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
by John Carpenter | Apr 20, 2017 | Camp News
Once again, as we are beginning to get the camp grounds ready for our summer sessions, we have special needs that continue to present themselves as items that we are not able to cover with our small monthly budget. We are so thankful to the Lord that he continues to sustain the ministry of Del-Haven in such a way as we can operate without charging a single child to attend a camp session. We have included some of the special items that we know will be needed to be covered again this summer. We are so thankful to the Lord and to those of you who have prayed with us and even given toward meeting the extra needs we had last year. After 65 years, many of our buildings are showing their age and are in great need of maintenance. You will notice, that the Lord has already began providing for the needed repairs in the kitchen area and the shower house.
- 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
- Recreation/Craft/Program Supplies = $400
- Many of our buildings (6 cabins, Dining Hall) need a new coat of paint = $900.00. $201 has already been given for this project.
- Kitchen Cabinets = The current estimate we have is $6,700. $4,129.92 has already been given for this project.
- Shower House updates and repairs = currently have $3,800 toward this project. The estimate, though not finalized, will probably be about $1,200 more.
by John Carpenter | Apr 20, 2017 | Camp News
Special recognition needs to be given to our faithful friends at First Baptist Church in Oak Grove, MO for their continual show of financial aide in helping us to meet the goal of renovating our kitchen. We praise the Lord so much for their show of love unto us. May the Lord, in turn, bless them abundantly for this (Lk.6:38)!
Please remember to be in prayer for the children that our God sends unto us this summer – as well as for those that He would have to be on the front line as far as our staff is concerned. We have learned that it is prayer that He uses to accomplish His perfect will and good pleasure.
