by John Carpenter | Nov 24, 2024 | Camp News
Oh, my friends and family — In Christ – and fellow warriors in the Ministry of Del-Haven – we do, indeed, have much to be so thankful for! And, we are trusting in the Lord of glory and victory for our future. Let us earnestly pray together for our great God’s continual leadership and provision. “God our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ – is our Hope” [1Ti.1:1].
Let us be in continual prayer for our newly re-elected president – Donald J. Trump – and — as well — all the other newly elected government leaders – and all the newly appointed government officials. This is what is commanded for us to be doing — as God’s chosen people! [see: 1Ti.2:2] Let us pray that He – our God – will lead us through their ruling decisions – in His Peace (which is Christ our Lord) and in accordance with His Righteousness (which is also our Lord Jesus).
We are still in unceasing prayer for our Lord and Savior to draw unto us five male and female – awakened and quickened – true believers – to act as both cabin and camp program leaders with a real passion for the souls of 6 to 12yr. old boys and girls. This is so we can, once again, launch back into regular summer camp sessions throughout their out-of-school summer vacations. Please be in prayer with us in this matter – if the Lord wills that it be done. Thank you.
Hopefully, along with the changes in our government leadership, let us pray that the Lord will be pleased to lead us into an economy — that will be much less inflated – than what we have been experiencing. Hence, we do thank the Lord – continually – for your faithful and prayerful financial support of this ministry. We love you all – for all that you do – when you do it! We pray for you all – that our Lord will be blessing your abilities to survive — whatever the Enemy against us is doing in this world to hamper the progress of the spread of the pure truth of God’s Ever-lasting Gospel. We already know how His Wonderful Book ends – and we — through the Grace and Almighty strength of Christ – will be His Overcomers! Amen? Yes, Amen. — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Oct 16, 2024 | Camp News
Dear family in Christ, 2024 is delivering to us its especially beautiful Autumn season. The trees are already manifesting their true colors. It is indeed wonderful to behold! Our Creator God and Savior allows us to see and experience this time of brilliant splendor! Praise His Name!
This time of year also means that we will be working to cut up the trees that have blown down all over the campground. We will not have to worry where to go to find a resource for firewood. It’s lying all over the campground.
From one end of the camp to the other, we can see evidence of wind damage from the ongoing storms we experienced this year that took out many trees. And, once again, the Lord our God bears testimony of His great goodness in preserving us — in all areas of the campground of Del-Haven — in that — not one of our buildings or structures has been damaged!
To better understand God’s gracious placement of all these fallen limbs and trunks, we offer the following pictures as proof of His providential care.
The specific details of the damage are as follows. Starting from the Halls’ home (located at the south end of the campground near our Chapel), a big tree is down that thankfully missed their house.
In the area of our Dining Hall, Camper Restroom and Shower House building – there are 3 big trees that have been blown down which just missed destroying our Craft Building! Then, between the Shelter House and the Dining Hall, there are more huge limbs scattered on the ground along with some big Hickory trees that were blown down as well.
Moving past the Shelter House to where our Swimming Pool and Campfire Site are located (as well as where our Basketball Court and Dormitory are) – we have some wind damage evidence that includes 3 other big trees that are harmlessly on the ground (just waiting to be cut up for firewood).
All of this has happened (totally out of our control – except — not out of earshot of our prayers to the Sovereign Savior who watches over us) to demonstrate, once again, the Great Faithfulness of our Lord God.
Thank you for your continual Prayerful Support of this ministry! We love and pray for you. — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Sep 15, 2024 | Camp News
The first thing I want to personally express is my thanks to my heavenly Father for all of you who have prayed for me – and my recovery from being in the hospital for nine days and out of commission physically for practically all of July and half of August. It’s not even clear just what exactly happened to me – symptoms seemed to indicate a urinary tract infection, however, I never experienced the typical burning sensation that generally goes along with that. Then a test result came back that indicated that I had a tick borne illness. At any rate, my malady kept me out of normal camp activities and on your prayer lists…and I seem to be getting back to my usual level of healthy energy. Praise the Lord!
We wanted to share a very sweet letter that my wife, Theresa received from a little girl that was scheduled to come out with her family once again this year. Here name is Marah, and this is what she wrote:
Dear Mrs. Theresa,
It’s me, Marah. I went to camp 2 years ago. We miss going to camp this year, anyway, I hope your family gets better. The Lord is keeping you guys in His hands and watching over you. I pray He heals everyone that is sick or hurt.
Sincerely, Marah
Is this not a spontaneous and insightful and sweet message to be coming from an 8 year old little girl? At the top of this page is a photo taken of Marah (on the right) from last year when she was out here for a Family Day At Camp. Let’s keep little Marah (and her whole family) in our prayers. It is so wonderful that our sovereign Lord allows us to receive these little indications that He is still leading and blessing His work here at Del-Haven. Praise the Almighty Sovereign Savior!!
