On August 25, 2007, 138 students arrived at Jackson’s Point for Territorial’s 40th anniversary music & gospel arts camp. Leaders included, Major Kevin Metcalf, territorial music secretary; Dr. Ronald Holz, guest conductor from Asbury College, Kentucky; Captains Curtis Cartmell and Rachele Lamont, Bible study guests from Montreal’s inner city ministries; Cathie Koehnen, “A” chorus conductor who has been part of Jackson’s Point territorial camp for nearly 30 years; Joe Caddy, drama leader, who runs the Bill Booth Theater Company in Chicago Illinois; and Kurtis and Sharlene Loveless, worship stream leaders from Halifax.

Band leaders were John Lam and Brian Burditt of The Canadian Staff Band (http://salvationist.ca/csb/ ); women’s chorus and mixed chorus leaders were Jane Lam, Steve Armstrong and Major Beverly Ivany; and media stream leaders were Tim Sharp and Kim Garreffa.

Sunday night was the official anniversary celebration. A musical night entitled “Thanks for the Memories” featured guests Steve Brown, Curtis Metcalf, Doreen Marriott, Bill Way and Brian Burditt who demonstrated their musical prowess interspersed with stories of past camp memories.

Bill Way reminded us of early days with no showers, and campers were only allowed to bathe and wash their hair at the lake once during the course of the week: “It’s no wonder we couldn’t get any dates!” Bill quipped.

Brian shared how in his first year on staff he received an angry midnight complaint about campers holding an open air with full brass ensemble that was keeping everyone awake. When Brian arrived to interrupt the enthusiastic campers, they announced that he was there to give his testimony! So Brian agreeably obliged, but finished by concluding the open air and leading the students back to camp in a smart organized march.

Musically, Doreen graced campers with vocal solos Let Me Tell You and I Surrender All (David Chaulk). Steve serenaded us on both flugel and cornet with Sweet By and By (Len Ballantine) and Softly and Tenderly. Most memorable was Curtis Metcalf’s flawless and humorous euphonium rendition of Grandfather’s Clock, after which he joined a double quartet (four cornets, four trombones) for Ain’a That’a Good News.

Bill Way demonstrated his amazing piano proficiency with his own original jazz arrangement and also brought the house down by reviving his old Jackson’s Camp tradition of playing his “doll” - a special Mattel creation whereby certain notes of the scale can be played by pressing the doll’s hands, feet or stomach.

Monday night featured Dr. Ron Holz teaching SA music history in a creative and memorable way. He shared the history of pieces such as Would You Know Why I Love Jesus, He Who Would Valiant Be. Interspersed with Ron’s interactive lecture were soloists who demonstrated the variety that exists musically amongst Salvationists, including a euphonium solo from Captain Mark Hall, DYS Ont. CE Div, a new setting of a hymn tune from vocal soloist Donna Harris, a violin solo from staff member Anita Hiradhar, and a broadway vocal solo from drama leader Joe Caddy.

Ron has also recently published a book Brass Bands of The Salvation Army, which is currently available through our Supplies and Purchasing department (http://www.salvationist.ca/theme/2007/new-resources/ ).

Tuesday night was the traditional talent night. Highlights included a duet from Barrington and Brindley Venables, singing Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Pie Jesus in the original soprano key (I believe their top note was a super A above middle C). Their pitch was flawless.

Another highlight was piano soloist Shane O’Regan from Halifax Fairview Citadel. His presentation of Motto Perpetua was lightning-paced for the duration of its entire six minutes.

Ryan Donais repeated his stellar solo snare drum performance from last year, with a few variations. Ryan is a drum corps major who juggles his drum sticks and plays rolls while balancing a stick in his mouth or on his arm or behind his back, and never missing a beat.

Throughout the week Curtis Cartmell and Rachele Lamont walked campers through the minor prophets Haggai, Jonah, Amos and Malachi. Following group Bible lessons people divided into small groups and worked through questions where scripture could apply to current situations. Themes dealt with included self-indulgence, defilement, “going-through-the-motions” of worship, hypocrisy, and recognizing our sphere-of-influence in the communities we live in.

On Wednesday night the bands and choirs performed for an overflow crowd in the divisional auditorium. Because of a new covered pavilion built next to the auditorium this summer, a live feed was wired so the overflow audience could watch the program via a large screen.

