Riverside Reader

Riverside is a part of each of us. Our personal history walks through Riverside at some point - whether it is simply one weekend retreat or years of faithful service and giving. If you get this newsletter, it's because you have a connection to this stretch of the Tomorrow River.

I had the opportunity to watch as a faithful servant of Riverside (and the Lord) shared his story of God's work in his life. Lowell Fox came to know Christ at age 22 through the evangelistic efforts of the Twist family in Meehan, WI. Roma Twist encouraged Lowell to get acquainted with Riverside. Because Fox worked full time at the paper mill, he could only come out to the evening service and help with maintenance. He learned about Christ while at camp and began to sense that God was calling him to full time service.

At that time (1945), Riverside looked quite different than today. The dining hall was there, but the back parts (bookstore and dish room) had not been added yet. The only running water on the grounds was in the kitchen. The chapel was also there but unfinished. The recently remodeled prayer chapel was then the camp garage. Many of the dorms had yet to be built.

All through his twenties, Lowell Fox helped out at Riverside when he could. He began preaching the Word of God in the unrefined "paper-mill" language that he knew. He did not use flowery words or powerful persuasion. He knew what Christ had done for him and that is what he effectively shared. In 1956, after marrying Nada at Meehan Church, Fox was appointed to the American Sunday School Union (now American Missionary Fellowship) as a missionary to Upper Michigan.

Even though Lowell was not ministering directly at Riverside anymore, the camp continued to aid him in ministry to the local people. Four times a year, he and Nada would drive a bus of campers down to Riverside for summer camp or a retreat. In this way, Lowell was able to reach many families for Christ. Lowell shared many stories of the road trips between Riverside and Michigan. "One day when we'd broken down with a flat tire," Lowell recounted, "A fella pulled up who'd been drinking and offered to help us. We witnessed to him right there on the side of the road." It was stories like these and more that Lowell shared as evidence of how God directed them in service alongside the camp.

We all, like Lowell Fox, have a story of God's work in us. I urge you to share it. It doesn't matter how much education you've had in theology or evangelism. In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul tells about how he came to the people - not with eloquence or superior wisdom … He knew Christ crucified (v.1-2). We all know our stories of what God has done. Now is the time to share it.