General News

Have you been hearing the people around you excitedly saying, "Summer is right around the corner!" For most people, that one statement can invite a host of anticipatory emotions and thoughts. You may find, like me, you don't usually fall into the category of "mos t people." Being an adoptive mom, I find when I hear this phrase spoken, a small unwelcome rumble happens deep inside of me that sounds something like short growls of fear rising up from my ...

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/php.4.7.NLT   It’s a challenge to focus on the right things at the right times on any given day. Distractions, competing agendas, and the constant bombardment of streaming information from technology penetrates the ability to stay focused. Some days I feel like life is one big game of “squirrel” and I ...

The vision for Refreshed Family Camp is clear: Give every foster and adoptive family a “win” together. Refreshed Family Camp is an experience where the love of Jesus is clear. Connect with God around the campfire or through a conversation with a friend. See God’s care in the epic sunsets overlooking Port Susan Bay. Learn about God’s heart through experiential-based teaching. Play hard at camp. Swim, zip line, canoe, shoot arrows, compete in field games, or just take a hike on ...

Some of the most important things in life cannot be bought, like time and love. If you want to measure the quality of life, measure the quality and depth of relationships. One of the most treasured relationships are between parents and kids. Both parents and kids desire transparent, loving relationships. In a world saturated with distractions, we are faced with bigger challenges than ever to maintain flourishing relationships. Somebody once said, “Love is spelled, time.” Consider the following acronym for your ...

“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” - Proverbs 22:6 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.22.6.NLT Parenting requires more vision and persistence than anything else I have ever been involved with in my life. As parents we respond to a series of short term moments, many of them immediate (potty training, sharing toys, riding a bike, etc.). As children grow, parents find themselves in more complex situations involving relationships, life choices, and finances. The desire ...

Steve and Jacque Johnson began volunteering at Warm Beach Camp over four years ago. The couple dedicated their lives to service for the Lord and enjoyed working with youth and overseas missions. Steve spent 41 years working with the youth group at Wenatchee Free Methodist/Sage Hills Church. In 2005, Steve and one of his best friends, Ron Bundy, bought a shop where they repaired cars for single mothers and widows, and spent years ministering to hundreds. Steve’s life was cut ...

“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” - John 6:35 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.6.35.NLT They came out to the countryside to hear Jesus speak. Thousands of people gathered. People were hungry. There were not any caterers or food trucks standing by. Jesus took a small amount of food, and fed everyone to the full with leftovers! The day ended. Jesus traveled to another town across ...

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest'" Matthew 11:28 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.11.28.NLT I am weary and carry burdens that are heavy. Do you? It seems that the most common response I receive in regards to how people are doing today involves being fatigued or under a heavy load in one way or another. Do you identify with any of the following categories? Which ones apply to your ...

When I was asked to talk about my experience at Warm Beach Summer Youth Camp, I struggled at first because there is truly no accurate way to describe an experience so life-changing. Eventually, I pinned down the three best parts of my camp experience. The environment created by the staff, the time away from normal habits, and unique and amazing opportunities for personal growth. These three things made my summer incredibly fulfilling. During my time at camp, staff came together ...

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." - James 1:19 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.19.NLT Every person I know, or have met throughout my life, hopes to have healthy and meaningful relationships. Around the many campfires of Warm Beach Camp I have had the privilege of listening to people experiencing the joy that comes with healthy relationships and the pain of broken families, marriages, and friendships. There is a ...

Paris (left) and Vivan (right) at Special Friends. Have you ever had someone declare, “You’ll be my friend for life!”? When it happens, it’s a very special day indeed!! And it happens frequently at Special Friends Camps for adults with disabilities at Warm Beach Camp! One such relationship was shared between Paris, a buddy (volunteer), and Vivian, a camper. They became dear friends at Special Friends Camp and shared precious moments together. They were the best of friends...the “friends for ...

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1-2 I am excited ...

Promises matter. Keeping promises builds trust and encourages transformation. There is a profound erosion of trust in U.S. culture today where words and commitments are dismissed under clever justification. Warm Beach Camp is clear on the promises it makes and keeps. Warm Beach Camp: Provides Christ-centered hospitality and programming. Introduces campers to Christ, helping them grow in Christian living, and preparing them for worldwide Christian service. Reaches out to members of society who are often overlooked and marginalized by bringing ...

9 full time light hangers began setting up The Lights of Christmas after Labor Day 73 seasonal paid jobs were provided to the local community 18 lead decorators directed a decorating crew to transform 75 sleeping rooms and over 20 event areas into a Christmas wonderland 700 people donated 16,000 volunteer hours to the event 75 volunteers came on December 20th to clean up the grounds after a strong wind storm 74 entertainment groups performed on five stages throughout the event 3 ...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." – Hebrews 13:8 I am so thankful Jesus is the same and will remain the same forever. He is unchanging and never failing. One of the most fascinating things in youth ministry is the ever-changing culture of the students. Music, clothes, movies, humor, relationships, and expectations are moving and turning through a wheel that never stops spinning. Youth are viewing the world, and God, based on this cultural wheel which ...

"So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ." - Romans 10:17 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.10.17.NLT Every one of us has a desire to be saved or rescued from the things we know are not right in our lives. We try to address our known need by common efforts familiar to all of us: - Self-help programs - Religious activity - Physical discipline - Personal resolutions While each of these has the potential to contribute positively to our lives, ...

Quiet and focused, he stood with his family at the Nativity scene. His family was enjoying the beauty of The Lights of Christmas festival and soon drifted off towards Joyland, leaving Dad alone. His eyes were glued to the passage of scripture sitting right next to the baby Jesus. Line by line he read it silently and reflectively. God was speaking to him. Life changes here. During summer camp this year, the theme for Friday was “Truth” with the subtitle, “What lies ...

“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” - 2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT Plant a few seeds, get a small return. Plant many seeds, get a large return. This is one of God’s great gifts to us: Generosity. Paul encourages followers of Jesus to trust living generously. Chapter 9 of 2 Corinthians talks about the gift of generosity. Paul explains God’s gift is “too wonderful for words.” Be generous in every phase of life. Put much into life. Invest ...

As I walked down the gravel road I could feel the cold sneaking into my coat. Winter’s approach grew stronger each day. I’ve lived in cold climates before. I grew up in Indiana and braved the Michigan winters through college. However, this winter felt different. It wasn’t because of the cold or the frost covered grass. It felt different because I was different. Last winter I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. As a new mom, I was also helping ...

I love coming to The Lights of Christmas! True, it’s often a bit warm for me - but the things I see – those things make it worth all the sweat and the few pounds of snow I shed! I see so much each evening. Folks of all ages in and out of Joyland Courtyard - eating cotton candy and snacks from the Cafe, visiting the Ornament Shop, listening to the choirs and other groups in the Concert Hall, shopping at ...