a safe, peaceful environment.
·We are all called to be good stewards of God’s creation, and to share ideas, information, and resources with others.
·We are all called to be part of a transforming community of faith rooted in the grace of God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In a world of changing culture and values, we recognize the difficulty in maintaining church based centers of renewal and rest – yet we also understand the inestimable value that places like Kirkmont can indeed have to bring peace, respite, and restoration to all of God’s community, not just to Presbyterians. And as Presbyterians, we reaffirm our historic stance of sacred calling to even secular ministries – witness the dozens of affiliated colleges, hospitals, and residences, all doing great service in education, inquiry, research, and care. The Kirkmont Center transformation is in accordance with these traditions.
· We will be able to upgrade our facilities to provide fuller and more complete opportunities for rest and renewal, security and safety. In a time when in far too many places, the very notion of a church camp is seen as quaint and passé, we testify to our understanding of just how life-changing, particularly for young people, this experience can be.
· We will be able to expand our current science program to reach out to the larger community, through working with local school systems, colleges, universities, and research facilities. This effort will allow not only for a commitment for science education, but equally important, it will witness our commitment, as heirs to the Biblical mandate that we must care for God’s creation.
· We will be able, with our expanded facilities, to provide a center for discussion, strategy, planning and dialog, among persons in every sector of the community, both public and private. And what will set this apart from being “just another conference center” is our knowledge that this is indeed a good thing, because God calls us to minister to the whole world.
Please join us as we begin this quest, carrying out a sacred trust to use our gifts wisely, and share what God has given us.