On Friday, June 28, 2024, Scott A. Peterson of First Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was awarded the Theodore W. Anderson Award for outstanding lay ministry during the 138th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Covington, Kentucky. The award is named after the only layperson to serve as president of the Covenant, a role Anderson held for 25 years.
For more than 50 years, Scott has been a paragon of volunteerism, making a lasting impact in his community of faith for the mission of the gospel of Jesus. Not only has he volunteered on multiple youth ski, bike, and youth trips, as well as taking groups to CHIC conferences (now since renamed Unite), but the central focus of his service has been his devotion to Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp.
Scott’s sense of mission was formed early as part of a family heritage that spans five generations of Covenanters. His grandfather was involved in the acquisition and transition of Portage Lake Bible Camp into the Covenant, and he went to his first family camp as a toddler. To say Scott loved going to camp is an understatement. His father brought Scott and his friends to camp during his childhood years, and Scott eventually spent a few summers working for the camp, where he eventually met his wife, Terry. Once he and Terry became parents, Scott made a habit of bringing his kids and their friends to camp, not only while camp was in session, but often in the spring or fall to do necessary work supporting its operation.
In a sit-down with The Covenant Companion, Scott recounted a time when he and a group of young people trekked up to camp in a snowstorm to spend the day breaking down and transporting bunk beds from uninsulated cabins into winterized ones so that more than 200 campers from downstate Michigan could have warm, safe places to sleep. An electrician by trade, Scott used his infrastructure knowledge and professional skills and connections to spearhead many renovation and/or construction projects, including cabins, roads, challenge courses, and the dining hall.
“I still get comments from kids, who are now grown, who remember the times they spent with us, working at the camp,” said Scott. “Anything that needed to be done, I’d get people together, and we’d do it.” It was a way to engage others in the camp’s mission and helped keep costs as low as possible to support Portage Lake’s budgetary restrictions. “I’m working with the Lord’s money,” he would tell contractors or vendors, “and I’m trying to get the most bang for the Lord’s buck.”
It wasn’t just about how the money was spent but also about helping to raise it. Scott also took initiative in organizing multiple capital campaign events to support the camp, including golf fundraisers. He also represented the camp at local township and zoning meetings, trained and encouraged summer staffers, and even helped as camp cook.
“I was very surprised when I first got the call,” said Scott, as he accepted the award in front of the assembled delegation. “When I saw the videos of the previous winners, I didn’t think I measured up anywhere close. I’d like to thank all my friends who nominated me for this award. With all the ongoing projects at camp, I’d like to continue this work for many years.”
When Scott was asked what motivated all his decades of unceasing volunteerism, his answer was simple. As his emotions crested and his voice choked up, Scott said his greatest joy comes from seeing the children at camp come to receive Jesus as Lord.
