Since its inception in 1961, the annual St. Lawrence Family Conference (popularly known as Silver Lake) has been a testament to God’s faithfulness. Over the years there have been many modifications, memorable speakers, and adventures, all of which contribute to its rich history.

The conference was established to accommodate the youth from RP congregations in northern Ontario who could not afford to travel to and attend White Lake Covenanter Camp at White Lake, N.Y. Initially the conference was not located at Silver Lake, but, in keeping with its name, the first St. Lawrence Family Conference (SLFC) was held along the St. Lawrence River. Within a couple of years, the SLFC had to move on in search of a larger facility.

The second location that SLFC occupied was in Lisbon, N.Y. A disadvantage was that the campground, owned by the Holiness Association, had no adjoining lake. On the other hand, food for the weekend often came from campers’ own gardens. Sunday morning worship at the camp was followed by evening worship at the Lisbon RPC, which provided a wonderful opportunity for the believers from “up north” to fellowship with American believers. Although originally intended for youth, the SLFC began to attract whole families.

Numbers continued to grow, and soon it was necessary to find a larger campground. Echo Lake, Ont., was the next stop in the journey. The long, winding road leading to the campground proved treacherous for one camper who arrived late at night one year. Due to limited visibility, the camper’s car careened off the road. He had to walk all the way to camp for help. Help was promptly given, reinforcing the important part that volunteering and serving have always played in the SLFC. Beyond that perilous lane lies a lovely camp, which, though it lacks four-star accommodations—and had only tents, trailers, and a few rooms over the mess hall—boasts a lake, baseball field, and volleyball court.

In recent years, the SLFC has been held at the Silver Lake Wesleyan Camp near the small town of Maberly, Ont., and just 2 hours from Ottawa. The conference takes place each Labor Day weekend.

There are many regular activities in the schedule. Each year the talent show inspires admiration for the wide range of talent on display: singers, musicians and dancers. Also on the program are the comedians who delight us with a number of clever skits. A few brave the chilly waters of the early morning polar bear dips, and several enjoy the morning walk/jog/run at their own pace. All are welcome to meet in the chapel before breakfast for prayer. The psalm sing on Sunday afternoon is a time to sing our favorite psalms. Every evening there are campfires, where campers may hear the gospel, listen to testimonies, and sing. This singing repertoire includes psalms, worship songs, and silly campfire songs. The fellowship is so much enjoyed that many children and teens wish they could stay up after curfew is announced. Free time is quickly filled with canoeing, swimming, soccer, basketball, indoor floor hockey, water skiing, beach volleyball, crafts, and—of course—lots of wonderful Christian fellowship.

But the series of messages by the keynote speaker is the highlight of the weekend, leaving us with much to talk about, think about, and pray about as we try to incorporate what we learn into our lives. During the earlier half of the weekend, solid Reformed literature is available for purchase at a book table. Vendors have included Sola Scriptura, Reformation Heritage Books, and, in 2012, Banner of Truth Trust.

The SLFC has hosted a wide range of speakers from North America and beyond. Since Ken G. Smith first came in 1961, we have been blessed to sit under the teaching of Al Martin, Derek Thomas, Harry Metzger, Barry York, Ian Hamilton, Ted Donnelly, and many others including, most recently, Joel Beeke (2011) and Andrew Quigley (2012). Each man has given Christ-centered, challenging messages that have been a blessing to us. In recent years, the messages have been recorded, and families are able to listen to the talks again after they have returned home.

This year Silver Lake welcomed back Pastor Andrew Quigley, who shared a series of sermons on “Sing the Lord’s Song in Babylon.” He has been the pastor of the Airdrie, Scotland, RP Church since 1994. His appearance at Silver Lake in 2012 is due largely to the deep impact his messages had when he spoke in 2010.

The Ottawa Theological Hall held its annual convocation at Silver Lake for the third year in a row, a practice that we hope to continue for years to come.

In 2012 we said goodbye to The Book of Psalms for Singing and projected The Book of Psalms for Worship onto a big screen.

Following record-breaking attendance in the beginning of the millennium, attendance dropped significantly to a mere 128 in 2007. The reasons for this decrease were never fully understood, but by God’s grace and through diligent efforts to improve the conference each year, recent conferences have drawn crowds of 200-300. Attendance is predominantly Canadian, but there are a number of saints from south of the border who come every year. Fellowship with them is always a blessing.

The SLFC’s original constitution was drafted by the young people at the Lisbon camp. Among its founding ideals, the constitution stipulated an organizing committee comprising youth no older than 25. While the SLFC no longer insists on a young adult committee and the constitution has been exchanged for the St. Lawrence Family Conference Manual, recent committees have comprised lots of young people. The conference is organized by an executive committee elected annually by camp attendees. The 2012 executive committee consisted wholly of people in their twenties with the guidance of two overseeing elders appointed by the St. Lawrence Presbytery. Young-adult committee members have enjoyed the opportunity to practice leading and organizing. Camp is run entirely by volunteers, including dishwashers, cooks, dorm counselors, nursery staff, lifeguards, Sabbath school teachers, and others who give willingly of their time and talents to bless their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Using RP cooks to run the camp kitchen has significantly reduced costs and helped to keep camp affordable for families. In 2011, Brian and Judy Prince of the Ottawa RPC retired after 17 years of dedicated service in this capacity. The cooks plan the menu for the weekend and determine how much food is required. Working within a strict budget, they purchase precise amounts of food and do a great deal of preparation and cooking before camp begins. Each day of camp, they get up early, follow their detailed schedule to prepare delicious meals, and retire late, much of their work having been done behind-the-scenes. The food is wholesome, on time, and tasty, and that is no small feat considering the number hungry mouths to feed.

The facilities at Silver Lake, while far from a luxury resort, provide comfortable accommodations, including motel rooms for families with small children, cabins, camping spaces, some cottages, and dorms for children aged 7-17. The dorm counselor leads the dorm in evening devotions and can have an influence on the lives of the young campers. Because of the responsibility inherent in their task, counselors, who are selected and approved by the executive committee, must be at least 18, must be members of an RPC or trusted adherents, and must have a letter of recommendation from their elder.

The St. Lawrence Family Conference has grown to be a huge success over the years, and by God’s hand it has been a blessing to innumerable lives. Many count down the days until they can once again sleep in the dorms, play volleyball, enjoy the talent show, meet old friends and make new ones, swim, canoe, sing songs around the campfire, and share meals with friends in the dining hall. The unity demonstrated each year among members of sister congregations is delightful to see, as are the lasting friendships made. For many, summer just isn’t complete without Silver Lake. But the most pronounced blessing seen and experienced is the growth in grace in each believer’s walk with the Lord as God’s truth does its work. In 2011, the SLFC celebrated its 50th anniversary. Great is God’s faithfulness!

The SLFC is organized by the St. Lawrence Presbytery of the RPCNA. Visit us on Facebook (facebook.com/StLawrenceFamilyConference) for more information and to see pictures.

Grace Pringle is a long-time SLFC attendee, a homeschool graduate and newlywed who especially enjoys writing fiction. Her sister-in-law, Leah Lindeman, is a fulltime mother and homemaker who is hoping soon to publish her first book-length work of fiction. Photos by Grace Pringle.