A Message from the CEO

Dear friends,

Do you know the sound? The frogs start up down by the water, and the crickets join in. A cabin is laughing. Somewhere a group is singing on the walk back from vespers. Then it goes quiet, and even the quiet feels full. Camp is alive, and I believe that is God speaking through creation.

You’ll hear it in this issue’s stories. Tyshaun couldn’t sleep his first nights at Luther Springs because the woods were so loud, and now he loves it. Hazelle soaked up God’s love through the sound of rain at Lutherock. And Sheri walked Lutheridge every morning at a quilt retreat this August, 65 years after her first summer as a camper. She said it plainly: “God is still there.”

I love that about these places. Buildings get updated and programs grow, and every year brings new faces. But, summer or winter, camp still feels like camp. It’s familiar. It’s comforting. It’s the place you come home to.

We held onto that as we updated our strategic plan. We set specific goals under six pillars, which you can read about on page 7. Every goal points to the same place: bringing people closer to God and one another, now and for years to come.

We’ve laid out quarterly milestones, and I’m excited about the steps we’ve already taken. We hired a new Chief Marketing Officer, Carter Blend, to help bring more people to all three sites. We also redesigned the Lutheridge/Lutherock program team. Pastors Sara and Drew Yoos now lead programming at both sites, and two new team members have joined them. Mac Feid will be the program lead for Lutherock, and Livi Iobst will take on several initiatives at Lutheridge. All four will work at both camps.

At Luther Springs, we’re close to finishing a new business plan that will carry us through Sarah Anderson’s retirement. If you’ve been to Luther Springs in the past 20 years, Sarah has reminded you, “Jesus loves you.” Please join us on February 20 at Luther Springs to celebrate her. Watch our social media and email for details.

I hope to see you this spring, too. We will host donor gatherings at Luther Springs on April 10 and at Lutheridge on April 24. Mark your calendar now – details coming soon.

Come hear the frogs for yourself.

With gratitude,

Lauri SoJourner
CEO, NovusWay Ministries