Lustre News

Lustre received one-half inch rain on Thursday. Lustre Road is being worked on by the road department, so it has been muddy with rains. The old-timers expected rain at the Bible camp season and we are thankful.

Junior camp at Beacon Bible Camp has finished. Arlen Lundberg was the speaker, and the camp was directed by Dawson Olfert. Many volunteers assisted with cooking, counseling, helping with activities and speaking. Junior high (incoming grades 7-9) runs June 22-26.

The annual meeting of the Beacon Bible Camp was held at the camp Sunday at 4:30 p.m. before junior camp began. Bob Brown emceed the meeting. Pastor Rex Green of the Community Bible Church of Wolf Point gave the devotional. He said “Bible Camp is a place you go to get away from the world for a little while so you can pursue a relationship with God. It can be a mountain-top experience.” He read from Exodus 32 when “Moses was on the mountain top and received God’s Ten Commandments only to come back to find iniquity in the camp.” He said “After Jesus gave The Sermon on the Mount, ( Matthew 5- 7) He came down from the mountain ( Matthew 8), to find the consequences of a sinful, sin-cursed world and healed the leprous man. Yes, He was willing to make the man clean! We usually focus on the miracles, but I want you to think about the fact that we too live in a world that has iniquity. We do not live at camp. We have 51 more weeks to live out our faith in God in the valleys, where the iniquity of man is real and part of what faces us when we come down from the mountain-top.”

“In both cases, Moses and Jesus had the Word of God to give the people, and met real people with real needs. Our Bible Camp experience can have a genuine impact as we leave Bible Camp. Remember the Word is alive and active as it is lived out in the real world. Remember, in all you do to plan for a great camp week for the kids, to also prepare them for those 51 weeks that follow,” Green said.

Norman Teichroew gave a secretary’s report, and Marilyn Hilkemann gave the treasurer’s report.

Camp reports were given by each director. Director of Senior Camp Seth Runner showed a video he made of the senior high camp activities of the 33 teens who attended last week. Bible studies centered on “Cults and Counterfeit Gospel” presented by David Platt. Guest speakers for chapels were Justyn and Kimberly Klatt, Brad and Jori Marlenee, Ross Allen, Corban Erbele and Seth Runner.

Rev. Runner said, “The Senior camp theme was ‘Chat BBC: Finding God in an AI-driven world’. How can you know what is real and what we were made for? What is the truth and where do we find it? This week we unpacked who the Triune God made us to be and where we can find the truth for our lives and souls. We find God when we understand He has made us for Wisdom, Himself, People/ Community, Work/Creating, and for Good.”

Joel Hilkemann read the reports from Dawson Olfert and Justin Skillman on their camps in 2025. There were 40 children in junior camp last year and chalk artist Arlen Lundberg illustrated messages on Paul’s Missionary Journeys. Justin Skillman noticed the cabin leader’s compassion for their students and there were good discussions. He said folks noticed the peace and a spirit of love by the staff for their students.

Joel Hilkemann reported on the work days preparing for camp. He said, “There was a good turnout.” The phone was replaced, things repaired and lights added in the cabins. He added that the Brown family for donated standards for the sports court and Ann Green worked on the website. He expressed appreciation everyone for their prayers, time, giving and support.

The meeting was closed in prayer by Bob Brown.

Marvin Pankratz, son of the late Walter and Elizabeth Pancratz, died Saturday, June 13. He grew up in Lustre and was a 1968 graduate of LCHS. He worked as conductor for the BNSF railroad in Glasgow. He was a member of the Bethel Lustre Mennonite Church.