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BY MELISSA LAUBER
UMCONNECTION STAFF

Some dreams have so much power they refuse to die. The new dining hall at West River United Methodist Center in Churchton is such a dream, said Andy Thornton, director of camping ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

More than 17 years on the drawing board, members of annual conference gave the formal go-ahead for the facility in 1998. A series of financial complications put the project on the back burner, but the idea never went away. Its potential has haunted those who work with camping and retreat ministries.

This summer ground was broken on the dining hall.

On July 11, more than 100 people gathered at the edge of the bay, to celebrate the occasion. Breaking the ground were first time and long-time campers, including a pastor who was part of a team instrumental in purchasing the 45-acre campground for the Washington East District in 1951. They were joined by camp counselors, retreat leaders and conference officials.

The $4 million, 10,000 square-foot facility, designed by Bill Doggett and Associates, will allow for more effective and creative use of space. It is twice the size of the current dining hall.

West River Campground has beds for 210 people. Only 120 can sit together comfortably in the current dining hall, which is one large undivided space, with a kitchen and bathrooms attached. The new facility will seat 208 people and provide options for smaller groups to dine together.

Symbolically, the dining hall will also serve as one of the spiritual centers of the camp. ?When we dine together, we come together as one body in Christ. The fellowship around these tables will be rich,? Thornton said.

In the groundbreaking ceremony, Bishop John R. Schol lifted up the story of Jesus traveling with his disciples on the road to Emmaus. ?When they broke bread together, their eyes were opened. At the table, they saw the living Christ ? resurrected, alive,? he said.

?We?re here to continue the resurrection story,? said the bishop. ?People will break bread together and have their eyes opened to Jesus Christ.?

?We?ll raise this building,? but it?s going to take your help,? said Thornton, who explained that $2.7 million is still needed.

Camping and Retreat Ministries has enlisted the assistance of James D. Klote and Associates to oversee a capital funds campaign.

The campaign will draw upon the financial assistance of many friends of the camp whose lives and ministries have been transformed by the camping experience, which draws people outside their daily experiences to encounter God in new ways.
?This will take the help of grace-full and grateful people,? Thornton said. ?We pray God will raise up gifted and giving people to help bring this ministry to fruition.?

 This summer, approximately 896 children participated in camps at West River. During the year in 2007, 8,484 people attended retreats at the facility. 

The new dining hall at West River is expected to be completed in less than a year after construction officially begins in September. Turner Construction is the builder.
Contributions to the capital funds campaign are now being accepted. For more information, call (800) 922-6795 or e-mail .