I am writing this to you as a special announcement, thanking God for the amazing journey of Warm Beach Camp Ministries while, at the same time, leaning into the future, sensing His special direction and leadership for what is to come.

2026 is a year of celebration. We are celebrating three milestones: 10 years of ministry of Black Diamond Camp, 30 years of ministry of The Lights of Christmas, and 70 years of ministry of Warm Beach Camp. In the last three years, this combination has reached over 260,000 people through working with leaders and engaging the communities we serve. We give God praise for this. In 2026, we give God thanks that we are able to focus on our ministry with all long-term debt paid off.

I am also pleased to share we are stepping into a time of leadership transition as we begin the search for the next CEO of Warm Beach Camp Ministries. The Board and I have thoughtfully and prayerfully been working together on doing this in a way that continues to keep our eyes focused on Christ, keeps the path clear to the cross, and maintains our commitment to doing everything in a way that is filled with integrity and grows trust. A Succession Planning Taskforce is overseeing the search process, supported by an intercessors team as we pray for God’s leader for the next season of Warm Beach Camp Ministries.

Our working goal is to have the new leader in place by June of 2027.

I am excited for the future of Warm Beach Camp Ministries and look forward to how God is going to lead us and who He is going to raise up. We are blessed with an amazing team of people doing ministry every day for the glory of God and the blessing of others. I want to invite you to continue to lean in with your participation, prayer, giving, and time as we seek to connect one million people with Christ through the combined efforts of the ministry by 2030.

With Gratitude in Christ,

Ed McDowell, CEO
Warm Beach Camp Ministries