by John Carpenter | Jul 6, 2017 | Ministry News
Dear friends, things have been so busy in all of our preparation for this summer’s camp program that we are having to make this prayer letter to cover two months instead of just one. Even so, our 65th Del-Haven Camp season has officially kicked off! Our Lord has heard our prayers and answered them in a wonderful way! Last week’s 6 to 8 year old camp went just wonderful. It is so precious to see the enthusiasm in the way that these little children respond when they are quoting their scriptural memory verses and singing the camp gospel songs. Their eyes just light up with the joy of the Lord. They are a living testimony of God’s Word from Zeph.3:17 “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save – He will rejoice over thee with joy!”
We have an older girls camp (ages 9 to 12) in operation this week. Please remember to pray for us and them – that our Lord will protect, prepare, provide and produce as only He can — through our ministering unto them. Prayer accomplishes the will of our God! Praise His Name!
Dear ones, we do have a pressing need that has come upon us just this month. Our brush-hog mower – that we use so much in keeping ahead of the real rough mowing that we need to do – has broken completely down. Like everything in this world – it has come to its end. So – like how we got this one that has served us for so many years – please pray that we be granted another brush-hog. If any of you know of anyone who has no more use for one — that still has some life in it – please call us – 816-690-8465 or 277-7071. Lord willing we will be able to replace this much needed piece of equipment.
As always – please be in prayer that our Lord will continue to supply the financial wherewithal for us to meet our monthly expenses. Prayer has been earnestly engaged from the beginning of this ministry – and it is what is directly connected to its ongoing life support. Your support of us – is the Lord’s support of us. Even if you cannot give anything – it is your prayers that provide for us! We thank you for that show of love to us that comes through them. We live day to day – week to week – month to month – as our Lord and Savior provides. He is ever faithful through us unto each other. We love and pray for you as well.
by John Carpenter | Jul 6, 2017 | Devotional
“…to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.” “But now the righteousness of God – without the law – is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22) even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ – unto all and upon all that believe; for there is no difference: (23) for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; (24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; (25) whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood…” [2Pe.1:1] [Ro.3:21-25]
The gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ is clearly set forth from the message of these two passages of scripture. The Word of God tells us that there is one Lord and one faith – and this truth is being here set forth. It is being set forth unto all whom Peter says — that have obtained like precious faith – that is the grace of true saving faith. They have done so through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! And, by virtue of our receiving that grace – there is given the evidential proof that we have also received the “righteousness of God”. The bestowal by God – through Christ – of this grace – is what makes us to be true believers in the Lord Jesus and His righteousness for our eternal salvation.
The apostle Paul from Romans three delivers to us the substance of this the “everlasting gospel”. He does this when he tells us that – now that the Christ of God – who is our Lord Jesus Christ – has appeared in our history and done what He (and only He) could do. He has brought to light the “righteousness of God without [or, apart from] the law”! Plus, he says, this has been witnessed also in our history – by the law – and all the Godly prophets! Praise and glory only unto our God!
We are no longer flagrant and profane worldly sinners! We are no longer religious false-believing sinners! But, because we believe in, and trust in, this pure gospel truth of God’s great omnipotent grace – we are transformed into becoming true-believing (having obtained like precious faith) – sinners-saved-by-grace! Again, Praise His Name!
All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God – and, sadly, all of us continue to sin and come short of His glory. However, unto all of us upon whom God has bestowed (by “His great love wherewith He has loved us” Eph.2:4) this eternally saving grace of faith – we have been justified – or, declared righteous – in the eternal Son of God incarnate, even in our Lord Jesus Christ! How does God, indeed, do this for us sinners?
He does this by His grace-of-faith-reckoned-and-imputed unto us> “righteousness of God”. The righteousness of God manifested — completely apart from the law — but found only in — the Lord Jesus Christ! Whom God has set forth to be – for us – a propitiation before Him. He has set forth His incarnated eternal Son — to be our eternal Substitute – to be our eternal Surety. Therefore, we are eternally approved by God — and made eternally accepted with God — by virtue of the person and work of Jesus Christ – His eternal Son – and righteous merits!
