2024 Year-end Update
Dear Rock Mountain Family,
We truly have so much to be thankful for. Here are 10 reasons that I am thankful this season at camp.
- YOUTH CAMPERS – We thank God for the 455 campers who attended our summer youth and adventure camps! We had record attendance for our 3 weeks of Junior Camp, and went from 1 week of Teen Camp to 3 weeks of Teen Camp this summer! We had amazing weeks of camp as we were encouraged to “ZOOM OUT” to see God’s steadfast love (HESED) and proclaim His faithfulness! The theme verse was Psalm 89:1 – “I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.”
We also served 552 students and leaders from 29 different churches at our programmed THAW winter weekends, Day Out event in May, and Fall Overnighter retreat in October (some churches attended multiple retreats)! It is such a blessing to partner with amazing churches who are proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their communities! - GUEST GROUPS – We thank God for the 2,766 students and leaders from 40 organized groups who held their event, retreat, or camp program at Rock Mountain. It is a joy to serve and support these groups as they lead and encourage their students, members, and/or families during their time away at camp. Many came to place their faith in Jesus for salvation, entered the waters of baptism while at camp, and/or grew in their Christian faith! Praise God!
- CAMPGROUND CAMPERS – We thank God for the 1,681 campers we served from May through October in our Campground! It was a blessing to see families connecting with each other and with the Lord as they spent time in the beauty of God’s creation. We count it a privilege to provide this outdoor sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of daily routines.
- OUR STAFF – We thank God for the year-round staff, seasonal staff and volunteers who served the Lord and our campers/guests faithfully this year. Their diligent, sacrificial, humble, enthusiastic, and flexible service was seen abundantly in their actions and attitudes by the grace of God. And we are excited to welcome Joe Vietri back as our Food Service Manager in 2025! We are grateful to serve together with such an amazing team of Christ-followers!
- MINISTRY SUPPORTERS – We thank God for the generous financial and prayer supporters of the ministry of Rock Mountain Bible Camp. It was a blessing to see an increase in the number of families who gave financially, and an increase in the amount of financial support that was given this year. This team of ministry supporters enables Rock Mountain to serve youth, families, and churches with diligent stewardship of the financial requirements to operate this ministry. We truly could not do it without these givers & prayer warriors!
- STAFF HOUSE PROJECT – We thank God that the project is fully funded, the new home has been ordered, and we are in the process of preparing the site for our Guest Service Manager’s new housing. The installation should be complete within the next few months!
- CABIN BATHROOM PROJECT – We thank God that this major upgrade to four of our Main Camp Cabins is complete! We are excited for the year-round impact these bathrooms will have on the experience for our campers and guests who use these cabin spaces during their retreat or camp at Rock Mountain.
- PROTECTION – We thank God for His gracious protection for our campers, guests, and staff this year. While there were some injuries and/or incidents that required some medical care or mechanical repairs, God protected lives and gave the ability to respond in an appropriate manner. We do not take God’s care in these areas for granted!
- PROVISION – We thank God for providing people to serve and to be served at camp! We thank God for providing the resources that are needed to create the camp experience. God provided leadership and wisdom for each Guest Group, Program, and our team as we pursued Christ-centered gospel ministry. God provided fertile soil of the heart as He drew His people to Himself at camp. Jehovah Jireh!
- GOD’S WORD – We thank God for the gift of His Word! Lives were changed as the Word of God was proclaimed, taught, and meditated upon. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
THE NEED OF EVERY GENERATION: GOD’S WORD
There is a perennial need for the Gospel to be proclaimed and God’s Word to be taught to children, teens, young adults, and families. Campers will interact with the Scripture as much in 1 week of youth camp as some students will in 2-3 months of regular church attendance. For some campers, camp provides more biblical teaching than they will experience all year! Our prayer is that kids and teens will develop a deeper commitment to Jesus and to learning God’s Word while at camp in order to seek out more opportunities when they return home!
Please join us in thanking God for the camp experience by joining our Ministry Support team with a generous financial gift to the ministry of Rock Mountain. A generous donor has given a matching gift which will double every gift given up to $20,000! Praise God! This will enable us to acquire needed ministry supplies and resources for our 2025 ministry opportunities at Rock Mountain! We will use “Giving Tuesday” on December 3rd as the kick-off for a month of giving! Join us!
2025 CAMPERSHIPS: We believe that everyone should have a camp experience! As inflation impacts the ability of families with lower incomes and/or multiple children to afford camp fees, there is a continual need for camperships. Our goal is to raise $6,000.00 for 2025 ($3,000 gift match!). Your overflowing gift to this fund removes the financial barriers that some families have and allows them to attend Rock Mountain. Join us!
JOIN OUR MINISTRY SUPPORT TEAM: When you GIVE regularly, or with a one-time gift to Rock Mountain, you are helping to make the camp experience at Rock Mountain possible! Will you help us reach our goal to raise $34,000.00 as we wrap up 2024 ($17,000 gift match)?
Gratefully,
Reid Anderson
Camp Director
November 2024