In February 1997, Mr. O. received a letter from former camper and counselor, Richard Pittman of Greenwood, Mississippi. Enclosed with the letter was his signed contract indicating his return to Alpine for his third summer on staff. We appreciate Richard's permission to share this letter with you as it reveals the heart of a counselor at Alpine. We were thrilled to talk with Richard in Africa recently and learn how the Lord has used him and his life since leaving Alpine.
February 3, 1997
Dear Mr. O,
I can hardly express to you how excited I am about coming back to camp this summer. My heart is really overflowing with anticipation and hope about what lies ahead. I have already begun to pray about how I might serve there and how God would bless the camp, the boys, and you administrators.
There is no way for me to accurately express how much God has used Alpine to change my life. From the first summer when I began to struggle with my identity as a Christian, to last summer as I struggled and squirmed more while being sanctified as we served our Father. Now I am already so engaged emotionally and physically in trying to make this summer the best term of camp ever.
One of the main reasons I love Alpine is because I get to feel a part of it. You do not run it as if it were just your camp, but you allow it to be our camp. You allow us to feel ownership. You allow us to belong. Though my generation has such a pronounced struggle with commitment, through Alpine I have discovered that the commitment to serve Christ is the only way that can begin to fill us to the capacity of His love on earth. We are so lead by the illusion that happiness lies not in service, but in being served; not in having to struggle, but by coasting. We seek experiences that indulge and cultivate the self to a point that we do not even have time or desire to serve our Savior. Yet, God is so good that he still lays it on the hearts of 60 men each summer to come and serve Him as an Alpine counselor.
Paul said something to me the other day which I agree with so much that I will appropriate it here: “Alpine is a place that I believe in.” I do not mean it in the way that it is a cult, but rather I believe in camp, because I see it as a genuine place of ministry in which God’s kingdom is advanced and enjoyed on a very practical level. I have found no place where I feel that my spiritual gifts can be utilized as well as they are there. It seems I am taken to my limit each summer, only to have my limits stretched by God’s grace.
I am so thankful to be able to work for you and with you now in recruiting and this summer in camp. I love you and I will continue to pray for you and your family. Thank you for letting me be a part of what God is doing at Alpine.
Your servant in Christ,
Richard
In 1971, Tom Patterson of Memphis, Tennessee, kept a journal while a counselor at Alpine. Tom was an exceptional counselor for our 14 and 15 year old boys and a member of the Team Sports crew. In the following excerpts from his diary, camper and counselors names have been changed.
“If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. You can or call (256) 634-4404 from 8 - 5 (CST).”
“Mothers! I know sending your son to camp is a big decision. for a straight answer from mom to mom.”
At camp, the time is 8:02 AM
