by John Carpenter | May 20, 2025 | Camp News
Dear ones, as I put forward in last month’s letter — an urgent prayer request for our Brother – Jeff Hall – let me give you all an update on his health. He had to go through open heart surgery. And, in addition, because he also had a great need for some serious dental work to be performed – that had to come first!
Now at this point I must give first of all – our great Lord and Savior thanks – and then next also for all of you that obviously prayed for Jeff even before you knew of His dire need! I say this because the dentist and the doctor acted so quickly! They performed the much needed dental work on a Wednesday – and then – did the more serious open heart surgery – on the immediate next day (Thursday)! This seemed to me to be a very risky proposition, to say the least! But God (two great words of our Bibles) intervened for Jeff beautifully — in answer to all our hopes and prayers! Jeff came through the crisis – because of Christ his Savior! Thank you, Lord – thank all of you who were moved to intercede on his behalf.
Now, because of the immediate season upon us — of Jeff’s recovery (which should be at least 6 weeks) we will most likely be working on some much needed renovation of our buildings and grounds that we know we need to give some much needed attention. It is our hopes to be able to minister and do some family camping ministry before the end of the Summer. Please be in prayer with us to this end – and please keep Jeff in your ongoing prayers – for his thorough and complete recovery.
Don’t forget to be praying for the Lord’s replacement of our Staff! We want the ones that He provides. Please pray for us – that we may patiently seek Him to hear and answer our prayers.
by John Carpenter | Apr 22, 2025 | Camp News
Well, dear family in Christ, we are coming closer and closer to the time where we will begin a spring and summer season of once again – inviting families of the children to come out and spent a few hours of a day participating in Del-Haven Camp activities like swimming, fishing, hiking, crafts and, of course, campfires (along with cooking marshmallows). We also will have a Bible Study time where the pure Truth of the Gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ will be boldly presented – unto the whole family. We covet your earnest prayers that this will be spiritually productive in bringing forth eternal fruit – according as our Lord wills and is pleased to do.
In order to most effectively accomplish these things – we have to put forward to you – a pressing prayer request where our Brother in Christ, Jeff Hall, is concerned. He has been experiencing a few chest pains lately. And, he has a doctor’s appointment coming up. Please remember to be lifting him up before our Lord in your prayers. Pray that they can detect exactly why he is having these pains – and what exactly he needs — in order to remedy the situation. We need Jeff – and we need him to be alright! So please – let’s keep him in all of our prayers!
Plus, we are still seeking the Lord to lead us to – or lead unto us – some good and capable staff – both male and female – that will be able to lead – both physically and spiritually – where the activities of a camp week is concerned. This is a need that we are praying the Lord, Himself, will supply.
We thank and praise our Lord for all of you that have continued to show your love for Him and us – in His work out here. Your prayers and your gifts have been – and always are – an evidence of — His and your love for this ministry. We love you – and we do pray for you as well.
by John Carpenter | Mar 25, 2025 | Camp News
Well, dear family in Christ, Del-Haven is at this moment riddled with blown down trees and limbs all over the place. But, praise the Name of the Savior there are no buildings or structures that have sustained any damage! God has showed us that His presence and power has preserved us. And, thank all of you that have faithfully prayed for us – and sent gifts to aid in meeting our expenses. Our God does hear and answer all our prayers. We pray for all of you as well.
And, that being said – please continue to lift up our need for male and female staff help! We will train anyone and everyone that wants to serve our Lord with us in ministering to boys and girls that want to come to Camp Del-Haven – where they will experience our camp activities and adventures – and hear the Gospel of the glory only of the Lord Jesus Christ – around the clock each day that they are here. Please pray for us in this regard.
In all your praying – do not forget to pray for our country – and our leaders! Pray that our Lord will move our leaders – to lead us – into “a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty”.
by John Carpenter | Jan 23, 2025 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, we are in the midst of frigid snowy and icy weather! There is definitely a real grandeur around about us – but the downside of things is that we cannot go anywhere! So then – we rejoice in the Lord’s sovereign control over it all – and wait till the weather that’s under His glorious supervision – clears back up. Amen? Amen!
We continue to supplicate His leadership – where Del-Haven is concerned – especially in regards to a recovery of an able and Holy Spirit led staff of men and women to fill the need to shepherd a camp full of little boys and girls. This is what we earnestly seek from Him to manifest unto us. Please be in prayer with us in this all important provision.
There is much work on the campground that needs our attention. There are many trees that the heavy winds have knocked down that need to be worked up and kept in store for our firewood needs. Our need in order to provide heat during these present cold days and nights. Pray that our strength continues without wavering. Indeed, the Lord God is our strength and our stamina and staying power – in order for us to meet the task of filling these needs. Your fervent prayers – behind the scenes – is very much an encouragement for us to keep on – keeping on!
We are also hoping and praying that with the new election – we are hoping for a strong reduction in the inflated economy that is presently afflicting us. The Lord willing – we will see some positive things where this is concerned – as well. We have been witnessing an oppressive assault upon us in these things! Let us call out unto our Lord to turn unto us and make His Divine Presence and Favor to shine upon us.
We love you and are very glad you are there interceding on our behalf! We pray for you as well.
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
