by John Carpenter | Nov 7, 2023 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, it is once again November – the next to the last month of another year. When people say, “The times – they are a’changing” – that seems to mean – especially for God’s true believers: “The times in this fallen world continue to manifest more and more oppressive trials and troubles – as this fallen-in-sin world continues to pass away — right before our very eyes.”
This is why through it all – we must keep our hearts and our minds and our eyes upon Christ our God. He – is our Peace (see: Eph.4:17). Jn.14:27 is where the Lord Jesus tells us: “Peace I leave with you, my Peace I give unto you – not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” Then He goes on and says: “Let not your heart be troubled – neither let it be afraid.” Two chapters later, He says from Jn.16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you – that in me ye might have Peace. In the world (in the lost and fallen-in-sin world) ye shall have tribulation – but be of good cheer – I have overcome the world.” Praise His Name!
Oh, dear family in Christ – do not look – or focus – i.e. judge things in this world according to how they appear to be – but judge – or discern the things that happen in this world according to to God’s righteous and trustworthy and sovereign control. Rest in Him! He never has – and He never will – let His children down! And they that know Him – know that this is the truth!
PRAISES AND PRAYERS
Within this context of the changing times, please continue to be in prayer for Del-Haven as we seek His leading – His Great Shepherding of this – His ministry – in fulfilling the provision of a truly quickened and spiritually awakened staff to be effectually used by His Holy Spirit as both cabin and camp program leaders. Bottom line – we need male and female bond-servants of the Lord who have been born from above by the Spirit and the Word – and who love the Lord and His Pure Gospel Truth.
This is the character qualifications – this – along with a genuine love for the souls of children. We need this in order to be able to conduct our typical daily camp activities. Please – Seek the Lord in prayer with us for His filling of this great need. We thank you in advance for doing so.
We love you and thank you for your continued prayerful support. Go through our website and remind yourselves of our camp history — both recent and over the years from our past seven decades. See and read and remember what the Lord has done through and with Del-Haven in the lives of children – and, most of all – we pray that you, too, will be spiritually moved to pray with us – and for us – unto the glory, only, of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We thank our Lord for you. We love you…and we love hearing from you!
“Hear the Word of the Lord, O ye nations – and declare it in the
isles afar off – and say: He that scattered Israel will gather him
and will keep him – as a Shepherd doth His flock.
For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob
and ransomed him (as His Kinsman Redeemer)
from the hand of him that was stronger than he.” [Jer.31:10-11]
by John Carpenter | Sep 16, 2023 | Camp News
Well once again we enter into autumn – a most pleasant season of the year! The time of the turning of the colors of the leaves of the trees. The cooling down of the daily temperatures from the hot torrid summer nights and days. The campground looks just beautiful! What a wonderful artist our sovereign Lord, the Creator, truly is!
Dear ones, the Lord has been – and is — unfolding before us historical truths concerning the mystery of iniquity that has been going on behind the scenes – out of our sight – for centuries! The world of the Wicked One (see: 2 Co.4:4) filled with his horrible deeds is being exposed for what it truly is by the holy Light of our Lord God. The appalling evil hatred of Satan towards children has been throughout the whole history of fallen-in-sin humanity always active and present in every generation! This truth has become obvious! We need to be in earnest prayer for the boys and girls of our present day and time! Please continue to be faithful to – not forget – to pray for Del-Haven. Pray for our sovereign Lord God to lead us – to be our “Great Shepherd” – and protect us (and all the children He has sent – or will send – through our camp program) from “the wiles of the devil” – as only He can do! Praise His Wonderful Name!
In these perilous days — cell phones, computers, and Artificial Intelligence – have been weaponized to bombard everyone – adults and children — with mind controlling – thought shaping – and character developing sinful affectations! Our children are more than ever in need of a safe environment that is saturated with the love of God and the gracious influence of His Holy Spirit and hearing the proclamation of the pure truth of the Gospel of the Glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ! Please prayerfully seek – with us – from the Lord – for this to come to pass! Praise His Name – He has written from Ps.37:4-5> “Delight thyself also in the Lord – and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (5) Commit thy way unto the Lord – Trust also in Him – and He shall bring it to pass.”
