Kingdom Growth

Here is this month's message from Pastor Chris Wicher, President of the Eastern District, Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

Christ is risen, alleluia!


God is in the rock moving business. We see it at the resurrection of Christ. The stone was intended to keep Jesus in the tomb, away from His followers, away from this life. It was sealed with the governor's imprimatur. All told Jesus' death was real and it was official.


However, when the women came to the tomb they saw the stone had been rolled away. Jesus was alive. The disciples looked in and saw that Jesus was not there. The rock was rolled away not to let Jesus out but to let the disciples in and see for themselves that He was not there. Death could not keep Jesus away from them. Life cannot get in the way. St. Paul wrote in Romans 8, "nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love", which proved true in his life experience changing him from a Jesus-hater to a Jesus-proclaimer.


From the rock's perspective I always find Easter astonishing. A rock - no matter what the rock might be for you - cannot keep life from happening in God's view. A rock cannot keep God from acting, even if our rock be fears, or doubts, or failings, or shortcomings. Guilt, shame, sin are even rolled away by faith. New life and new hope break through. Death is conquered. The grave is vanquished. You can't keep God's truth from breaking through. You can't keep life from overpowering our emptiness. Jesus is our way, truth and life.


Her name was CP. She was the granddaughter of my members. She wasn't a churchgoer. We met when I brought communion to the home of her grandparents. When her grandmother died, I remember standing with her looking into the grave. She asked "how can we know for sure? How can we know there is life after death and there is a heaven?" I told her that "our Lord was raised from the dead and that is the promise to all who believe. Your grandmother believed it. Your grandfather believed it. Now they are with Him forever. It's true. We just believe it."


I didn't see CP for a few months after the funeral, but by God's grace she did start coming to church. In fact she joined, had her children baptized, even her husband, in time, became one of the trustees of the congregation. It was an amazing example in my life of God working in His time and His way in the heart and life of a grieving woman. God rolled a stone away for her. God breaks through.


Do we live it? Do we pray and pray again and then stop looking for our prayers to be answered? Do we act in anticipation of God's power or are we chilling in fear of life's shadows? Have we dismissed new opportunities and said "we've tried that before"? Are we afraid of the neighbors around our church, what they might do if they come to our church, what they might think of us, what they might bring?

We pray that you have been encouraged and uplifted by this message of hope.


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Did Your Church Win?

For the past couple of weeks, we have been hinting at revealing a new promotion as our own brand of 'March Madness' during the month of March. Well, the wait is finally over!

Pioneer's 'March Madness' Promo

As mentioned in a previous post, the theme of the month here at Pioneer is "Building relationships with God, congregations, and others..."


On March 31st, 2012, all will finally be revealed! For now, please check out our Flyer (click on the image below) that should pique your interest.

'Wait Until You See Schultz Dining Hall!'

"Wait until you see Schultz Dining Hall!"


That's what we've been telling people for a couple of weeks now. That's because we have been making some exciting changes to one of our Dining Halls. In fact, Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center would like to take the opportunity to thank the North Collins Correctional Facility and the inmates who helped us give Schultz Dining Hall a much needed facelift in the form of repairs.

Agape Easter 2012

Join us this Saturday, March 31st, 1p-4p, as Pioneer hosts our Agape Easter party!


We will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, spend some time with our friends while we have fun making different crafts, eating good snacks, and having fellowship with one another.


Volunteers are still needed so please feel free to contact us for information at info@pioneercamp.org or by calling 716-549-1420.


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Relationship And Fellowship

Most people associate the month of March with 'madness' due to the 'March Madness' College Basketball Tournament. Here at Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center, March is a month when we strive to build relationships with God, congregations, and others.


To us, 'madness' is going through life without working on your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You might think that this is a ridiculous point to be making to other Christians, and that it's "preaching to the choir" as people like to say. However, what about the lack of true fellowship with other believers in this day and age? Do we tend to fellowship with other Christians, but only if they're from our own congregation? Be honest.

Prayer Partners Needed For Pioneer Staff

We have invited a number of incredible college students to join us in ministry this summer and the replies of "yes" have started arriving! It is an exciting time at Pioneer.


