by John Carpenter | Mar 17, 2024 | Camp News
Well dear ones, we are presently preparing to once again reach out to the families and care providers of the children for them to choose a day to come out to Del-Haven and experience all that goes on throughout a whole week of camp. They can fish – swim – do crafts – enjoy the playground – hike the camp paths – and of course have a Bible Study Time. This is where we will be able to present the gospel unto the whole family. Some interesting and – it is believed – profitable discussions have been experienced through this added camp ministry reality. Please pray with us that our Lord will use this to reach both the adults and the children.
Please remember that we are still seeking from the Lord those that we can train and use to rebuild our staff — with spiritually awakened and quickened male and female servants of the Lord — to fill positions of cabin and camp program leaders for regular camp weeks. A camp season would begin in mid June and run till early August. A camp week would start on Monday noon and end around 1pm Thursday. This would be every week – except the week where July 4th would fall. We have had such good feedback in regards to our Family Camp excursions that the regular camp season may contain a few of those as well. Please be in prayer for us in this regards.
The economy that we are in has been an added trial – to say the least! Thank you all so much that have continued to support us financially (as well as with your prayers). You have been a real answer to our prayers.
Don’t forget that beginning with April 6th – and every weekend – we have a tradition of Saturday Work Days. This is when we get the campground cleaned up and set up for the activities of whatever is on the schedule. If you or a group from your church would like to help us out – please give us a call at 816-425-0460.
We love you all – and we pray for God’s blessing upon you.
“So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper
in the thing whereto I sent it.”
[Is.55:11]
by John Carpenter | Feb 19, 2024 | Camp News
(Shown above, a recent February sunrise over the Camp Del-Haven dining hall.)
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up.” [Ps.5:3] “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me! (17) Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” [Ps.55:16-17]
Well dear ones, already the days seem to be getting longer – and a little warmer…at least warmer than the frigid cold we have recently had to endure. What is right upon us as camp season is concerned – is our intention of contacting our camper families to see about scheduling them for a day of Family Camp Activities. Please be in prayer with us in this regard – that we will get a good reception. There were many great times that we had last year – with encouraging responses from the children and their parents and care providers.
We are still seeking the Savior to send us male and female staff help. What we are asking for is for truly awakened and quickened folks to fill the bill of being cabin and camp leaders – so that, Lord willing, we can resume having boys and girls camp weeks like we had before. Let us keep this matter before our Lord – in accordance with His sovereign will and good pleasure.
Dear family in the Lord, please include Jeff Hall, our longtime camp assistant, in your prayers. He has been having pains in his chest, and after seeing a heart specialist – he has been prescribed some mild medication – as well as put on a schedule for further tests. Jeff will be 57 on his next birthday. Please pray that the Lord continues to strengthen and sustain our dear Brother Jeff!
Also, as a “heads up” to our supporters – our traditional first Work Day is coming up. It will be the first Saturday in April. We do have quite a bit of outside campground work to do if any of you – or a group from your church – feel like lending us a hand. Our camp number is (816) 425-0460.
Thank you all for continuing to pray and financially-support our efforts in presenting the pure Word of the truth of the gospel of the glory – only – of the Lord Jesus Christ. We love you – and pray for you. — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Dec 5, 2023 | Camp News
Well, dear friends and family in Christ – as we continue to seek the Savior for the staff that we need to fill the positions of cabin and camp program leaders for our summer camp season – we must not lose heart and become faint. I truly hope that you also are in league with us in searching for – and from – the Lord in this regard. It may very well be the hardest thing for us — whom He has from His “Word of the truth of the gospel” – awakened and quickened – regenerated by the Holy Spirit – to have to simply stand and wait for His leading and provision. Our sovereign Savior is still the One who sits in His all governing control over all things that are presently happening in our circumstances. And, He tells us to trust Him – and Him alone – through all of our walk through the desolate wilderness of this present world. He has not left us to fend for ourselves.
From Jn.14:18 Jesus has told us: “I will not leave you comfortless (or, more lit. “I will not leave you as orphans”) I will come to you”! His Word of Truth tells us plainly from Jer.29:12-14a: “Then shall ye call upon me – and ye shall go and pray unto me – and I will hearken unto you. (13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (14) And I will be found of you – saith the Lord.
Do you see something out of the ordinary concerning what the Lord tells us about ourselves in the context of what is written here in Jer. 29? Is any sinner in this fallen-in-sin world a true seeker after God? No – not really. Look what God says about all of us in Ps.14:1-2: “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand – and seek after God. (3) They are all gone aside. They are all together become filthy. There is none that doeth good – no – not one!” This same sentiment – this same divine diatribe concerning fallen human depravity — is repeated by the Holy Spirit from Ro.3:11: “There is none that understandeth – there is none that seeketh after God.”
So, what are we to conclude? Scripture interprets scripture…and the Lord Jesus tells us from Jn.15:5, “For without ME – you can do nothing!” Therefore, in the Light of the Truth of His own Word – we can conclusively believe and expect – that the Will of the Lord – will unfold exactly according to that which He has sovereignly willed to take place! Praise His all knowing – His all present – His all powerful – and His all Holy Person and Eternally Accomplished Work! So, let us unite in the Faith of Jesus Christ and lay hold to that which the Lord, Himself, tells us about Himself – that when we call out to Him – and go and pray unto Him – we can expect that His Will – will be accomplished – all for His Glory! We love you – and thank the Lord for you – and we pray for you!
“And an highway shall be there, and a way,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness!
The unclean shall not pass over it – but it shall be for those.
The wayfaring men – though fools – shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon – it shall not be found there –
but the Kinsman Redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and
everlasting Joy and Gladness –and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
[Is.35:8-10]
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)