May God richly bless you for your faithful, prayerful support! We love and pray for you.
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin,
but ye obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine
unto which ye were delivered.
Being then made free from sin —
ye became the servants of righteousness.”
— Romans 6:17-18
by John Carpenter | Aug 14, 2023 | Camp News
Well dear ones, we have concluded our 2023 out–of–school camp season – having been blessed in doing a ministry of Family Camp days. The response from the families has been wonderful! They have expressed genuine hopefulness that we continue to include this alternate method of ministry on our summer schedule. Please be in prayer with us as we seek the Lord’s will in this matter.
Also, please be in prayer for the Lord’s choice in providing an adequate staff — so that we may be able to resume regular camp sessions. A real obstacle is the reality of the economic and cultural impact that our present times are experiencing. Especially since we all are volunteers. This means, therefore, no one earns a worldly living from Del-Haven. Please pray with us that our Lord will draw to us – or lead us to – 5 male and 5 female staff leaders. Please pray that they be truly awakened and quickened by the Truth of God’s gospel of His grace – so that they may be able to serve Him in staffing our respective summer camps for 2024.
Our schedule of camps typically follow according to the age of the campers. We have 2 weeks of camps for 6-8 yr. olds – 2 weeks of camps for 9-12 yr. old boys – and 2 weeks of camps for 9-12 yr. old girls. Our camp week begins on Monday and ends on Thursday. We would naturally need some male and female staff during the 6-8 yr. old weeks of camp with both boys and girls.
If you know of any prospective staff helpers – we encourage you to go to our website from where you can print out an application to fill out and get to us for review. We will provide complete training in regards to our entire camp program – which needs to be done in advance – which we can then schedule accordingly. The website will also provide information about Del-Haven as to where we stand Biblically – and our complete history. If you know of any potential candidates please have them to pray and seek the Lord concerning the possibility of their service – for Him – with us. We thank and praise the Lord for all your assistance in this much needed matter.
We thank all of you – that have provided for us your email address, or signed up on our website – to receive our monthly prayer/newsletter via email – rather than by regular postal delivery. That will go a long way to helping us to cut our monthly expenses to a more manageable amount. However, as we have said before – if you wish to continue to receive a newsletter through the mail – we will continue to send one to you as you request. Please remember to pray with us in this ongoing worldly reality. We truly do thank our Savior for your faithful – prayerful and financial – support!
“Having made known unto us the mystery ot His will,
according to His good pleasure which He hath
purposed in Himself.
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together
in One – all things in Christ – both which are in
heaven,
and which are on earth;
even in Him – in whom also we have obtained an
inheritance –
being predestined according to the purpose of Him
who worketh all things after the counsel –
of His own will…” [Eph.1:9-11]
(Image by wirestock on Freepik)
by John Carpenter | Jul 19, 2023 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, our 2023 camp season has been filled up with family camp days — which means that our ministry has reflected a little different complexion than just our foundational camp weeks with the children. We have experienced some very positive results and feedback from the families that have participated this year. Everyone seems delighted with what we are doing and what they are experiencing. Please continue to be in prayer that the Lord would be glorified in this additional ministry opportunity as we rebuild our summer camp program for the children.
PRAYING TO FILL OUR STAFFING NEEDS
Please continue to be in prayer for our staff needs. We are seeking from the Lord five male and five female staff workers — truly motivated by the Holy Spirit — with a desire to declare what “great things the Lord hath done” in their own personal lives. We want those whom God has groomed to serve Him — in touching the lives of the children that He sends to Del-Haven.
Here on our Del-Haven website, you can submit an online application for these crucial volunteer staff positions, and also submit information on camper candidates. It is our prayer that the Lord will lead some to us through this means. Maybe He will use some of you to help us in this way. Please pray with us about this urgent need.
We also want to remind everyone that we plan to stop sending out our monthly newsletter by mail and start sending them out by email to help defray our mailing costs. If you want to continue to receive our latest camp news and devotional, please go to our Homepage to sign up for email delivery. Also, if you have time, please reacquaint yourself with our content and specifically our mission statement and the scriptural foundation that reflects the Word of the personal testimony of this ministry which God has sustained for over seven decades.
