We enjoyed a great steak dinner - complete with a live band and a build-your-own ice cream sundae station.  The evening had something for everyone with many exciting raffle items, a silent auction, and great auctioneers running the live auction.  (Who took home Aunt Ruth’s pickles this year?!)

A total of $68,000 was given during this year’s auction!  Praise God for his provision through His people!  Thank you to each person who participated - your generosity overwhelms us!  Your decision to invest in the ministry of Camp Beechpoint makes it possible for us to serve under-resourced youth.  This is one camper’s testimony of how God used camp in his life:

“The counselors here treat you as if you are their children.  Which in this case I love that cuz I don’t have anyone to care or pray for me back home.  It’s real heartbreaking living in the ghetto and now I know what real friendship is between me and another Christian.  Some of the older counselors, they have experience with a lot of things like manhood, and I applaud them for it.  If you want to grow in your faith you have to come here.” - boy, age 13

Please pray that God will prepare the hearts of the youth who are coming this summer - that they will be open to receive His love and Word.  Lives are changed at camp!

While I was here I learned about helping and supporting. Also I enjoyed spending time with positive role models and learning about the Lord. I had fun enjoying doing new things like shooting bows and arrows and chopping wood. Again, thank you for this awesome weekend.”

- Kadavion, age 13

Our lessons for Winter Blast were from Romans 12:2 – challenging our campers to not conform to the pattern of the world but be transformed by renewing their minds. Satan’s goal is to deceive and ensnare our youth. The weekend was full of teaching about how to reject the lies of the enemy by renewing our minds with the truth of God’s Word. Listen to what some of our campers wrote about their experience at WinterBlast:

“At Beechpoint you can have fun and friends.  This camp is about friendship and loving.  If I didn’t have friends I would come to this camp to have friends and learn about God.  I learned that He loves me.”

- Nathan, age 11

“I learned about some things that I used to think were the truth but they were really lies.” – Siclali, age 14

“I went hiking in the woods. I also learned about Paul, Job, and Peter and how they all three changed because of the mighty GOD!!!”

– Christian, age 8

Thank you for helping to make Winter Blast 2011 possible! Please pray for the for the campers who received this teaching, that they will stand strong in their faith and continue to learn from the Word. Pray for the 5 campers who made first time decisions to trust Christ, that they will be a light in their families!

Youth from camp’s Leaders in Training program participated in the weekend.

Campers ages 10-18 attend the weekend with a parent or adult mentor.

The retreat ends with a commitment ceremony where campers can choose to make a pledge of purity to God.

“I liked learning about the type of guys that girls want to date.  When I get home I am going to be more of a gentleman, be more respectful, and be cautious when choosing who I date.” – boy, age 13

“This weekend taught my daughter the importance of saving herself for the man God has for her.  I realize the importance of this retreat.  I didn’t have this when I was growing up.” – mother

“I learned that people should keep their lips to themselves.” – girl, age 10

“The best part of the weekend was learning all the new Bible verses and going skating with everybody.  I learned that we need to wait until we are married to have sex and that us girls really give boys something to look at and talk about by the way we dress.” – girl, age 15

“I learned that God takes care of me.  Camp is the funnest thing in the world!” - girl, age 6

“Because of you I got to make smores for the first time, they were delicious!  Becasue of you I have the record for the longest sledding run alone.  Because of you, my first time at Winter Blast was the best!” - boy, age 12

“I got to express all my feelings.  All I want to do when I get home is be the person that I was here.” - boy, age 11

“At Winter Blast this year I did the Klondike Derby.  I enjoyed that so much because we had to build teamwork and that is the biggest!  The food was so good that I wanted to take all the meals home.” - girl, age 10

“I didn’t know that Christians have fun.  I learned how real Christians live in camp.” - boy, age 8

“I learned that God is sovereign, which means in control.  My favorite event was sledding and rolling down the hill.  Thank you for helping me come to camp!” - girl, age 10

God is using camping to reach children for Him.  Praise God for one boy who accepted Christ last weekend!  Another child told a leader, “Wow.  All the grown ups here LIKE me!”   Get a glimpse into Winter Blast 2010 through these pictures of kids loving camp!

Fun in the snow.

Hunting for polar bears.

Sledding!

Making new friends.

Playing broomball.

We had excellent fall weather for raking.

Everyone jumped in to help!

Summer staff, teen Leaders in Training, kids in our Partners in Discipleship, and a local church youth group helped with the piles and piles of leaves.

All the leaves were drug from around campus into the woodline.

 After lunch, volunteers participated in bikes, the zip line, and rock climbing.

OTHER NEWS:  Construction on the new dining hall continues to progress.  Praise God for the many volunteers who are currently helping with the deck.  Pray for the remaining funds necessary for completion.

Shirley Davidhizar, Betsy Davidhizar, and Marissa Smith.  Just looking at this picture makes you feel like you are at camp!  A special round of applause for the evening’s culinary team - the meal was great!

Classic decorations created an atmosphere of elegance.

Dr. Melvin Banks, founder of Urban Outreach Foundation and keynote speaker.

Summer 2009 alumni who reunited with us for this event.  The afternoon hosted alumni from many decades who enjoyed door prizes, a vision report, and time together at camp.

Mark Davidhizar with camper Jakarri.  Jakarri spoke during the event about how camp has impacted his life.  Thanks to the many who prayed, gave, and volunteered to make the 50th Anniversary Celebration a success!

50th Anniversary

Celebration Banquet

Come celebrate what God has done and will be doing in the generations to come.  Invite a friend to join you as our guest for a fabulous meal and an evening of memories, music, and a message of challenge from Dr. Melvin Banks, founder of Urban Outreach Foundation.  Lives are changed at camp!  Come join us!

** Overnight accommodations are available for out of town guests, contact the office for more information.

RSVP by October 1:

Call: 1-800-991-2267

Email:  rsvp@beechpoint.com

50th Anniversary

Alumni Social

Calling all Alumni!  Join us early on Saturday, October 10th, at 12 pm to celebrate the history and contributions of the Alumni community.  Together we will enjoy lunh, a vision report by Mr. D, and campus activities for the whole family!  RSVP by Oct. 1

** Overnight accomodations are available - contact Aaron Brown for questions and housing reservations: abrown@beechpoint.com