WSS July and August '09 Ministry Report"Just a short note to let you know that our daughter had an awesome week at Caleb's Challenge. When she returned home, she was the happiest we've seen her. Not only was she excited about all the fun activities they did during the week, but she was excited to share about the Lord. Heartfelt gratitude to your staff. We're thankful they are vessels God can use."-- Summer Family Camp attendee with children in Camp Caleb "My brother gets nicer every time he comes back from camp." -- younger brother of camper at Camp Caleb "When I grow up, I want to be on staff at White Sulphur Springs!"-- 4 year old Family Camp attendee Priority Obj. 1.2Implement a mentoring program by which OCF will reproduce itself across generations Summer Family Camp sessions 3 through 8 were the main event for our summer where a total of 630 guests enjoyed the rich spiritual diet of biblical teaching, discussions, fellowship, refreshment, rest and fun. Speakers for these weeks were: Dr. Andy Sanders, Mr. Bob Uber, Pastor Keith Peck, Dr. Joe Batluck Sr., Pastor Larry Hoskins and COL Jim Meredith. We enjoyed special events each week, including Open House at a staff home, International Supper, line dancing or skit night, picnic and family games, Field Day (new) for the children's classes, and Sunday Campfire with s'mores. Children's classes and guests who signed up went on horseback rides. The whole summer program was a great blessing not only to the 125 military members and their families who attended, but also to the young Support Staff and college-age Senior Staff. We on the full-time ministry team (Thomases, Bryans, Enoses, A. Thomases, Chandlers and David Braddy) are so blessed to be joined in this great ministry each year by these godly young men and women whom the Lord gives us to lift our arms in this ministry. Here are some of the quotes from guest evaluations when asked, How has your stay at WSS refreshed you and encouraged your walk as a Christian in the military? "It has allowed me to slow down and reflect and evaluate myself and how I am serving Christ and how I can be a better ambassador for Christ.""Our family had one of our best vacations ever and built a lot of great memories." "Great paradigm to think of our role as God's ambassadors. I appreciated the encouragement from other Christians, family adventure/togetherness." "So helpful to have the unplugged time and space from responsibilities to re-evaluate my growth as a Christian, our parenting, and my role specifically as a military spouse." "It has laid down the tracks for which to pull my train." "My husband and I were able to have time to sit and talk about things other than kids. We also used this time to pray about where God wants us to go. Sometimes getting away from the day-to-day helps you to find the time to search and pray." "Refocused my heart and mind on the Kingdom work." "Provided a place away from the busy-ness of daily life to rest and interact with my husband on many topics." "I feel ready to go and help, bless, serve others." "My stay at WSS has made me take the time to slow down and evaluate my life--to make some needed changes." "I was reminded of things to help strengthen my marriage. I feel prompted by the Holy Spirit to do two specific things for friends." "So spoke to my heart and equipped me. I am a well, feeling very low. I am so thankful for the refreshing of some fresh water in the Word!" "I am ready to hit the valleys for another year." "Encouraged me to not get bogged down or discontent when things get tough and overwhelming." "I loved getting away from the hustle and bustle of the world. Needed time to focus on the Lord during our change of duty station." "Encouraged by meeting other Christians in the military. Refreshed by time alone with spouse while kids were in children's program." "Escape from work has renewed my focus on what is truly important - my relationship with God, my wife and family." "I was able to set aside the stress and long hours of my job at the Pentagon and have some rest and create memories with my family." "The ability to 'unplug' from the daily hustle and bustle and plug in to God and God's 'family' is priceless. The fellowship at WSS is quite literally a small taste of heaven. I feel energized to return to the battle!" This summer's Family Camp Senior Staff members were: David Bisaillion, Curtis Bowden, Randy Darden, Aaron Gerard, Christie Halvorson, Elizabeth Jaquish, Alex McGuffy, Erich McGuffy, Joanna Morrison, Abrianna Nelson, Maria Teneo (Chile), Josh Thompson and Kay Washechek. Maryna Chuieva (Ukraine) served as our family camp teacher coordinator. Our wrangler assistants were Jacob Anderson, John Malcolm and Timothy Gauthier. Our special projects assistant was David Roberson. We were also supported by four great Support Teams, each consisting of six girls and six boys serving as volunteers in our dining room, housekeeping and grounds maintenance areas. They did a super job. They must be fifteen years old by the time of