The ministry of Christ-centered hospitality at Warm Beach Camp

The ministry of Warm Beach Camp takes on many forms. The most publicly visible aspects of the ministry are programs we plan and sponsor, such as Special Friends Camps for adults with disabilities, Horsemanship Camps, and The Lights of Christmas Festival. Yet, the majority of guests who come to Warm Beach Camp attend year-round events produced by nearly 300 different church, school, or non-profit groups that rent our facilities.

These guest groups are our partners in ministry. Each group’s event, in their unique way, is designed to change lives and transform communities.

Earlier this year, we heard from a group who specifically focuses on ministry to the Japanese community in the Puget Sound Region. JEMS (Japanese Evangelical Mission Society) has been holding annual family camps at Warm Beach Camp for decades. Their PNW Director, Carolyn Shimabukuro, shared the following in her newsletter:

How wonderful it is to open an email and read, “I have great news from the JEMS Warm Beach Camp (Aug. 2016)… a Japanese guy… received Christ on December 31. PTL! He has joined our men’s Bible study and will come to our church.” The seeds of the gospel were planted at Warm Beach and with four months of watering through prayers, friendship, and additional partnerships with conferences and churches, this young man received Christ. One by one people are coming into an authentic relationship of faith in Jesus Christ. God uses all of us as a wonderful Body of Christ – and we can all praise Him for being the One who makes all things grow.

“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:7

Warm Beach Camp provides Christ-centered hospitality in partnership with groups like JEMS and God uses this to invite people into relationship with Himself. While much of the daily tasks for Warm Beach Camp’s staff are cleaning, cooking, office work, maintenance, and grounds keeping, etc. we are encouraged how God weaves together the work of many to accomplish His purposes on Earth. This is our way of, “keeping the path clear to the cross” and it is this hope which sustains us. God is at work. Life changes here.

Patrick Patterson, General Manager/C.O.O.
Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center