07/16/2020
I don’t think it’s supposed to end this way.
God has brought the camp through much in the past, and I have to have faith that God can bring us through again. We’ve been doing ministry for 56 years! Five months ago when we entered lock-down and the forced closing of “non-essential” businesses we never guessed it would last this long. Journeying back through the timeline of thoughts: First it was a two-week event, then it became a four-week event, then we expected opening for Easter, then we hoped for mid-May, then we hoped for a first of June, then a first of July, and all our expectations were met with disappointment.
Near the end of May our county gave us permission to reopen. All our camps for June and July had already cancelled, but we quickly geared up for a modified summer camp. Summer camps should have been wrapping up this week. It is so sad to be at camp right now with no one there. As you would guess, five months with no income has been detrimental to us. Our board has taken extreme measures to reduce costs. Some reductions came naturally, as they coincide with having no attendance. The camp has made the difficult choice to furlough me. Of course, my job will be here for me when we reopen, if we reopen. At the time we expected that to only last a month or two until kicked into a reopening gear.
The fall is not looking good. People are unsure, scarred, confused, cancelling events, and loosing jobs of their own. 2019 was a good year for the camp. We had the highest annual attendance of all time, and had put a little money into savings that we planned to use on projects like the Patio, sidewalks, and Dining Room. In fact, I was working on applying for the permit to build our Patio when the shut-down started. The patio savings plus a board policy that we keep 6 months of operating funds in the bank have brought us this far. They won’t last much longer.
We do have a small group of faithful donors and churches who are helping. Thank you to everyone who is donating already! But it won’t be enough if we stay closed indefinitely - as the direction looks to be going. We’ve never asked donors to cover operating costs for the 13 years I’ve been director. But now if the camp is going to survive we’re going to need your help. You could make a one-time donation, or pledge monthly support. A donation or pledge of any amount will be greatly appreciated an ensure we can outlast this to resume the essential ministry of sharing the Gospel with others. At a time like this we need the Good News of Jesus Christ to pe*****te hearts and change culture! We put our hope and trust in God!
You can use this link to donate. https://www.sierrachristiancamp.org/giving-and-support.html
Thank you!
Sierra Christian Camp is a great example of what can happen when churches pull together and work toward a common purpose. For the past 50 years countless people have donated their...
