| MINNEAPOLIS — Great Expectations Ministries, an outreach to youth, held its first fishing camp 20 years ago. At that event, two kids accepted Christ as their Savior, according to GEM founder and retired Minnehaha Academy teacher David Lindmark.
“The fish they caught were nice but lacking in eternal value,” Lindmark said.
In 2008, GEM plans to fill up 12 weeks of summer fishing camps on various Minnesota lakes between mid-June and late-August. Also in 2008, GEM is celebrating 20 years of providing “quality fishing experiences for urban youth in order to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
At GEM’s 3rd Annual Silent Auction fundraiser, taking place on March 29 at Colonial Church of Edina, youth and guides will share stories of their involvement with the ministry over the years. Don Rupp from KTIS radio will serve as emcee for the event, which will also feature a desert bar, and black gospel music and jazz piano.
Camp history
GEM’s first “base of operation” in 1987 was the Lindmark family’s cabin on Mule Lake near Longville, Minn. A few years later, the ministry was expanded to incorporate weekly summer camps at Girl Lake Resort in Longville.
For the past six summers, most GEM summer fishing camps, which are open to boys and girls ages 11 to 17, have been held at Luther Dell Bible Camp on Boy Lake near Longville and Remer, Minn. Although GEM is not affiliated with Luther Dell, campers often share meals and praise and worship times with the host camp.
Campers may fish for up to 10 hours a day at GEM camps, receiving close guidance and supervision. Although camps are open to all youth, GEM has always served as a special outreach to youth from single-parent families and urban locations.
“Many urban youth like to fish, or quickly discover they like to fish, when they are exposed to good instruction and successful fishing experiences,” Lindmark said. “Urban single parent moms in particular have expressed how important GEM has been to them in providing role models, fishing opportunities, and Christian education for their kids.”
GEM also incorporates friendly competition and tournaments into summer camps to help build self-image in campers.
“Most youth who participate in GEM learn about fishing and improve the skills so they become rather successful fishers, thus building self-esteem,” Lindmark said. “True, some are more adept than others, but unlike participation in some sports, all can be quite successful in fishing.”
GEM also partners with other camps and retreat centers around the state, including a new site in 2008 at The Land of Promise on Bebe Lake near Buffalo, Minn.
Club history
In 1997, Jim Bonin started the club aspect of GEM’s ministry to provide year-round follow up activities for those who have attended or planned to attend GEM camps. Monthly club meetings—usually taking place on a Saturday or full weekend—include fishing instruction, outings, and Bible study.
Today, club activities are led by Michael Thompson and a group of adult volunteers.
“I started out helping at the camps about 13 years ago when I was invited up for a week and really liked what GEM was doing,” Thompson said. “Mostly, I am hoping [youth] benefit by learning about what we believe in as Christ’s followers.”
GEM leaders and volunteers also hope camp and club participation will help build a “conservationist philosophy toward natural resources” in youth.
“As Christians, we are stewards of what God has created. Pollution and over-harvesting, for example, have had dire consequences for fisheries,” Lindmark said. “We want youth to become more conversation minded in order to protect our resources so that we can continue to enjoy this aspect of God’s creation.”
GEM continues to need financial support for camper scholarships, prayer support for the youth involved, and volunteer support to assist as guides/counselors at camp and club outings. In the future, GEM would like to expand to conduct multiple camps simultaneously while maintaining the “small ratio of adult to camper” that makes the ministry unique.
Although he loves to fish, Lindmark said his greatest joy after 20 years in ministry has been to “see youth grow spiritually.”
ACTION POINT:
The GEM 3rd Annual Silent Auction at Colonial Church of Edina will begin at 6:30 p.m. on March 29. Tickets cost $10 per person. Contact Liz Rengel at (612) 331-2125 if you wish to attend.
For more information about GEM fishing camps and clubs, visit www.gemfishing.org or call (952) 201-6849.
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