Cape Town Camp Ground

By Marc Blackwell, Jr.

Marc's parents took their 5-year-old son to Zimbabwe where the family lived for five years. In 1980, Marc and Judie Blackwell, Sr. moved with their family to South Africa to open that field for ABWE. Marc Jr. attended public schools in both African countries. He attended an Afrikaans high school and university, and also studied at the missionary-run Church Ministries Institute before completing his education in the USA. Now Marc, his wife Nancy, and their two children serve as church planters in Cape Town.

As the little 4x4 started up the mountain road, my anticipation of an adventurous ride was soon rewarded with a fallen tree across our path. Out came a two-way radio and our host spoke a simple command to one of the farm workers, "Abram, bring die saag." Within minutes, the puttering of a dirt bike grew louder and Abram appeared with a saw slung over his shoulder.

A few minutes later, we were on our way, out of the tree line onto a circuitous route to the top of Paardeberg Mountain. The name is derived from Dutch meaning "horse mountain" because this is where colonists found zebra 350 years ago.

As our track wound up toward the ridgeline, we were surrounded by bushes of protea, South Africa's national flower. The protea is not dainty or delicate, but it symbolizes the rugged beauty of this country.

I'll be back on the mountain often, because the ABWE Cape Town team is opening a new ministry. The Paardeberg Mountain Retreat Center is a blend of Christian camping philosophy and the South African love for natural beauty and conservation.

Camp naturally lends itself to youth programs, yet we also desire to see the impact of this retreat center in the lives of families. Isolated from everyday routines, people may have time and quietude to listen to God's solutions to the decisions they need to make. This camp/retreat will serve as an evangelistic and discipling tool for the ministries of the ten church plants and many yet to be established in Cape Town.

How Can Your Church Help the Cape Town Camp?

Camp administrator Gene Hayden suggests the following projects:

Nine volunteer work teams needed over the next few years to help with construction.
Individuals or churches needed to assist in building a guesthouse. As a bonus, the volunteers would be able to use the guesthouse (for three weeks) each year for vacation or camp-related ministries.
Send a youth leader with senior teens or college-age people to work in the camp program, partnering with local churches.
A long-range project is an HIV/alcohol/drug rehab program. Although this would be administered through local churches, the camp's rural setting makes it a possible location.
Donations to help with the costs of the above projects

If you are interested in supporting the Cape Town camp, please send email to Gene Hayden.