Thank you so very much for your financial gift to the camp ministry. Your gift will be used to support our efforts in providing a Christian camping environment that challenges youth and adults to love and serve Christ. There is no doubt that this camp is a better place and a more effective tool for God’s work because you have chosen to partner with us.

During the months of spring is when it is most evident how much we count on our camp partners. In just a few days, we will have our Summer Camp Kick-Off Meeting at the camp. This is when our Member Churches will receive everything they need to promote summer camp in their churches and learn where we are counting on them to help us prepare for campers. Yes, summer camp is closer than we think. We already have our 8th Annual Open House & Auction planned and promotional flyers are ready for distribution. This week our water bottles and T-shirts will arrive. This years’ T-shirt is really colorful and a lot of fun. Before you know it, church groups will be cleaning buildings, making improvements to the grounds, and delivering camp barrel items. Some anxious kids even send in their summer camp registrations during the month of March. Please pray that God’s people will come along side the camp during these next few months so that we might accomplish all that needs to be done to have another awesome summer camp season. Please also pray for our Summer Staff, Deans, and Faculty as they prepare to serve God and our campers at LaMoine this summer.

I thank you again for all you do as supporters of our ministry. We can’t do it without you! May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless LaMoine Christian Service Camp!

I must start this letter by thanking you for your financial gift.  Each month I am humbled by how many people love this camp and by how much they give to ensure our continued success in God’s work. We appreciate your gift so much and I hope that it brings you great joy to support a ministry that is so very effective in reaching youth and adults for Christ. Christian camping and retreat experiences provide opportunities for youth and adults to cultivate a love for God like nothing else can.

Jon and I just recently returned from the Christian Camp Leader’s Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, where we both were challenged and inspired to continue working to make LaMoine Christian Service Camp & Retreat Center the absolute best place that it can be. The main thought that I took away from this year’s conference is that there is so much more that we can do here at LaMoine to be an even better camp. My eyes were really opened to many areas of this ministry that we can improve upon. I know that at times daunting tasks can be discouraging, but for Jon and me, we are just committed and excited about what the future holds, for we know that as the camp makes positive changes, God will have even more opportunities to draw His children to Him.

We are so blessed to have this camp. Sixty-three years of changing lives and counting. May we always be thankful for this blessing and may we all continue to give our best to this ministry. Together we will strive for excellence in everything the camp has to offer; buildings, grounds, programs, staff, etc. Our campers and other guests deserve that from us and our God expects our very best as well. I am so thankful that God has blessed this camp area with people like you who will support our goal of excellence here at LaMoine and who will help us in our pursuit of it. Thank you for joining us in this great and worthy adventure!

Happy New Year everyone!

Thank you for your financial gift to the camp. Our Christian camping partners were very generous in 2009 and your gift now shows that you plan to support our work once again this year; and for that I am very grateful.

I know it is only January, but I am already starting to get excited about what is planned for 2010. This year’s schedule of events is posted on our website www.lamoinecamp.org. Seniors, you won’t want to miss our Musical Lollapalooza on May 21st. The summer staff is also coming together nicely with, hopefully and prayerfully, all experienced staff returning for another year. The theme for this year is “Escaping to Paradise”. We want our campers to know that for a few days this coming summer they can escape the doldrums of the everyday to the paradise of LaMoine Christian Service Camp. And even more than that, they just might claim the promise of the everlasting paradise in heaven while they are here, read Luke 23:39-43.

As I share with you some of what we are working on here at the camp, it is because of God’s grace and your giving that we have this ministry to share in.  Please continue to give so that LaMoine might continue to impact youth and adults for Christ. I pray that 2010 will be the best of years for you, your family, your church, and your camp.

I hope this letter finds you enjoying all the good things that this time of year brings. During the Holiday Season, it is easy to be reminded of how much I love and appreciate my Christian camp family and all that we share together: a bond of love for the baby Jesus, who came to live, to die, and to live again, that we might share a peace with God and an eternal home in heaven; a heart felt love and appreciation for our families, churches, and country; and a commitment to providing a place where people of all ages can come and experience the love of Jesus in a Christian camping environment.

