Dear camp friends,
During this Season of Gratitude, your gifts empower camp ministry that nurtures the values our world greatly needs – community, servant leadership, and faith. This fall, when hurricanes struck the East Coast and left widespread damage and devastation, we heard countless stories of camp friends mobilizing to support the impacted communities. In a time of deep need, we witnessed people formed at camp respond in profound ways.
Camp nurtures community. Through cabin conversations, family-style meals, group interaction courses, silly games, and the mentorship of gifted counselors, campers feel connected to a community that cares for them and strengthens them. We saw community at work this fall when countless volunteers reached out to help with clean up and recovery. We see community in the ongoing ways our camp friends are helping their neighbors in need. Our world needs people who value community!
Camp nurtures servant leadership. At camp, young adults are equipped to be role models, youth discover God-given gifts and try them out among peers, and all learn the servant way of Jesus. We saw leadership this fall as former staff and campers brought work teams to impacted areas or led fundraising efforts in their congregations to help with the recovery. We see the gifts of leadership among the many camp friends working in helping ministries. Our world needs people who are servant leaders!
Camp nurtures faith. During vespers, Bible studies, cabin times, camp sing-alongs, and prayer walks, campers learn to make faith their own and live more fully as children of God. We saw faith in action this fall in the prayers lifted up for our camps and communities in need. We see faith in those who have experienced so much loss and yet still share their hope that God is in the midst of their struggle. Our world needs people of faith!
Today, we are pleased to announce the generous support of an anonymous friend of our ministry. We have received a new gift commitment of $100,000 in the hopes of encouraging other supporters of our ministry to help us finish the year strong. Your end of year gift will help us complete hurricane recovery work at Lutheridge, Lutherock, and Luther Springs so we can continue vibrant summer camp programs and retreat ministries that nurture community, servant leadership, and faith. During this Season of Gratitude, we encourage you to join us and this friend of our ministry with a generous gift. Thank you for being a crucial part of this ministry we all share for the sake of the world.
With grateful hearts,
Mike + Mitzie
Interim Co-CEOs
