News & Updates

See & read about what is going on in the Warm Beach Camp & Conference Center community

It all began to make sense and reach her heart

Erica Graf 150pxErica Graf served on the staff at Warm Beach Camp in 1989-1991. She was an emerging leader at that time. Now she serves as Early Childhood and Events Coordinator at Cascade Community Church. Recently, she came to Warm Beach Camp for a weekend of R&R and shared this story of life change.

Often as we minister, we plant seeds of God’s love and the Gospel. Rarely, do we get to see the result of a long germination period…

One week, during a summer I spent as a horsemanship camp counselor at Warm Beach Camp, I had a precocious camper arrive who promptly pulled me aside to share that, while she understood this was a “religious” camp and there would be “religious” teachings, she did not come from that kind of background. She was polite and respectful, but wanted me to know I should not expect her to be swayed by what was shared–she was just there for the horses. I thanked her for being so upfront and assured her no one would attempt to coerce her into any kind of belief system. During the week, while she did have many questions during our Bible study times and following chapel services, I genuinely believed that as an intelligent girl, she was merely curious and wanted to understand what was being spoken. She gave no indication of having been spiritually impacted in any way by what was taught. At the end of the week, we parted happily–and she was still very firmly “non-religious.” As the summer wore on, I mostly forgot about the experience.

A few years after that summer, I received a letter from this camper via my parents. In the letter she relayed to me that, now in high school, she had accepted a friend’s invitation to accompany her to youth group. She enjoyed herself and began attending regularly. As she began to listen to the messages of the Gospel being shared, she was flooded with memories of her experience at Warm Beach those few years ago, and all the things that had been shared about God, the Gospel, and having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It all began to make sense to her and to reach her heart. She eventually prayed to receive Jesus and was now in a growing relationship with Him. She was writing to thank me for being the first person in her life to share the Gospel with her and patiently (but not forcefully) answer her questions. She was so grateful for how we had begun, even then, to point her toward Jesus.

Besides being thrilled with the news that she is now a believer, I was humbly reminded that many times we aren’t aware of the impact we are having as we minister to others. Even when it looks like we’re not making any inroads, the Spirit is at work and the Word is not void. Seeds planted germinate at different times. God’s timing is perfect.

When Abundance Happens

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ...

Outdoor Education!

The Outdoor Education Program at Warm Beach Camp offers schools a safe platform for their students to explore and grow as individuals, while surrounded by rich biodiversity. During “The Great Pioneer Skills Challenge” class, a middle school student was interested in attempting to make a quilting square. The individual had always been curious to sew but had no one to show them the way. Through trial and error and the help of volunteer staff, the child completed the sewing task ...

Welcome Natasha and Madison

Madison Smith joins the Warm Beach Camp Ministries team as a Light Technician for The Lights of Christmas. Madison comes to us with ten years of management experience, which includes Starbucks and Godiva. While her natural leadership skills were a perfect fit for a corporate job, she began yearning for a more meaningful workplace. She was hired in August 2022 as part of The Lights of Christmas installation crew. While working here at Warm Beach, she could feel the presence ...