GLCC 75th Anniversary

Papp. When you sit on a bench by the lake with the original iconic concrete ends, the wood and cast-iron rosette ends look original but are brand new. These and many other improvements are the gift from this

In 1944 Ken Dodgson, a student at Franklin College, had his closer walk with God out on Lone Tree Point. It led him to enroll in seminary and then in medical

school, and eventually with his wife Sally, it led to the hills of Northern Assam. Chuck Boddie discovered his gift as a worship leader that first summer. One person said, “Chuck really made us sing. Chuck could get music out of a gargoyle. Many a miracle of life commitment resulted from the music inspired by his busy hands.” Vince Godfrey discerned his call to leading worship and pastoral ministry on these grounds in 1997. Thank you, Vince, for drawing beautiful music from us this week (Vince led worship at the 75th conference).

church. One teenager who came is called Carson. Carson was born with Glutaric Acedenia, a rare disease causing protein processing issues that kills most who have it in their infancy. He spent the first two years of his life in hospital, and lives as a teen struggling to comprehend what is around him and to express himself. His parents took a risk in sending him here, and Mary Disterhaft and Therese Lewallen and their team provided wonderful meals tailored to literally allow him to survive and enjoy the week. His father’s prayer was that the week would be spiritually meaningful for Carson and that he would be able to express that. After working on benches by the lake, cleaning up the landscaping in front of Roger Williams Inn and moving new mattresses, he came home smiling. He said, “Dad, the things we worked

on all week so hard, they help people who are sad and people who don’t know God when they come to Green Lake. They matter for all summer and eternity.” Carson found meaning and identity as a gifted child of God as he passed on blessings to others. A closer walk with God changed his life. Through the partnership of Lauran Bethel, Ken Giacoletto and Marion Kobow, International Christian Alliance on Prostitution gatherings happen at Green Lake every three years. Sunny Abraham first came to the conference in 2008. Sunny is from an upper caste in India, and he had married Mercy who is from a low caste. Together they have a heart for

In 2002 in my first presentation to the Board of Directors, and early in Phil Sutterlin’s service on the board a decade later, and then in Phil’s presentation this week, we emphasized Ephesians 3: 20-21 as a defining scripture. Part of this reads: “God is able through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the ministry at Green Lake Conference Center and in Christ Jesus through all generations! Amen.”

We have heard stories this week of not only how God has done infinitely more than we dare hope or imagine in the early years and in the middle chapters of the Green Lake Story, but also very recently and into the future: In June 2019, 121 came from Southfield Church for a work week led by Board member Pastor Dennis

serving women entrapped in slavery and for sharing Christ’s love to those in the slums and rural areas in Southern India. He came to Green Lake and found the teaching that starting a business was a vital part of a long term mission in helping women escape their slavery because they needed a new source of income for themselves and their children. He began a

6 | Green Lake Conference Center