God blesses us each year with wonderful people who feel called to serve through the ministry at Pioneer! We want to be able to provide each of these servants with a Prayer Partner for the summer.

High Ropes Is Coming Soon!

We are so excited to officially announce the start of Pioneer's newest program addition!

Camp Connection: Building Relationships

Homesickness, I think we have all experienced it, felt it, or seen it in others. I know I have, especially when I was going away from home for a long period of time to new and unfamiliar places.


Feeling alone, wanting to go home, and feeling disconnected from those around me is what I remember as I think back to how I was trying to fit in or whenever I found myself in an uncomfortable place.


One could easily think that I am talking about my time overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan, but I'm not. I'm talking about my first week at Pioneer as a Confirmation Camper at the young age of 13.

Leap Into The Future That God Has Called You To

One of our Core Values here at Pioneer is ‘Making Memories And Major Life Commitments’ and such a value is never more at the forefront of our minds than during a Leap Year.

Join Us For Winter Family Fun Day!

Sure, the snowfall may be a little lighter than we're used to our here this year, but we'd still like to invite you and your family out to Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center this Saturday 2/11 from 1pm-4pm for our second Winter Family Fun Day!

Seeing More Clearly

Here is this month's message from Pastor Chris Wicher, President of the Eastern District, Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

By Design

As Christians, we know that everything in this world is by God's design. Nothing is outside of His will or takes Him by surprise.


Praise the Lord! After months of planning and prayerful consideration, it's finally here. Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center is pleased to announce the launch of our very new website! It's been a long process (and a few areas are still under construction; for instance, the 'Register Online' feature is not functioning just yet), but we decided to publish the new website online and allow all of you to weigh in. So, please feel free to tell your family, your friends, your church, your youth group, and by all means send me an email (jeff.radt@pioneercamp.com) and let us know what you think.

Join Us For Winter Family Fun Day!

Sure, the snowfall may be a little lighter than we're used to our here this year, but we'd still like to invite you and your family out to Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center this Saturday 1/21 from 1pm-4pm for our Winter Family Fun Day!

SPECIAL OFFER: Pioneer's Romans 1:20 2-Night Package

Do you need a break from the stresses of life? Are you looking for an affordable destination for your next group outing? Do you want to see what Pioneer has to offer?


Perhaps we can help with our special offer for January / February that we like to call the Pioneer Romans 1:20 2-Night Package. Yes, it may be cold outside, but there's always "A warm place in the SON..." here at Pioneer!

Camp Nurses Needed

As Summer 2012 fast approaches, and staff recruitment and hiring are in full swing, we are looking for Nurses to oversee the Health Care department here at Pioneer.

Summer 2012: An Update

Plans are underway for some incredible things for the summer of 2012! Check out this month's Top 5...

Confirmand Camp: A Tradition Continues!

We've all been to Walmart at one time or another right? I am there more often than I care to admit, but I had a great "camp moment" there a few months ago.

Inheritance And Blessings

Throughout recorded history, people of biblical faith, who believe in Jesus Christ, have recognized that life's journey has more to do with God's redemptive plan for us than about the circumstances or plight of our own human condition.


The biblical concept of inheritance, although symbolically tied to land, was really about God's presence among His creation and His plan to save mankind, the crown of creation, for an eternal relationship with Himself. The psalmist exclaimed more than once that the hidden truth in inheritance is God in Christ.


A review of the historical and cultural reality of wealth, as modern day symbols of value, betrays the various forms of importance in our lives, even idolatry. For where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Does all this mean that passing our property and wealth to our family is against God's will in the landscape of today's church?

We Can Still Know, Without The Snow

One of my favorite verses in the entire Bible is Romans 1:20 that says, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

In that one verse, we learn that God cares for us so deeply that He has revealed Himself not only through His Word as found in the Holy Bible, but through His creation, or in such a way that transcends any kind of cultural and language barriers.

Camp Connection: What's New From Pioneer?

Greetings from Pioneer where "A warm place in the Son" is not far off this winter.

Happy New Year!

This was the recent New Year's message that was sent out to our district by the LCMS Eastern District President Rev. Chris Wicher...