I want to update you on our “Seed Money for a Kingdom Harvest” program designed to raise money for new bathroom facilities at the camp. You may remember that this program goes through the end of the year and so there is just a few more weeks left to turn in packets. So far, those who have taken part in this fundraiser have brought in nearly $15,000.00. In total, we have almost $35,000.00 that has been given toward new bathrooms. You can see that some camp partners and churches have taken the initiative to give directly toward this need apart from the fundraising program. Early next year we will be meeting with our contractor to make final decisions about how to best meet our need and what the anticipated cost will be. In the meantime, we are very grateful for everything that our camp family is doing to help us prepare for this expense.

As always, I thank you for your financial gift to the ministry work of the camp. The camp staff also wishes you a Merry Christmas and a blessed Holiday Season with your family and friends, and may we all pray for God’s hand of grace and care to be continually over our children.   

Dear Friends of the Camp,

Wow, can you believe it’s already November? This year has really flown by. The majority of the leaves have already fallen around the camp and winter is just around the corner. I do love this time of year though; the cooler weather, seeing the deer on the property, hosting many retreats of various types, and of course Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The activity around the camp will keep right on going through the fall and winter months. We will host our annual Junior High Fall Retreat in November as well as 4 rental retreats. Do you realize that over the past 5 years the camp has hosted an average of 40 retreats per year? The income from these retreats totals more than $110,000.00. That’s compared with total rental income of less than $25,000.00 for the prior 5 year period. What a blessing it is to be a part of so many retreats. I really enjoy serving the needs of our rental groups and getting the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. Your camp Board of Directors will also meet in November to, among other things, discuss our next step for replacing our bath domes.

There is much to do here at LaMoine that will help us draw even more youth and adults to this blessed place. I want you to know that we are committed to making plans that will maximize our ministry opportunities and then waiting on God’s people for the funds to continue our growing ways. This holiday season, please celebrate with me everything that God is allowing us to be a part of at LaMoine; the summer camps, the rental retreats, and the changed lives. While it is God that brings about the increase to His Kingdom, it is you who are faithful in your giving to this ministry. Your gifts of prayer, money, and volunteer help, are what allow the camp to continue to provide a place where people of all ages can come to experience God in a personal and meaningful way. May God be ever glorified by what we do together at LaMoine Christian Service Camp.

Our summer camp season has been over for about a month now and the final numbers are in. We ended up hosting 990 campers with more than 50 making decisions for Jesus and over $9,000.00 given to missions. LaMoine Christian Service Camp certainly was a tool for God’s work this summer.

While numbers help us to track trends in Christian camping and the effectiveness of our ministry, the joys of being a part of a camp season at LaMoine are many. Our volunteers, supporters, S.A.H.’s, Deans, faculty, Board Members, and everyone who contributes to the success of this ministry knows what a blessing it is to be involved in something that is so much bigger than ourselves. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the successes of this summer camp season.

At this time of year, we continue to be used by God as we host many retreats of all types. The camp staff really look forward to serving others during our retreat season. In August, we hosted 165 students from W.I.U. for an overnighter with a couple meals. These young adults will be the fall R.A.’s (Residence Assistants) at the college. The students really enjoyed their stay at our camp.

I want to thank you for supporting all the ways that the camp strives to serve God. LaMoine is a year-round Ministry of the churches and Mission to the unchurched. With God as our guide, let us join together with Him through prayer, giving, and service, in order that LaMoine Christian Service Camp & Retreat Center can be all He wills it to be. With much gratitude and humility, I thank you for partnering with us in this endeavor.

As I write this letter, summer camp is coming to a close. It seemed to go by so fast this year. Even though it looks as though our total camper numbers will be slightly less than last year, perhaps due to the weaker economy, we did have a Great Year! Everyone; campers and adults alike, received a special blessing from God by spending time at LaMoine this summer.

For starters, not one camper had to be transported to the hospital, which means no one had to go home early due to an injury. This gave us an opportunity to teach and share the love of Jesus with all of our campers for as long as possible. We also, once again, received excellent marks for all areas of operation from our IL State Youth Camp Inspector. When all the Dean’s have turned in their final reports, I will be able to share with you the greatest blessings of all; the number of camper decisions made to accept Christ and how many campers rededicated their lives to a more faithful walk with Jesus. A heartfelt “Thank You” to everyone who helped make this a truly special camp season.

