RUTH’S QUEBEC ROOTS
Ruth, a true Québecoise, grew up in the Eastern Townships and was blessed with a Christian heritage. Her Mom and Dad pastored the Pentecostal church in Lennoxville where Ruth was raised and educated. She went to Bishop’s University and was very involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship there.
RUTH’S MINISTRY CALL
Ruth’s life mission Is to influence young people for the Kingdom. Her call to ministry Is based on 2 Timothy 2:2:
“The things you and seen and heard in me, entrust to reliable witnesses who can also teach others.”
She moved to Montreal in 1980 to begin staff work with Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship, working with high school students throughout the city. She had many roles with IVCF through the years including being the Quebec Director for several years. At the same time she was also very involved in Frontier Lodge, directing Girls Camp and Leaders In Training (LIT).
RUTH’S CONNECTION WITH BETHEL
Ruth started going to Bethel in January 1982 after hearing Tom (N.T.) Wright speak at an IVCF retreat at Parkside. Although she now lives in Alberta, she considers Bethel her home church, and we are pleased to support her in her ongoing ministry.
A CALL TO PIONEER CAMP ALBERTA
In 2012 Ruth felt a strong call to IVCF’s camp work in Alberta and she became the Director of Pioneer Camp Alberta. Her time at Frontier Lodge and campus work in Montreal made this an excellent fit. Pioneer Camp Alberta consists of two sites: the
Lodge near Sundre Alberta and the Ranch near Rocky Mountain House. Both are ranch camps with about thirty horses at each site. There are currently 12 full time year round staff between the two sites. Ruth considers her role is to hire good people and free them to do their work. They host school groups and church retreats through the year and run camps for kids in the summer, welcoming about 800 campers each summer.
She also teaches a Leadership program one day a week during the year to four or five young people. Every year young people who are in between studies at high school and university come for a GAP year where they are taught leadership skills and are challenged to go deeper in their faith and walk with Christ.
NEW STEPS AND PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for Ruth as she moves to a half time role with InterVarsity in the summer of 2023, leaving her time at Pioneer as she moves to semi- retirement. Pray too for Ruth’s successor, that they will overlap well during the transition and that Pioneer will continue to flourish.
Contact info:
Ruth J. Lewis,
Executive Director – Pioneer Camp Alberta,
Box 660,
Sundre, AB T0M 1X0
Phone : 403-638-2660
Give: https://ivcf.ca/people/ruth-lewis/