Brian Burditt’s band opened the program with Lift Jesus High (Kenneth Smith), a new brass arrangement based on the popular contemporary chorus We Want to See Jesus Lifted High. Our new territorial leaders, Commissioners William and Marilyn Francis opened in prayer. This was their second visit to the camp, as they had already been guest soloists and speakers for the Sunday morning holiness meeting.

Jane Lam led the women’s chorus in Shepherd Song (Joy Webb) and Fix Your Eyes on Jesus ( Len Ballantine). The media stream provided an overview video of the first few days of camp, following which the drama stream performed a memorable sketch entitled “Mechanical Worship”. Cathie Koehnen led the women’s chorus in a new arrangement of the hymn Rock of Ages, followed by lively Hosanna (Kirk Franklin).

John Lam’s band played The Blessing (William Himes), a fanfare composition written in honour of his son’s wedding, spotlighting the hymn tune Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

The worship stream led the congregation in How Great is Our God (Tomlin) and Give Us Clean Hands (Hall). Chief Secretary, Glen Shepherd, then delivered a short devotional.

‘A’ Band kept it celebratory with Cause for Celebration (William Himes) and the exuberant Exultate ( Kenneth Downie). The ‘A’ chorus chose devotional pieces And You Will Be My Witnesses (Len Ballantine) followed by lovely Closer Still (Geron Davis).

Thursday evening was a time of worship and renewal as campers gathered around a large mercy seat “cross” covered in lit candles. As the service progressed candles were snuffed out, representing the fact that 75% of young people leave the church permanently once they finish high school and move away to college or vocations. Interspersed amongst congregational worship songs were testimonies, a call to a Zambian missions opportunity, and reflections from guest speaker Major Floyd Tidd, territorial corps ministries secretary. Floyd based his devotional on Hebrews 2:1 where it says that “It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off” (The Message). A time of prayer and recommitment followed and the mercy seat was filled with campers.

Friday night was elective night featuring the timbrels (led by Donna Harris), the barbershop elective (led by Steve Armstrong), a trombone choir (led by John Lam), contemporary vocal (led by Cathie Koehnen), drama (led by Peter Koehnen), worship team (led by Len Marshall and Valerie Moreton), and songwriting (led by Kurtis Loveless and Curtis Cartmell), the latter presenting a worship song campers had written entitled “Here”.

Interspersed throughout was media presentations by the media elective who had videoed interviews with members of all the non-performing electives.

The final Saturday evening program was held at Scarborough Citadel to an audience of about 450. John Lam’s band played Call of the Righteous (Leslie Condon) while Brian Burditt’s band offered us Majesty (Kenneth Downie). The drama stream delighted us with Church Shopping, a whimsical but illuminating look into the different worship styles and atmospheres of various church denomination. Its message of respecting differences and allowing diversity was clear.

Cathie Koehnen led the women’s chorus with Reason to Sing (Donna Butler) and Lean on Me (Kirk Franklin), which was accompanied by media designed by staffer Tim Sharp. Jane Lam led the women’s chorus in You Are Always There (Richard Phillips, arranger), and a premiere presentation of Things Thought Impossible (staffer Donna Harris. (visit her websites at http://www.markedbylove.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/markedbylove ).

‘A’ band prefaced Commissioner William Francis’ devotional with Abide With Me (Erik Leidzen), which was unfinished when the composer died, but has since been completed by Ron Holz. The commissioner delivered a short message, focusing on the centre verse of the entire Bible, Psalm 118:8, and its relationship to the Last Supper of Christ, prior to His time in Gethsemane and the crucifixion.

‘A’ chorus presented Len Ballantine’s Behold the Tabernacle, based on scripture from Revelation 21, which in part says “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.” The piece depends on fluid, breath-taxing unison, pitch-perfect lines from the choir in order to translate the message. At the end of the nine minute piece there was absolute silence for at least ten seconds. Finally the choir sang an arrangement of In Christ Alone (Stuart Townend) in combination with the hymn Solid Rock.

‘A’ Band finished the night with a new piece Lord of Sea and Sky (Martin Cordner), which is based on Isaiah 6 where Isaiah gives his famous response “Here I am, send me.”

As a benediction, all 170+ staff and campers gathered at the front of the church to premiere Always Good News (Len Ballantine) whose lyrics read: “Since I’ve heard with my ears this Song of songs, Since I’ve seen with my eyes the work God has done, I must tell with my mouth, I must try to describe this Good News.”

This is the purpose for which Territorial camp exists: To creatively and spiritually motivate young adults to go out and make a difference in the communities God has given them, to fulfill the Great Commission and be effective witnesses for Christ to their generation.

by Kim Garreffa