We thank Him for all of you who continue to prayerfully support the ministry here – especially in these extremely inflated economical times. We must not forget that our God is in control and He will never forsake us! Please continue to pray for us in regards to building another staff – and we will continue to pray for you. We love you. — John Carpenter
by the Editor | Aug 18, 2024 | Camp News
Hello Friends! We have come to the end of our 2024 summer camp season. This summer, we sent invitations to our camper families to come out and experience a Family Camp Day. Each session began with a time of Bible study. We made a quick stop at the flagpole for the Pledge Of Allegiance. We then proceeded to the Shelter House for a craft/nature study project. Lunch was next on the agenda, but not before giving everyone a chance to ring the old Dinner bell. Then it was time for every camper’s favorite activity, SWIM TIME! We roasted marshmallows and offered fishing/boating.
Our plan was to provide Family Camp Days throughout the summer until August 9th. However, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). The Lord, in His sovereignty, changed our plans this year. Mr. John Carpenter developed a severe infection and spent just over one week in the hospital. We had to cancel the rest of our Family Camp Days.
John is at home and recovering. We appreciate your prayers for continued healing. Due to the illness, we were not able to send out our regular July newsletter or post it on our website. This camp news update is for the months of July and August.
We are praying that the Lord will use His Word to draw those families closer to Himself. Camp Del-Haven would like to thank you for your prayerful and financial support. — Jeff Hall
by John Carpenter | Jun 20, 2024 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, our Lord continues to faithfully manifest His Divine Presence and sustenance of Del-Haven. This is in spite of the fact that we have never seen such an oppressive and inflated economical environment as we have – right now! But, the Lord still hears and answers our prayers – Praise His Name! Through your prayers and gifts – He has met our monthly needs.
When we got our pool prepared to reopen – we discovered a mechanical problem with our pool filter. Jeff was able to determine what was needed and the Lord provided the necessary funds so that we could purchase the parts that needed to be replaced. Hence, Praise the Lord, Jeff was able to get that task done. This delayed the time for us to be able to have families scheduled to come out to the camp. The hot days we are already experiencing demand that we have a swimming pool! Please be in prayer for us – that the Lord will continue to provide and to guide us – as only He can do.
Jeff sent out an email to the camper families that we have on file for them to begin to pick a Family Day — beginning with the week of June 24th. We plan to make ourselves available for them up through August 9th. The lake is looking real good and we are making progress with cleaning up the campground. The rains and stormy winds have taken their toll on the trees and the like – please pray that our chainsaws, weed eaters and mowers will not break down. The Word of God says for us to “cast all our care on Him – because He cares for us” – so that is what we constantly are doing! Isn’t He Wonderful! (Hey – that’s a wonderful camp chorus!)
Please also remember to be praying that the Lord will lead to us (or us to them) five male and five female staff helpers so that we can once again put together some regular camp sessions. We want what He wants – nothing more and nothing less. Pray with us concerning the family group responses that we receive for this year – that those who come out will be blessed by the Lord with ears to hear and eyes to see (see: Pr.20:12) and hearts to receive and believe the pure truth of the gospel of the glory – only — of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As always – we want you to know how much we love you all – for your continued and faithful and prayerful support of this ministry. We thank our Lord God for you!
“The Lord is Righteous in all His ways, and Holy
in all His Works. The Lord is nigh unto all that
call upon Him – to all that call upon Him in Truth.”
Ps.145:17-18
by John Carpenter | May 22, 2024 | Camp News
Beloved, we are gearing up for another summer of having whole families frequenting the Del-Haven Camp facilities – both parents and children – to experience what goes on throughout a whole week of camp! Jeff Hall sent out an initial email to all the families that we have on record. To this we received an immediate positive reply from the group. Jeff simply said that we are planning to do this same format that we did last year – and that we will follow up in early June with more details as to what days and times there will be available from which to choose when they would like to come. Needless to say we were encouraged by the quick responses. Please be in prayer with us that the Lord will abundantly bless us in ministering to these folks – and bring glory to His Name!
These uncertain times are rife with oppressive inflation and difficult adverse circumstances. The enemy is very active in our world – as I am sure you all well know. We need much prayerful support! Thank you – one and all – for your continuing to stand with us in seeking the Almighty Arm and provision of our Lord God – in His leading us forward in our evangelistic endeavors! Our God is still in control – and He continues to make His divine presence to be realized among us. This is what comforts us and motivates us – to keep on keeping on – in preaching His Word! We thank and praise Him for you! We love and we pray for you, too!
We still have considerable work to do in preparing the campground. All the rain has not given us much of a chance to get ahead of a lot of the things that we need to do. Please pray that we can accomplish these tasks and be ready to meet all the challenges of effectually communicating –
“the Word of the Truth of the Gospel”. [Col.1:5]
