How could life get any better than a lakeside cookout under a crystal blue sky, getting to know about one hundred new friends accompanied by wonderful Messianic praise music and dancing? That’s how Camp Shoshanah 2006 opened on Sunday evening July 23rd. Amazingly the next three weeks got better and better. Each day was filled with exceptional teaching including:

• Ecclesiology, The Doctrine of the Church – Mottel Baleston
• The Book of Ezekiel – Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum
• Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective – Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum
• Israelology, The Missing Link in Systematic Theology – Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum
• The Book of Acts – Steven Ger
• Design for Discipleship – Gary Derechinsky

Once again we were blessed with a considerable international contingent. Campers from England, Germany, Japan, Canada, and New Zealand were in attendance. Two of the international visitors (Germany and Japan) received their citizenship in heaven by trusting the Lord for their salvation.

Dr. Fruchtenbaum first started attending Bible camps at our current Camp Shoshanah location as a teenager. Memorizing and quoting 120 verses each year offset most of his personal cost to attend camp. Following in his footsteps, the Jr. and Sr. High School attendees collectively memorized James 2-5 over a three-day period. What a thrill it was to hear them quote their assigned passages at the Camp Shoshanah Talent Extravaganza on the last night.

Perhaps the highlight of this year’s camp occurred at lunchtime on the final day. Last year a ground- breaking ceremony for our future dining hall was held on August 7th. Throughout the year, site preparations have been in evidence. At mealtime, hungry campers peered wistfully out the window and watched as the building area was being leveled and prepared for the pouring of the foundation. Word began to spread about the possibility of having a meal in the new dining hall before camp concluded. The Lord provided at just the last minute with the concrete being poured and surfaced on Thursday. Rain complicated the process but a crew worked through the night and early morning. Friday lunch, including barbeque chicken with all of the fixins’, was enjoyed by all. To kick off the festivities, campers joined hands in a large circle while Mottel Baleston thanked the Lord for all he has done at and through Ariel. Following a collective “Amen,” Deborah Rothbard serenaded us as a “fiddler on the roof” of our soon to be demolished dining hall.

By the time the snow flies this winter, Gary and Marcus plan to have the entire new building enclosed and under a roof. Contributions so far toward this project are sufficient to build the exterior shell. Estimates given to Ariel’s Board of Directors indicate that another $700,000 will be required to complete the interior and equip the new kitchen. Of course the longer the project is delayed, the more it will cost. We are praying that we will be able to complete the new dining hall in 2007. This building is the first step in a long-term plan to significantly upgrade Camp Shoshanah’s facilities.

Each year we are forced to turn people away who want to attend camp for lack of space. The Ariel Board of Directors feels that our camp could be an even greater asset in our discipling ministry and is committed to making our camp a first rate facility. We will share more information with you about expanded camping opportunities in the future. Please pray for God's guidance as we plan for the future of Camp Shoshanah.

The core programming at Camp Shoshanah is on a rotating 5-year schedule and is very popular as an 'equipping' educational opportunity. Our prayer is that every person who attends our camp program will return home as a catalyst for disciple making in their personal sphere of influence at home, work, church, and social settings. Next year we are planning an additional 2-week camp. Dr. Fruchtenbaum will teach Genesis at this session. Discussions are ongoing about other camp and curriculum opportunities. We have been given a tremendous potential resource not far from the largest Jewish population center in the world. We are seeking the Lord’s leading as to how He wants us to maximize Camp Shoshanah in the pursuit of fulfilling our purpose in ministry at Ariel.