by John Carpenter | Dec 18, 2015 | Ministry News
Here is another entry from our 2015 camp journal:
July 2, 2015> “First older girls camp! Tuesday morning it stormed, and Wednesday we only had a morning swim time. That evening we were under a tornado warning, so we skipped campfire, set up a projector in the basement of the dorm and watched movies. One key to being a good counselor is to hide God’s Word in your heart so He can give you opportunity to use it and relate to the kids. Get to know them; be goofy; be serious; speak to their need of a Savior in the small and the big ways. When Christ taught parables, He used their language and stories they could relate to. He listened patiently, took time away from doing things to truly focus on the needs of others, and gave Himself up for us. Let that be our mindset. This week, not many offered to pray, but I pray they would desire to know Christ and grow in their relationship with Him… Nothing can compare! Cause them to adore you, Lord.” Kendle
Kendle may not be able to be with us in 2016. Please remember to keep praying for her — that our Lord will guide and direct and provide and protect her in all that she ends up doing in this world. And, pray for us that He will provide another wonderful worker and laborer for His glory in what is needed here at Del-Haven.
by John Carpenter | Dec 18, 2015 | Ministry News
Everyone here at Camp Del-Haven want to wish everyone in our family on our mailing list — and everyone who happens to get a copy of this letter — a very meaningful, wonderful and Merry Christmas!
2015 — another year — is all too quickly coming to an end. We, indeed, have much to be thankful for. We, indeed, love you all and are truly thankful for all of you and your continual prayerful support for the gospel ministry that continues to flourish here at Camp Del-Haven. Our great God truly is a preserving, providing, protecting God — who is worthy of all our praise!
by John Carpenter | Dec 18, 2015 | Devotional
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich — yet for your sakes — He became poor — that ye through His poverty might be rich.” [2Co.8:9]
From this short, terse text of holy scripture there is delivered a most profound statement of description of what is referred to as the Biblical doctrine of eternal atonement by substitution. In it there is declared and made to be prominent the real reason for there being a celebration of Christmas, viz., the incarnation of the eternal Son of God where the history of fallen and sinful humanity is concerned. There is also referenced the high cost of what Christ had to pay in order to accomplish and acquire that which He came to provide for all those that God eternally loved, chose, decreed and designed to be the true recipients of so rich a gift as their personal eternal salvation through the person and work of His Son. What a great verse this truly is when one considers all that it touches where the gospel of God’s free grace is concerned!
How sad to realize that in today’s society and world Christmas time has become a time for focusing on all that distracts and literally denounces the true sacred message and meaning of it. Jesus has, by this world, become completely circumvented by Santa Claus! Christmas candy and gifts are things that are more relished than the fact that this time marks the coming of Christ, the God/man, into this cursed world as the Savior!
The Word of God from Phil.2:5-8 aptly exhorts all who have been graciously granted spiritual ears to hear and spiritual eyes to see, to, as it says: “Let this mind be in you — which was also in Christ Jesus — who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation and took on Him the form of a bond-servant: and being found in fashion as a man — He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and granted Him a Name which is above every name: that at the Name of Jesus — every knee should bow — of things in heaven, and things on earth and things under the earth — and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord — to the glory of God the Father.”
That which Christmas time in this world marks is the historical fulfillment of the eternal covenant between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to eternally save each and every one of His eternally loved and chosen fallen children. It is the Son of God whom the Triumvirate God sent into this world to be the Sovereign Savior Substitute for them. He, Himself, being equal with God, willingly submitted to all the mandates of that covenant which includes all that He said and all that He did (which requirements involved everything 2Co.8:9 and Phil.2:5-8 declare and describe and more). The incarnation of the eternal Son of God is manifested in the perfect person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem according to the scriptures. Praise and glory unto His holy Name!
by John Carpenter | Nov 9, 2015 | Ministry News
As promised — here is another entry from our 2015 camp journal:
06/25/2015 — “Hot week of boys andgirls camp! Loved working with the wonderful staff and loved the kids even more! Our theme song this year is “It’s Been Mercy All The Way”; And, our memory verses are Eph.2:8, 2Co.5:21 and Jas.4:7. There are always distractions here: It’s hot; Just play with the kids and don’t talk about God; Staff communications misfiring; Bad weather; Staff feeling sick, or things breaking. As it says in our song, “Lord, I thank you for your faithful mercy — All of my steps have been grounded by grace.” By his mercy He gives us kids with hearing ears; questions about God to answer; times of disobedience so we can teach discipline and reconciliation; and eyes lighting up with thankfulness of grace as the Word is read. The more I come here, after almost 9 years of being a “staffer” — the more I care less about the distractions and want more to focus on these precious children. Trials always abound, but children always need to hear of Christ as well. Lord, keep our focus on you; being bold with telling these kids about you; and bless your next week of camp.” Kendle
Kendle is a college student and one of our staff members who has been faithfully serving the Lord with us at Del-Haven for almost 10 years. She has a great passion for sharing the Gospel with young children.
This entry really delves into the day to day life in a camp with these children. Please continue to pray for the staff of laborers that the Lord raises up to minister for His glory at Camp Del-Haven.
by John Carpenter | Nov 9, 2015 | Ministry News
On November 1st we had a wonderful time participating in the missionary program at Pleasant Grove Bible Church. There truly is an eternal bond that exists within the body of Christ. We thank our Lord God for everyone in that precious assembly. To have been among them — and to experience the real presence of being spiritually sealed to them — only serves to enhance our true love for them. It is an earthly taste of heaven. The preservation of Del-Haven is realized through their lifting us up before the throne of grace — and we know it! Praise to our God for the evidence of His love and grace through every bit of this kind of support.
Please continue to pray for our brother, Dan McElwain, who has recently undergone a heart treatment. He has — by our Lord’s divine intervention — come through it quite well. However, he still needs our prayers for his complete recovery. Also, pray that he will be able to adopt a lifestyle that is conducive to his continual good health. Pray that Lord leads Dan into a less stress filled occupation.
