Lighthouse Christian Camp, Inc.

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Smithville, TN
Lighthouse Christian Camp, Inc.

We are here to know God and make Him known. We have the opportunity to bring children to camp who would otherwise not have the chance to come!

Since 1982 Lighthouse Christian Camp has provided weeks of summer camp to under-resourced, disadvantaged and often needy children. Through the camp, thousands of children, who never otherwise would have the opportunity, have come - free of charge – to experience the beauty of God’s creation in a new and meaningful way. Working through the public school systems as well as going door to door, camp s

taff and volunteers identify children to invite for summer camp. Many of these are the forgotten, the un-churched, un-helped and un-loved! How wonderfully excited they are when they hear that “they” will get to go for a week of summer camp! It’s in these weeks of camp that these children hear, many for the very first time, of the love of Jesus Christ. Through numerous planned activities and chapels, children are taught that there is a creator of all things, including themselves. That through Adam, all men became sinful and are condemned to death. That through Christ there is forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life. For many, this simple gospel message is a new and transforming truth that changes their lives forever.

09/04/2026

Words cannot describe how grateful we are for our SOWERs on assignment, Tim and Linda Nelsen! They have been such a joy to work alongside. Their love and dedication to the Lord is so evident in the way they serve Him and those around them. During their time here at Lighthouse, Tim and Linda accomplished so much. Tim repaired equipment, installed a washer and dryer, mowed, created wooden signs for all the summer staff, and so much more. Linda also aided us in so many different ways, from assisting driving the widows to appointments, serving food, cleaning cabins, and helping with the administrative side of things. That, however, doesn't even scratch the surface of how much Tim and Linda impacted camp. No matter what adversity or task was in front of them, they faced it with a humble and willing heart. Thank you so much, Tim and Linda, for all you have done! We look forward to seeing you again.

09/03/2026

Over this past weekend we had our first ever JC retreat. This retreat was intended for campers who have shown leadership qualities and have a desire to grow in their relationship with the Lord. Throughout the weekend our counselors shared their testimonies of God's faithfulness in their lives, we also gave the JC's the opportunity to share their stories and wow was it impactful! These Campers are well on their way to becoming junior counselors.
Psalms 66:16 -Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.
We hope this encourages you to share your testimony with those around you who might be in need of Jesus' love!

08/29/2026

These are more than just dots on a map:

Every light blue pin on this map represents a camper who currently doesn’t have a church home. For many of these kids, that means they may not know what it looks like to be discipled, to grow in their faith, or to experience the kind of biblical community that comes from being part of a local church.

Every blue home represents a church in the community surrounding them and an opportunity for that to change.

As we looked at where our campers live this summer, we were struck by how close so many of these churches are to the kids we serve. There are 183 campers without a church home, while 113 churches are located in the communities around them.

That got us thinking about what could happen if we helped make those connections.

We don’t want Lighthouse to simply be a great week that a camper remembers when summer is over. We want the relationships built and the seeds planted at camp to continue growing when they go home. And we believe the local church is such an important part of that.

Maybe your church could help provide a ride on Sunday. Maybe someone could reach out to a camper and their family, invite them in, or simply help us figure out the best way to connect them with a church family.

We know that a map can’t tell the whole story, but we hope this one reminds us all of something important which is that there are kids in our communities who need the Church, and the Church is already there.

We’d love to see what God can do when we work together to help connect the two.

08/28/2026

Reflecting the Light: Aaron and Sara Young

Aaron and Sara have been so thankful and blessed to serve together at Lighthouse Christian Camp following God’s calling into this new season of ministry.

After years of supporting Lighthouse and giving to the ministry Aaron answered the call to volunteer for a week in 2024 and something in his heart shifted.

They both began to feel the Lord leading them toward full time ministry. Stepping away from the steady, comfortable jobs they both had in the school system, laying down their own plans, and trusting the Lord with the next steps.

They joined the Lighthouse family in May 2025, with Aaron serving as Maintenance Director and Camp 2 Director. In March 2026, he stepped into the role of CEO/Executive Director, while Sara now serves as Administrative Director. Now, they have the joy of serving beside each other, using their gifts in different ways while working toward the same mission.

They and their three kids Luke, Lela, and Levi have loved this new transition and being a part of this ministry and we have loved seeing the light they have shared through Christ with all of us.

08/27/2026

We are so excited to announce that Noel Perez has come to join us here at Lighthouse as an intern! His passion to share the love of Jesus with those around him is very evident, and we are so excited to see how the Lord uses him throughout his time here.

08/20/2026

https://a.co/05BeKDZI
While summer has just come to an end, it's never too early to begin preparing for our annual Christmas Parties! Each year, this special event gives us the opportunity to share the joy and love of Christ with the children and families we serve, and you can be a part of making it unforgettable.

If you would like to help, we've made it easy! Our Amazon Wish List includes gift ideas for all ages. Simply click the link above to shop and have your gifts sent directly to camp. If you would rather purchase gifts in store, please contact LCC to coordinate a drop off time.

Thank you for helping us make Christmas a special and memorable time for the many children that come to Lighthouse. Your generosity is a blessing every year!

08/19/2026

Reflecting the Light: Mrs. Ermeda Chapman
One of the most important faces of Lighthouse Christian Camp is Mrs. Ermeda Chapman, our founder and President.
Mrs. Ermeda faithfully followed her husband, Brother Ben, when God called him to leave his job pastoring at First Baptist Church and his work with the Corps of Engineers to step out in faith and build Lighthouse from the ground up. She went wherever the Lord led them, faithfully serving alongside her husband and trusting God through every step. Together, they witnessed God provide again and again and saw His vision for Lighthouse become a reality.
Though Brother Ben went home to be with the Lord last August, Mrs. Ermeda is still here. She is still in the office, still working hard, still serving, and still faithfully carrying on the work God entrusted to them. We are so thankful for her faithfulness and for the legacy she and Brother Ben built together.

08/18/2026

C.A.T.C.H
(Caring_Adults_Training_Childrens_Hearts)
With September right around the corner, we are preparing for our annual fishing event. C.A.T.C.H is a great opportunity for children to learn how to fish and spend some time on the lake. If you love to fish, have a boat or simply want to serve please come join us. Lunch is provided!
When - Saturday September 12th from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Where - Ragland Bottom Recreation Area.
To Volunteer, please call (615-597-1264) or email [email protected]

08/17/2026

Please help us welcome Ms. Paula Thompson to our Widow’s Ministry!

We are so excited to have Paula join us and are thankful for her heart to serve. We look forward to the fellowship and memories to come.

Welcome to the Widow’s Ministry, Paula! We’re so glad to have you!

08/05/2026

As we look back on this past month, we want to thank one of our interns, Jaden, as he has now started a new chapter in Texas. He accepted a great job opportunity and has joined a new church, and we are excited to see what God has in store for him.

Jaden joined us in March 2025 and was a true blessing to our ministry. Although his internship was originally planned to be shorter, he chose to stay through the summer and continued serving faithfully.

His hard work, servant's heart, and willingness to help wherever he was needed made a real difference. He served with humility, cared for others well, and was always ready to lend a hand.

We already miss having Jaden alongside our ministry, but we are thankful for the time he spent with us and for all he did for the kids he ministered to. We pray that God blesses him as he begins this new journey, and we know He has great things ahead for him.

Address

205 Serenity Place
Smithville, TN
37166

Website

http://www.lighthousechristiancamp.com/

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