Camp Friedenswald
Mission Statement

Camp Friedenswald, the peaceful woods, desires to encourage peace and well being in the camper's relationship with God.  The love and truth of God are experienced in the close Christian fellowship, the shared commitment, and the worship and Bible learning.  God moves and works among the people gathered in the name of Jesus.  Our desire and prayer is that each camper and staff person at Friedenswald will grow in the experience of:

1. God / Christ - Worship, meditation, fellowship, Bible study, and experiential activities will lead to an awareness of and sensitivity  to    God.  We will teach and practice Biblical principles.  We pray that this will lead to commitment, obedience, and to spiritual renewal.  Friedenswald can offer a place to discover the glory of God, the living word, and find insight into our Lord's will for our lives.
2. Self - Self-discovery and self-understanding will be an integral part of the camper's experience.  Seeing oneself as God sees you and as the staff sees you will help one come to a sense of self-worth.  Ideas and convictions can be tested and evaluated.  Values and faith can be encouraged and ways to interact with society can be discovered.  The freedom for self-development and decision making will be offered.  The camper will also be introduced to healthy, creative leisure time activities.  We hope to encourage people to be open to being used of God.  We want to assist the church in developing and training church leadership.
3. Others - Living with others in close daily activities will encourage mutual caring and giving.  Learning to listen and how to be a friend will be important.  Group life will include sharing the joys, the disappointments, the responsibilities, and the freedom of life in the Kingdom of God.  Our understanding of peace will be worked out in the life of the community as we attempt to live in harmony.
4. Nature - Friedenswald offers a natural setting where the beauty of God's creation is clearly evident.  The campers will spend much time in nature living, experiencing, and learning.  How to care for nature will be demonstrated and lived as we learn what it means to be stewards.  The broadness of God's works will be explored and enjoyed in celebration as well as in silence.

Friedenswald is thankful for the opportunity to offer a place to get out of the rapid paced life.  This retreating can offer renewal spiritually, physically and emotionally.  Friedenswald is a Mennonite camp where the Mennonite confession of faith is practiced, where the Mennonite heritage is appreciated, and where people of common faith can meet, share and support each other.

We endeavor to be an integral part of the Central District and the General Conference as they strive to reach their goals.  (See the four goals of the General Conference.)  Our vision is to be a tool, a resource to the Central District, to all ages and persons.  We endeavor to be part of the enabling of our people to be disciples, to witness and to minister.  As part of our enabling ministry we endeavor to increase evangelism in the church and to be an available resource to church planting efforts of the General Conference.  We endeavor to offer these resources to the family, the single, the old, the young, to the husband and wife union, to the churches, Sunday school classes, committees, and other groups from among the Central District people.

We hope to achieve Christian unity as we cooperate with other Mennonite camps and groups, and as we interact with other faith traditions that rent our facilities.  We also hope to be a witness to these rental groups.