10 Questions with Asbury Hills Director David Rouse

After being on the job for a full week, we decided it was time for you to get to know the new Asbury Hills director a little better. David comes to Asbury Hills from a camp and conference center in Kentucky with his wife, Susan, and children, Scott and Kassidy. He graduated from East Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Here are 10 Questions with David:

 

Have you played any sports?
Soccer as a forward and basketball if you can believe that.

What are your hobbies?
Spending time with family especially throwing a football with Scott and Kassidy. We love to go hiking and are looking forward to being able to do it more now that we are in this area. We also love going to theme parks and the beach.

Favorite Movie?
Back to the Future

Favorite Vacation Spot?
Disney World (FYI for reasons why Asbury Hills is better than Disney World, click here.)

If you had to live off one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Cereal, specifically Cocoa Krispies

If you could have any superpower what would it be?
Flying (very helpful for getting around Asbury Hills)

What is your favorite superhero?
Iron Man

Favorite book/TV show?
Intimacy with the Almighty by Chuck Swindoll and MacGuiver

Favorite thing so far about Asbury Hills?
I’ve really enjoyed the relational aspect. Asbury Hills has a very close and friendly staff.  It is also a beautiful property.

What are you most looking forward to about the next year?
I’m really looking forward growing together as a team here. I see Asbury Hills as poised for growth, and I’m very excited about expanding the ministry and seeing what new things Asbury Hills can offer.

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Laughter, Joy, and Worship

“If there is no laughter, Jesus has gone somewhere else. If there is no joy and freedom, it is not a church: it is simply a crowd of melancholy people basking in a religious neurosis. If there is no celebration, there is no real worship.”
― Steve Brown, Approaching God: Accepting the Invitation to Stand in the Presence of God

Asbury Hills – More Fun than Disney World

By Sarah Kelley
What comes to mind when you think about the most magical place on earth? Most would yell Disney World! (Although you are reading this blog so maybe you have already jumped ahead of me and yelled camp.) After each week of summer camp, we send out parent surveys to continually evaluate and improve our summer programs. Without fail, each summer we receive several responses from parents saying their son/daughter says camp at Asbury Hills was more fun than Disney World. I take that as one of the highest compliments we could receive.  It’s nothing against the mouse. Disney really is a magical place, and with a two-year old daughter obsessed with Mickey Mouse, the day is coming soon for me when we plan a trip of our own there.

So what is it about Asbury Hills that makes campers say it is better than Disney World? Is the Wet Willie really more fun than Splash Mountain?

Does the zipline canopy tour beat the Rock and Rollercoaster?

Does the giant swing beat The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror?

Maybe they do, but I think it has less to do with the activities and more to do with the intangibles that Asbury Hills offers. While you will bump into people from all over the world in Disney, chances are you won’t get to stay in cabin with them and make real friendships. And besides the occasional stranger you may ask for directions, there aren’t many opportunities for teamwork to happen at a theme park. But I think the biggest difference is we give our campers a chance to ask lots of questions, be a leader but also learn to follow, to solve problems, to try something new, and overall develop and be confident in who they are as an individual. And that’s something that not even the most magical place on earth can offer.

Three Strand Cord

⁹ Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work. ¹⁰ If either should fall, one can pick up the other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a companion to help them up! ¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they can stay warm. But how can anyone stay warm alone? ¹² Also, one can be overpowered, but two together can put up resistance. A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12