He placed us in Him. He gave us His Spirit to forever dwell in us. His victory over Satan, sin and death, is our victory over Satan, sin and death. All of God’s eternally saving spiritual blessings have been blessed upon us according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world – before even time began [Eph.1:3-4; 2Tim.1:9]!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | May 28, 2017 | Ministry News
Specific Needs—Update
Thank you to those who have been able to donate toward the specific needs we have for this coming summer and for extra maintenance needs on our buildings. The updates are highlighted in red. How wonderful that the need for the shower house updates and repairs have been fully funded, including a volunteer to help us do the work needed!
- Van Rental to transport campers from Kansas City ($200/week x 6) = $1,200
- Chemicals for the swimming pool ($200-300/week x 10) = $2000-$3,000 $200 has been donated
- Recreation/Craft/Program Supplies = $400
- Many of our buildings (6 cabins, Dining Hall) need a new coat of paint = $900.00. $451 has been donated toward this project
- Kitchen Cabinets = We need just under $1,000 to meet this need.
- Shower House updates and repairs = Fully funded!
by John Carpenter | May 28, 2017 | Ministry News
Praises and Prayer Requests
Well, dear ones, our 65th year and our 2017 camp season will be upon us next month! We cherish your prayers. Your prayers for our staff – and your prayers for the children whom the Lord will send to us to hear the glorious gospel of Christ! Please pray that the Spirit of the Lord prepare their hearts to hear His Word. Please pray that our staff will be used of the Lord to declare clearly and plainly the pure truth of the gospel of His glory only.
Praise the Lord – we still have help that is planning to come in the near future to continue to help us get ready! You don’t realize how it encourages us to hear from those of you who are willing and able to give us, even for a few hours, your energy and skill. The fellowship is rich — and it is amazing what all gets tackled and accomplished. Thank you so much!
Please pray for our upcoming staff training session on June 5-7. We currently have about 18 volunteers working with the children this summer. We praise the Lord for this answer to prayer.
Ro.11:36 tells us: “For of Him – and through Him – and to Him – are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.” We continually thank and praise our great God for all your prayers and support! We truly do love you.
by John Carpenter | May 28, 2017 | Devotional
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God – He it is that doth go with thee. He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” [De.31:6]
These wonderful words of life and encouragement were a part of that which was given by God unto Moses for him to declare and deliver unto the children of Israel as they approached the promised land to finally enter into it. This was at the end of 40 long years of wandering in the wilderness. 40 long years of living in a world of trial and tribulation. 40 years of having to depend daily upon the Lord to sustain them throughout their struggles to survive. This should not be an unfamiliar picture to the true child of God that is yet passing through this world in any of their generations throughout this entire age of sin and death.
The wilderness experience of the “Children of Israel” is a “type and shadow” of the life, walk and survival of each of God’s eternally loved and chosen children as they each – in their own generation traverse through this “passing-away-world” upon this timeline of fallen humanity [1Jn.2:17]. In this world, we are fraught with the same challenges – both spiritual and physical – that Israel of old had to face. We, also, need the same grace provided supply of wisdom, strength and patience that comes from a living and vital relationship with the very presence of our Lord in order for us to safely and finally arrive.
Earlier from De.29 Moses reminded Israel that as he led them for 40 years, they witnessed – they saw – all that the Lord did to deliver and sustain them. What He did for them from their time in Egypt and up to and through the land of Moab. All the signs and miracles that He performed were testimonies – repeated evidences — of His presence among them as their God! How for 40 years – their clothes and their shoes had not waxen old upon them! Only our God could do such a thing as this for them!
Yet, at the same time, Moses was led to not neglect to solemnly tell them that, “the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear unto this day.” [De.29:4] This is because no matter what we go through in this fallen world – sin is so prevalent and incapacitating that it takes an act of God’s grace to give unto us that “hearing ear” and “seeing eye” so we can hear and see the truth of His wonderful salvation! Pr.20:12 declares: “The hearing ear and the seeing eye – the Lord hath made even both of them.” We need the Lord for everything!
The Spirit of God through Moses also told the Israelites: “…the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart — and the heart of thy seed – to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul – that thou mayest live.” [De.30:6] Jesus taught from Jn.15:5: “for without me – ye can do nothing!” It is so true what Ps.37:39-40 declares: “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord – He is their strength in the time of trouble. (40) And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them. He shall deliver them from the wicked – and save them – because they trust in Him.”
The Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul wrote from Eph.6:10-11: “Finallly, my brethren – be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God – that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” And then he further descriptively declared unto the Philippians from Phil.3:3: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit – and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence [or, put no trust] in the flesh!”
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
