ABOVE: Summer 2026

This past weekend, we sent our last summer staffers home for the season. As I sat in our lounge with them, recalling memories from the past weeks of labor and growth, a certain staffer looked at me and said, "You know, Anthony, it was a good summer. A very good summer."

I sat back in my chair and began to think back on the worries we had as the season began to ramp up. We needed more staff, more volunteers, more supplies, more everything. I found myself worrying as I wondered, "How are we going to pull this off? Can we even pull it off at all?"

God answered with a quiet, yet resounding, yes. But not by your own ability. Watch and see what I will do.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Our summer's theme verse, Colossians 3:2, was an anchor for us as we explored faraway galaxies and undiscovered cosmos. As the things of earth began to block my vision of what God was doing, He reminded me of this truth, allowing us to wipe away the earthly muck keeping us from seeing miracles happening right in front of us.

998 campers came through our overnight programs this summer. 998 heard a true and clear Gospel. A few, around 60, gave their lives over to Jesus and made a confession of faith for the first time. Many more recommitted themselves to follow Him.

I saw campers work through difficult circumstances, things they have no ability to change, and cabin leaders teach them the truth that rings so clear in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings: "I wish it need not have happened in my time...so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with that time that is given us."

I saw kids from 8 to 18 running around outside, with no screens, for a WEEK! Talking face to face with one another, making connections and growing their community every day. Tops were spun, marbles were shot, daily trips to the Landeck Canteen for ice cream were taken. Day Campers were able to stump Mr. Aidyn with fruit that we had never heard of while singing about the fruit of the Spirit. About 800 patches were earned after afternoons of Cabin Leaders pouring over passages of Scripture with their campers to make sure they completed their patch goals.

All this happened because God showed up through an excellent team of volunteers and staff. Teen Serve washed upwards of 46,000 plates, all while singing their hearts out in the dish pit. Our day camp team walked the length from Waterfront to the Bible Chapel 90 times while having conversations with Day Campers and keeping track of all of them. The Program Volunteers consistently planned and executed excellent weeks of overnight camp. There are so many people who worked together to make this summer the most awesome summer ever: Handcraft, Snack Shop, Cabin Leaders, Rec Staff, Registration Team, and more. To all of them, I say thank you. This summer would not have been possible without the servants who came to make an out-of-this-world experience for our campers.

As C.S. Lewis puts it, "...for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to His disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, (or campers, or volunteers, or staffers,) "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another."" I think that secret master of ceremonies may have a flair for the dramatic. Yet, I am ever so grateful.

Here's to Summer 2026! May we continue to seek first the kingdom, and keep our eyes on things above, and not on earthly things, by making much of the One who justified us before God. Amen.