WSS June '08 Ministry Report

“It's funny -- I read every ministry report in detail, even though it's been a decade; it brings back fond memories. I do have a special place in my heart for WSS and your family. I think that's why we became ‘Centurions’ (for the capital campaign) -- even if we couldn't personally make it back there, we knew the importance of that place and your ministry.” -- OCF member

“(We) again thank you for the blessing it has been to have (our teens) serve on support staff #1. The Lord has used the ministry to affirm them in their convictions, walk by faith, and make some great Christian friends. We are overwhelmed with gratitude...We love you all. Looking forward to the day when the entire ­­family can journey to the east coast for a WSS reunion! Praise to our Almighty God and Savior Jesus Christ!” -- Parents of a high-school Support Teamer

“(My wife) has been asking me for years to come here, but we never made it a priority. I am very thankful that Anchor Points helped compel us to come. I think the importance of this place has been renewed in my mind and affirmed in hers. I expect we will be back much sooner for our next visit.” -- Anchor Points Conference attendee

Overview

June propelled us, full-tilt, into summer! It’s exciting to see so many amazing military families, most of whom are being greatly affected by the global war on terror with its fast pace of deployments. Thankfully, they can draw aside and be refreshed at this “place apart, place of the heart” that is White Sulphur Springs. After training the Allegheny Outback! and Camp Caleb staffs and holding the Senior Staff Conference, we began all three of our summer programs this month: Summer Family Camp, Allegheny Outback! and Camp Caleb. We also welcomed and trained the first two of our Support Teams (high school 2-week volunteers) and Staff Apprentices (Camp Caleb and wrangler assistants).

Significant Events

- The Allegheny Outback! senior staff underwent a week of training followed by conducting the first of nine summer sessions. David Braddy, our AO! Coordinator for the summer leads a great group of AO! senior staff who are Arne Ulbricht (Germany), Angie Tobias, Jessica Arnold and Curtis Bowden. By the end of June we conducted four regular AO!’s and began the new pilot program, “Outback”, all for military dependent teenagers. This summer, all of the AO! sessions are full.

- Week #1 of Summer Family Camp was a super time of reuniting with Joe Batluck, Jr. and his wife Heike. Formerly a Senior Staffer, now as a pastor, Joe served as speaker for this great week of exploring God’s holiness and our response. Twelve families or individuals came away with a new appreciation for the awesomeness of our God and thanksgiving for meeting our need through the blood of his son, Jesus Christ.

- Week #2 saw us hosting the Anchor Points Conference. (An “anchor point” is a “peg driven in a secure place” in a rock, thus giving the climber the security that he/she needs to remain confident while climbing a steep crag.) COL Mike Tesdahl, OCF Director of Strategic Initiatives, led a great week of investment into potential future OCF leaders by the senior leadership of OCF--namely LtGen Bruce and Melissa Fister, Mike and his wife Peggy (otherwise known as ‘Mama T’), and Chaplain Mark Benz, OCF Field Staff Rep for the Nat’l Capital Region. At the end of the six-day event, fifteen couples who had been invited to participate were commissioned and prayed for by the OCF staff and sent off to serve Christ in the military more knowledgably and purposefully.

- Week #3 brought another full house of guests for the weekend with Dr. Gary Phillips speaking on “Making Sense of Your World”, a study of worldviews (naturalism, transcendentalism, theism).

- The Camp Caleb staff reported aboard on 4 June for the start of their training before moving into the first camp session which began on 15 June. This summer we have these six Camp Caleb counselors: David Dugal, Adam Steveley, Heather Angolia, Cate Pilgrim, Marijean Waring and Christa Slagter (chef). Camp Caleb is in good hands with these senior staffers. In addition, we had assistant counselors in Josh Washechek, Rachel Wong, Noel Day, followed by Kristen Mahaffee, Hope Piirto, Christine Sampson, Sarah Bryan, Megan Moore and Bryan Angolia. We pray that the hearts of military kids will be open to the Holy Spirit throughout the remaining four dual-camp weeks of the summer.

- The summer horse program has gotten off to a good start. Our senior staff wrangler is Randy Darden, and he is assisted by Beth Rizzo and Sarah Bryan. They have all done a superb job of providing horse rides for Camp Caleb, family camp children’s program and guests.

- Family Camp senior staff have done a great job as well. They are: Julie Wells, Courtney Bowden, Bekah Petersen, Sarah Jones, Lauren Rupert, Hunt Mitchell, Bekah Meredith, Hannah Bryan, David Bisaillon, Chelsey Barber, Zach Smith, Maryna Chuieva (Ukraine), Majd Ismair (Jordan), Michele Laurindo (Brazil) and David Meryon (U.K.)

Challenges and Opportunities

The cost of heating oil really hit us this month as we had to pay an annual “catch-up” bill to our oil supplier of $15,000 that was unbudgeted. We are looking closely at the potential impact of high gas prices on our utilization through the summer months and into the fall, exploring ways to cut operating expenses wherever we can while trusting in God’s provision for all our needs.

Hindrances

None new.

Ministry Support

We are thankful the help of our mentors this summer. In June we were blessed to have Roger & Debbie Pinkley, Chaplain Mark Benz and Barry & Melanie Bowden in this role. We are also thankful for Mrs. Evelyn Kent, faithful volunteer and neighbor, who continues to provide an elegant afternoon tea on each Sunday afternoon during Family Camp.

Ministry Recommendations

None new.

Prayer Requests

- Pray for all who come to our summer programs to be refreshed, encouraged and strengthened for reaching out for Christ in the military. Pray for the college-age and teen-age summer staff members to receive grace and energy for the whole summer. Pray for all the speakers and mentor couples to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

- Pray for many to respond to the Growing and Building Campaign and the need for new facilities at WSS and Spring Canyon. Pray for the Bedford County Veterans Project as we seek to raise funds within the local/regional area. Pray for Doug Braendel as he coordinates this new effort.

- Pray for our troops deployed in combat situations and for OCF families who are separated because of deployments. Pray for our nation’s leaders and President Bush to stay the course in the face of political uncertainty.

- Pray for the WSS ministry team families to be given grace and strength to serve with joy for the rest of the summer programs.

Warmly in Christ Jesus,
Clay Thomas