Lastly, we want to thank all of you who have been led to send your financial support. You would be surprised to see how we continually witness the faithfulness of the Lord in His allowing us to meet each month’s expenses and bills. It is miraculous! We give Him all the thanks, praise and glory — for all of you!
by John Carpenter | Jun 26, 2023 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, we are definitely in the midst of spiritual warfare – in our world today! Our whole land is under an horrific attack of the devil! We need to be in earnest prayer for our government and against the enemies that have been allowed to infiltrate our schools – our churches – and our homes. Let us call on the King of kings and Lord of lords and the Head of all principality and powers – that He deliver us from the snares and destruction of the Evil One. After all – he is already a defeated foe — by the person and work of our sovereign Savior!
In addition, we have developed a real immediate crisis where our staff for camps is concerned. Our staff training week (June 5-7) uncovered that our staff members were totally unprepared to be able to minister the Word of the Truth of the gospel to the campers. This means that we have been thrust back to shifting our whole approach to scheduling family camp days as a way to minister the gospel – until we can replace our staff with well taught and thoroughly trained male and female cabin and camp program leaders. Please be in prayer that our Lord God will lead us to – or draw unto us the quickened, awakened believers that we need in order to recover from this setback.
We have already contacted and scheduled five families that are now on the calendar to come out to Del-Haven for a block of time to experience what goes on all week in camp. Pray with us that these folks will come having ears to hear and eyes to see and hearts to receive and believe the gospel of the glory, only – of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This situation has never ever exactly happened before in our history. But, we know that the Lord is still on the throne and He is still completely in control! From Ps.50:15 He still says: “Call upon me in the day of trouble – I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me.” Praise His holy and faithful Name!
Also, due to the fact that we need to cut back on the rising expenses of life in this present world – we are planning to transition from sending our monthly newsletter by mail and sending it instead by email. If you want to keep receiving our newsletter, please send your name and email address to: jeff@campdelhaven.org or go to www.campdelhaven.org/newsletter-signup to subscribe online. If you don’t have an email account or you rely on receiving our return addressed envelopes to facilitate your faithful, regular financial support, then please contact us about making other arrangements. Hopefully, this change will eliminate the rising printing costs and postal fees – which will really help us out.
We are saddened to report that Sheri DeSchepper felt like she had to resign from Del-Haven. She has for almost a decade now been involved with – and settled into – an active part of the ministry of Sycamore Hills Baptist Church. Please pray for her that she be led of the Lord in her continued service according to His perfect will and good pleasure.
We want you all to know how much we appreciate your support of us – along with all your prayers. We thank our Lord God for you — and we pray for you as well.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts
and be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh you a reason [or, a Word]
concerning the Hope that is in you
with meekness and fear.” [1Pe.3:15]
by John Carpenter | May 22, 2023 | Camp News
We are still busy in all that needs to get done so that we are ready for another blessed season of Del-Haven Camps. The lake has been treated to clear it up of all the lake weeds and moss that every year builds up in it. The ongoing mowing process has already begun – which takes up a lot our time to stay on top of the campgrounds upkeep. Dead trees are being ear marked for cutting down and cutting up. This means brush piles on top of brush piles are being formed to burn up. I relate all this in hopes that you remember to pray for us to get all of this done without injury or any major mishaps along the way. All of this requires the use of equipment and supplies that right now in our economy is much more expensive to operate. But, our Sovereign God is still on the throne – and His coffers are always full! Praise His Name!
We would be remiss to not request from you all that prayers be made for all the children that have already requested a place in the camp schedule. And, this means that we need prayers for our Lord to send to us the helpers (male and female) that want to serve Him by filling a place on our Del-Haven Staff. The Lord has always provided – and we expectantly look for Him to do so again this year. This is where your support is most vital(!) – your Prayer Support – for which we wholeheartedly love and thank you!
Thank you to Sycamore Hills Baptist Church and the Rusher family for adding a Gaga Ball pit to our recreation area. This game has become popular in recent years, and the campers will surely enjoy this new addition.
