Escape to the Lake
Escape to the Lake audience listens to music.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? Summer, vacation, time away, rest, a lake—escape!
Megan and Greg and their children drove from Chicago to the Conference Point Center on the shores of Lake Geneva in Williams Bay, Wisc. looking forward to a peaceful family vacation. They had no idea what else God had in store for them.
“When we looked at the conference center grounds and saw all the musical equipment, we wondered what we had gotten ourselves into,” explains Megan. “We are not musically inclined.”
Megan and Greg had “stumbled on” the second annual Escape to the Lake conference. And it is indeed a musical event.
But it’s more than just a music event, explains event host and organizer, Dave Trout, who also produces Under the Radar, a one-hour audio program that highlights some of the best undiscovered and under-appreciated music from Christian artists.
From July 2-5 around 300 adults, children, Back to God Ministries ReFrame Media staff, volunteers and music artists gathered at the Conference Point Center for a time of rest and spiritual renewal.
One of the main goals of ReFrame Media and Back to God Ministries International is to facilitate life-long discipleship relationships.
“The Escape to the Lake event offers concerts and interaction with some of the Christian artists we feature on Under the Radar,” says Trout. “Our ministry is mostly online, but this event allows us to meet people face to face, heart to heart, smile to smile—to foster a sense of community.”
“Everyone there was very engaged,” adds Christopher Hunt, a ReFrame staffer who, along with his 15-year-old son Joe, helped staff the event. “Escape to the Lake was restful for people who were there, even people whose kids came. We offered specific afternoon events just for kids and free time for families to break away to take advantage of the lake—swimming, sailing, Banana boat rides. The concerts were family friendly. It was great to see people enjoying the music performed with the lake as a backdrop.”
The highlight for Dave Trout seeing God do incredible things through the artists and people who came. “It was so rewarding and beautiful to have a front row seat to what God was doing.”
Benjamin posted on the Escape to the Lake Facebook site: “It's been described as a spiritual, music retreat/festival for the whole family. Escape to the Lake is that and so much more. There is a community feel to this camp experience. Lots of artists, lots of families, singles, couples, empty-nesters, rest-seekers and people who long to be in community.”
Rebekah wrote, “I joined a discussion group about infusing creativity into families. It was great hearing the ideas and struggles of others as well as being encouraged to keep doing what we're doing while being flexible.”
On her personal blog, Heidi wrote a powerful review of the impact the Escape event had on her life. “The immersion in music, art, nature, community, worship, and rest left me full of peace and joy because I connected with and sensed God through those things. Things that we don’t always make room for in our day-to-day lives.” She adds that the event reminded her that “valuing our creative sides enough to make space for it” is very important.
Even though Megan and Greg hadn’t planned to attend a family music camp, they left saying, “We have been so blessed!”
Most of this year’s campers affirmed they would be back for next year’s Escape to the Lake and have plans to invite friends.
For more photos and news from Escape to the Lake 2014, visit UTR's website radarradio.net.
