2018 Special Edition 2018 Special Edition | Page 17

Dave Wilcoxen: then and now at Green Lake Walking around Chapel Car Grace. Cruising the lake on the Captain Bickel. Savoring ice cream at the Snackery. Learning more about Jesus at the Jubilee youth conference. Dave Wilcoxen fondly remembers childhood and young adult visits to Green Lake in the 60s, 70s and 80s. His dad was an American Baptist pastor, and his family often went to Green Lake for mixed business/pleasure trips. While dad was at meetings, Dave and his mom “would do fun stuff,” he said. Last fall while visiting Green Lake with his wife Lisa and mom Margery, Dave shared those memories and even recreated pictures taken in 1957 and 1958. “The Chapel Car is memorable because I often stayed in the Abbey Area and the car was located there at that time. I thought it was pretty cool walking around on it. I remember hearing about it being used for mobile church services and thinking how unique that was. Mom and I spent a lot of time at the swimming pool behind Roger Williams Inn. I remember going into the building to get ice cream down in the basement. I also remember riding the Captain Bickel around the lake -- I’m sure that was my first boat ride of that kind in my life. And I remember chapel services and games of shuffleboard along the lake there too. I spent parts of the day at the Children’s Center hanging out with other kids. I was a bit shy so the first few minutes there were sort of nerve-wracking until the teacher began doing things with us to make us feel welcome,” Dave said. “Later as a teen I remember going to Green Lake with our youth group in the winter. We had a great time cross country skiing and doing other activities in the snow. The golf course was an ideal place for that. I attended a youth conference called Jubilee in the summer of 1980. It was there that I first was exposed to the story of Jesus quoting Isaiah in the temple (Luke 4:18). I call it Jesus’ mission statement: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor...freeing the captives...bringing sight to the blind.” That scripture has had a huge impact on my life ever since.” Dave is currently the Managed Care Director at Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago. His mom, Margery, attends American Baptist work weeks at Green Lake. What’s your story? E-mail [email protected] or call [phone] to share. glcc.org | 15