September Update
Summer 2024:
What an incredible summer we had again at Riverside. We saw the Lord move in great ways in the hearts and minds of His kids over and over again each week. Our theme this summer was “Cultivate Life” from John 15:5, and we focused each day on the life that the Lord desires for us. I loved hearing this theme unpacked week after week, as it was laser-focused on the Good News of the Gospel and how walking in the truth and promises of God influences every aspect of our lives now, the purpose we have as disciples of Jesus, and the life eternally we have in Christ. As I reflect on the summer, here are a few notes to share:
1. We welcomed an incredible staff of 62 young adults this summer, from four different countries. Each week, our staff got a front row seat to see the Lord impact lives for eternity. We love our staff. Summer camp can simply not happen without these incredible young servants, missionaries, who the Lord grows and guides to serve and love those around them.
2. The Lord led 1,769 campers to His camp this summer. Wow. We say it every week to campers and we believe it, “We believe the Lord has led you here and has something great in store for you.” They experienced a week of camp full of worship, bible study, delicious meals, art fun, ziplining, horseback riding, time with cabin mates, free time, and so much more - in it all, being part of a community devoted to hearing and experiencing God’s extravagant love for one another.
3. We had campers join us this summer from 17 different states, 189 different cities, and 516 new campers that had never been to Riverside before. What a great and wide impact for the Kingdom!
4. We served 14 different churches this summer through our Day Camp program, leading on-site Vacation Bible School for 415 campers in the local church! We value our partnership with churches and are grateful for this continued way to partner with the ministry of the local church!
5. Our devoted and great hospitality staff served over 35,000 meals this summer! That’s a lot of food!
Thank you, Jesus, for an incredible summer, for the lives that were changed, and we ask that you would continue, Lord, to water these seeds of faith that were planted this summer and that there would be a great multiplication of your Kingdom’s impact through these campers as they go back into their communities!
Mortvedt Hall Remodel:
Our Mortvedt Hall remodel project is almost complete! Mortvedt Hall as served a variety of purposes over the years, including being the dining hall prior to our current dining hall. Sitting right on the banks of the South Skunk River, Mortvedt Hall surprisingly sits a little higher than other areas, and has not been impacted by floods like other buildings on main camp. In considering how to best use this space for future ministry, our team felt led to turn this into a space that would be a hub for gathering people together for great conversations on the beautiful setting of the river. With that in mind, this renovation will include:
Large indoor meeting room with wood burning fireplace and large window views of the river for small to medium-sized groups to use throughout the year.
A new coffee/smoothie shop that will be open for guest groups, our programmed events, and summer camp with new tables and new seating areas for relationship building.
A separate, private small meeting room that will be great for Bible studies, board meetings, staff meetings, church retreats as a place to meet while looking out on beautiful main camp.
A full residential kitchen for serving small meals out of.
A beautiful back concrete patio right on the river with a variety of outdoor furniture to enjoy a drink from the coffee shop and time connecting with others while right on the banks of the river.
We’re so excited to see the Lord use this building, like every other building we have here, as a tool for ministry and a place for relationships to be built and strengthened in Christ. We’re also grateful to estate gifts which have given us the opportunity to do many projects around camp, like this one, to help us continue to steward the Lord’s resources well. Come by and check it out soon!
As I close, I couldn’t be more excited about what God has in store for His camp in the years ahead. I invite you to come and see, come and retreat, come and volunteer, come and invest, and come and rest with the Lord who loves you, knows you, sees you, and cares for you. Grateful for your continued prayers and support as we carry out our mission, “To know Jesus Christ and to make Christ known to all.”
God bless you,
Chris
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