On Friday, Oct. 2 at the opening of our Fall Workbee Weekend, I had the great honor of awarding the 2009 Camp Luther Volunteer of the Year award to Rev. Edgar Barg.
Pastor Barg has been a fixture at Camp Luther Workbees since 1973. His permanently assigned workbee project is splitting firewood for campfires. Ed regularly arrives on Thursday prior to the weekend and turns a two-day project into a four-day event. Pastor Barg is also our main coordinator of Campbell Soup Labels (now UPC symbols). He has cut and trimmed hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million of these labels over the years. All of which turn into cash, supplying Camp Luther with thousands of dollars in athletic and av equipment over the years. In addition, Pastor Barg annually coordinates a volunteer group from his home congregation, St. John’s Lutheran in Ladysmith, WI. They join us each winter or spring a are responsible for getting huge mailings our of our office.
Pastor Barg is a tremendous example of Christian service. His love for the Lord and the church is evident to all. Ed’s long term consistent volunteering has had a wonderful positive impact on the ministry of Camp Luther. Since 1973, Pastor Barg has attended approximately 108 Workbee Weekends. On those weekends he has split firewood for a minimum of 16 hours, usually more. That’s 1728 hours, which is 33 weeks of wood splitting. His efforts have made it possible for Camp Luther to enjoy approximately 500 campfires a summer for cookouts and campfire devotions. That’s 18,000 campfires since 1973. If you were a camper at Camp Luther at some point in the last 36 years, it is very likely that Pastor Barg split the wood for your campfire.
Pastor Barg we thank you for all that you have done at Camp Luther in service to the Lord. You are a great example to all. May God continue to bless you, his loyal and humble servant.