their service and can apply by printing out the Support Team application from our website. Priority Obj. 2.1Proclaim the Gospel throughout the military society by the example of our lives, particularly our military excellence. Provide members with the necessary tools for an effective ministry outreach into the workplace Priority Obj. 2.5Exhort, equip and encourage members to seek opportunities and implement efforts that reach beyond the local fellowship to affect the larger military community for Christ. Our summer youth programs, Allegheny Outback! and Camp Caleb, both had huge attendance, a record number in the case of AO! The 119 teens who came on AO! explored this year's theme of "peace" and enjoyed great times of teaching and discussion about how to have true peace (with God, others and self) through trusting in Jesus Christ. The high adventure activities involving white water, ropes course, rock climbing and rappelling, hiking and camping amidst the beauty of Pennsylvania's Ohiopyle State Park made for unforgettable experiences of growth, friendship and, in some cases, trusting Christ as Savior. David Braddy, our youth programs assistant director, planned and led the whole program as our AO! Coordinator, modeling for the four AO! staff members the servant leadership of Jesus. This year's AO! leaders were Paul Lundblad, Marijean Waring, Kristina Rehberg and David Nelson. They did a super job of smoothly running this premier program for military dependent teenagers. In addition, AOX (X is for eXtreme) sponsored two sessions this summer in which spiritual leadership was the focus for the 21 participants who were high school seniors and graduates. Leaders for this program included Dailey Chandler (WSS Youth Pgm Director), David Braddy, Heather Angolia, Hannah Bryan, Paul Lundblad and Marijean Waring. Finally, Camp Caleb offered eleven camps again this summer and had a near-record 222 campers between the grades of 3 through 8. The Gospel message was clearly presented to these youngsters, and several made first-time decisions to trust Christ as Savior. All of them had great times of learning and fun through the week's activities, such as teepee time, cabin devos, waterslide, crafts, swimming, canoeing, riflery, archery, horseback riding, field games, hiking and overnight campout. This summer's theme was "the island", referring to living as a community in the Kingdom of God. Each Camp Caleb got to share their memory verse with the adults at the Thursday picnic, one of the four "touchpoints" for parents who were spending the same week at Family Camp. Our Camp Caleb Senior Staff members were: Brian Livingston, Ryan Arnold, Rachel Neice, Heather Campbell, Suzanne Jaquish and Hannah Bryan. They were ably assisted by our apprentice counselors: Catherine Ipsan, Hannah Metheny, Bethany Petersen, Dean Graham, Lauren Armstrong, Dani Chung, Megan Moore, Hope Piirto, Kayla Slagter, Josh Washechek, Sarah Bryan, Kristin Mahaffee, Christine Sampson, Eleanor Waring, Josiah Bedrosian and Michael Prevatt. Priority Obj. 4.3Successfully execute the OCF Growing and Building Campaign, achieving all Phase 1 and 2 objectives I gave a Growing and Building Campaign presentation, progress update and tour to the Heritage House site to the attendees of all sessions of Summer Family Camp. Work continues with the capital campaign steering committee headed by Ray Johnson. The new design is almost finalized, and we are soon to engage a construction management firm to complete the 100% design and construct the center. We hope to negotiate the contract and break ground later this fall before the hard winter temperatures set in. This is an exciting time with active digging going on by Warren Service Company to install the utilities trench, along with Bedford Rural Electric Cooperative. The work is almost completed to bring 3-phase electrical power to the Heritage House site. Soon the follow-on work of running telephone, water supply and wastewater drain lines will begin. Other Ministry HighlightsWe sadly said farewell to David Braddy who has served faithfully for over two years as our assistant youth programs director. David accepted an internship program with McLean Presbyterian Church wherein he will be involved with seminary courses, capitol hill internship and assisting in the youth program of the church. He has made a profound impact in the lives of many teens through his outstanding leadership of the AO! program, as well as his acting as a facilitator for Youth Leadership Bedford County, a Chamber of Commerce program in the local community high schools. David will be greatly missed here. If you would like to support him in this internship, send a contribution to McLean Presbyterian Church, 1020 Balls Hill Rd, McLean, VA 22101, and mark it for David Braddy, intern. Prayer Requests
- Praise God for our summer programs! Many were blessed and military marriages were strengthened. Pray for all who
attended to be prepared and step out for God in the workplace. Warmly yours in Christ, |