A Summer of Surrender

Leading up to summer, Black Diamond Camp and Warm Beach Camp worked tirelessly to organize, train staff, and carry out the plans set forth earlier in the year. Like all carefully curated plans, pivots and adjustments were inevitably needed. Through that process and long camp days, a theme kept surfacing: surrender, trust, and be amazed. With such a simple yet profound spiritual truth, let’s visit some of this summer’s happenings.

Encountering God in a Personal Way

Camp often serves as a place where youth experience God for the first time or in a brand-new way. During Bible Study and worship at Black Diamond Camp and Warm Beach Camp, these kids have been deeply invested. Youth participated in prayer, dozens of Bibles were gifted upon request, and kids have even been surrendering their lives to Christ! Ryan Saenz, Black Diamond General Manager, stated, “Every Wednesday, a staff member articulates the Gospel, and it has been amazing to witness the impact. These young kids have such fertile hearts that are open to the work of the Lord, and they are responding!”

Build Relationships

Both campuses have been blessed with phenomenal Summer Staff who have acted as positive role models, engaging in intentional conversations with campers and forming deep bonds grounded in faith. This summer, a Camp SunSparrow participant asked to be grouped with a counselor they had the previous year. It was the first time in history that a specific counselor was requested! They spent a fun-filled week together, and on the last day, tears were shed as they agreed to see each other next summer.

Fun-filled Adventures

What is camp without some fun? Camp provides many opportunities for wholesome fun and exploring creation. As life goes, some of the best adventures happen unexpectedly. During week three of Warm Beach Day Camp, the kids were all playing in the pool as a thunderstorm rolled in quickly. With a need to improvise, the counselors rounded up all the kids, safely trekked back down the hill to W-Bar-B (soon to be Hillside, honoring the legacy of Rod & Kathy Brown), and found a S’mores campfire awaiting them inside the Barn. While the kids warmed up and got their fill of gooey sweetness, joy filled the room as laughter erupted from every corner. It was noted that for one of the campers, running down the hill in the pouring rain and making S’mores indoors was their favorite part of camp that week.

Develop Life Skills

Camp provides a unique environment perfectly designed for self-exploration. Every day this summer, campers had opportunities to learn something new about themselves and overcome their fears. Apprehensive riders attending Horse Day Camp were encouraged through their discomfort of being on a horse for the very first time! Youth were coached on how to regulate their emotions, and once they realized they were okay, their fears quickly turned to amazement. These once-reserved riders ended the week with newfound confidence and a love for their equine partners.

Investing in the Future

Camp serves as a unique space where individuals step out of the routines and pressures of everyday life and are shown what it is like to live separately from the world. With each moment experienced at Camp pointing back to God, seeds of faith were planted this summer. Campers are taking this new understanding of Christ back to their families, schools, and communities. Upon this foundation, God is at work in the lives of those who are called to be His children!

As summer winds down across both campuses, Warm Beach Camp Ministries is immensely grateful for another summer of rich ministry! With surrendered and trusting hearts, we are thankful the Lord filled this summer with His presence and provisions. Thank you for coming alongside the ministry and for sharing in the journey of connecting people to Christ.