Finally, I thank you for your financial gift toward the ministry of providing a Christian camping environment where youth can be challenged to love and serve Jesus Christ. The outcomes for the campers from our programs are numerous; social skills development, increased self-respect and respect for others, character development, growth in community living and service skills, as well as our primary focus of individual spiritual growth. Thank you so much for providing a place where our youth can be impacted in a positive way and for making this a very special summer camp season.

It is hard to believe that we are already half way through this summer camp season. So far, we have seen a countless number of smiles, heard endless screams of joy, shared in loud and enthusiastic singing of praises to God, have had many unique and interesting interactions with the campers, and have witnessed several baptisms in our pool. Nothing can compare to the blessings of summer camp at LaMoine.

Right now we have 62 soon to be 4th graders and their faculty volunteers at the camp. As I write this letter, our campers are enjoying an 82-degree day swimming in the pool and taking part in other organized water games. After dinner they will be getting their group picture taken and then worshipping in the open air chapel. This Dean really likes to utilize the outdoors as much as possible. Later in the evening, I'm sure they will wrap up the day with snacks from the canteen and a time of singing and devotion around the campfire.

I am so thankful that our kids have a place like this camp to spend a few short days of their summer. Recently, a parent told me how thankful he was that his girls have been able to come to this camp for the past few years. He said that this year especially, he really noticed a change for the better in them when they returned home. I thank you for being a devoted and faithful prayer partner, volunteer, and partner in giving and I ask you to continue to pray for our campers, staff, and faculty as we all work together to glorify God this summer at LaMoine Christian Service Camp.

Thank you for your financial gift to the camp. Because of your support, we are able to continue reaching out to kids in need of Jesus year after year.

Today is June 1st and the 7th Annual Open House & Auction is just days away. There is a lot to do in the next few days to make the camp look its best for the big day. The summer staff all start tomorrow, so they will be a big help. Of course there is a lot of orientation to take them through as well as training them for their individual camp responsibilities. We’ll also be visiting a V.B.S. in Bowen together this week.

Then on Sunday, our first campers will arrive. At this time of year, I once again get to witness first hand what is so special about this camp and why we all love it so much. It’s just all about the kids. What a place we have here to teach our kids about Jesus. I was reminded of this just a few weeks ago when I received an email from a past camper. Here is an excerpt from that email.

 “…I’ve gone to LaMoine since 2nd grade and went to Hi-teen 2 for the final time last year. I have changed my major from Aerospace Engineering to Youth Ministry and will be attending Lincoln Christian College this fall. Camp was a huge part of the reason I made this decision, and my weeks at camp were some of the best of my life. I made friendships I’ll have forever and I learned lessons I’ll never forget. I just wanted to thank you all for everything, and I wanted you to know of the impact going to LaMoine has had on my life. Thank you and God bless!”

All I can think of to say at this time is “Thank you”.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, for supporting this ministry with your prayers, money, encouragement, and volunteer efforts. I believe God smiles when He thinks of LaMoine Christian Service Camp; a special place blessed by Him, protected by His Spirit, and loved and cared for by His people.

I thank you as always for your financial gift and your prayers on behalf of the camp. We count on God’s blessing and your support to make LaMoine Christian Service Camp everything that it is to so many. Very soon summer camp will begin and once again we will be given the tremendous opportunity to be a positive influence in the lives of over 1,000 youth campers and adults.

I want to make sure you know that you are invited to the camp’s 7th Annual Open House & Auction on Saturday, June 6th. Enclosed is a flyer that will show you all the fun things that will take place on this day. Please come and enjoy the camp with family and friends. This event is also a perfect time to invite neighbors and co-workers with children to the camp so that they can see our wonderful facilities and grounds, meet our exceptional staff and volunteers, and hopefully become comfortable with sending their children to our summer camp programs.

Finally, I just want to remind you that the information below about the “Seed Money” packets and the “Kingdom Harvest” income is all about the money we are raising to build new bathroom/storm shelter facilities at the camp. You can find out more details on our website, www.lamoinecamp.org under the support the camp section. You can also give directly toward this goal by putting “new bathrooms” in the memo section of your check.

Thank you again for your partnership in our ministry with youth and adults. May God bless you and LaMoine camp this summer as together we look forward to another season of Kingdom growth; one camper at a time.

 “Seed Money” Packets Distributed – 152, “Kingdom Harvest” Income to date - $5,411.35