Wednesday, August 19, 2009

There's A Kind of Hush All Over the Camp

Kids are back at school, college classes are starting back up soon, and if you listen very carefully around the camp, the sound you hear is the staff taking a nap and resting up after a very busy summer.

Despite the current economic hardships, God continues to bless Prescott Pines, and we had even more kids attend our Frontier Village and Youth Camps this summer, than last year. Last year we added a second Youth Camp to our summer roster, and were amazed this year when we were only fifty kids short of both weeks being completely full. We were able to partner again this year with the Angel Tree Ministries, and had 60 kids who all have at least one parent in prison, come to camp and hear about the life changing salvation and love Christ offers. In addition, as our Heart Partners Scholarship program continues to grow, we were able to give a record 47 scholarships to other kids who would not be able to attend camp any other way.

This summer we saw 80 kids in our programmed camps receive salvation, and 108 who made recommitments in their walk with Christ. We are continually in awe of the ways God has decided to use Prescott Pines, and the lives that He changes on these grounds.

Friday, August 7, 2009

The Transformation is Complete

Over the past several years, we have been thoroughly blessed in our efforts to update the Chapel. We have been given the funds to upgrade the sound system, put on a new roof and steeple, and this past month, we spruced up the outside, for a completely fresh new look.

A few weeks ago, a couple came up for the week to volunteer and where given the task of power washing the outside of the chapel. As he was prepping, Calvin asked when we were planning to repaint it. When our maintenance director responded that we didn't have the funds, Calvin offered to donate the paint, and repaint it while he was there for the week. That same week we had a group of teenage volunteers from Riviera Baptist Church here as well, so between them and our current SOWER couple, they did a great job.

Already we are getting comments from guest who have not been here in a while, asking if it is a new building. The transformation is incredible, and we are so thankful for the ways God leads people with hearts for the camp. So many of the visible changes you see around camp are a result of similar blessings, from people who love the camp, and want to lend a hand.