The camper and staff cabins as well as other buildings were cleaned, camper handbooks were printed and assembled, the swimming pool was opened and prepared, various maintenance projects accomplished and the Kentucky Building addition and the Mountain Cabin moved toward completion. 

Our hearts were also prepared as David Price, Associate Director of Kentucky Mountain Misson in Beattyville, shared practical and challenging messages from the Word morning and evening.  We certainly appreciate all those who gave of their time, talents and energy to help us prepare for ministry to hundreds of children, young people and adults this summer.

Camp Nathanael and Scripture Memory Mountain Mission have appreciated the excellent relationship with school boards, administrators and teachers  in our area throughout the many years of ministry here.  (Photo courtesy of the Troublesome Creek Times.)

The Prime Time Messengers, a multi-generational group of about 35  from New Castle Bible Church in Mackinaw, Illinois were back for the 7th year to present the program and help with serving the meal.  Their theme this year was “The Son Still Shines.”  The program consisted of group singing, special music, testimonies, chalk art and a challenging message.   Three of the guests accepted Christ as their Savior as a result of this outreach.  (More photos below)

In addition to the program, during afternoons and on the in between days, members of the group continued interior work in the Kentucky Building addition, constructed railings on the new bridge to the Mosley farm property, built steps the the Mountain Cabin, and installed tile flooring in part of the building.  Some of the younger ones also cleared several downed trees and other debris from the hiking trail up Old House Branch.

Our local telephone company, Thacker-Grigsby Communications, gave us a very good price on two new poles and offered to set them at no charge.  A work group from Word of Life Chapel in Pennsylvania,  that was putting in the electrical system for the Kentucky Building addition,  also made time to install a large flood light near the peak of the Chapel, with the  assistance of a telescoping fork lift borrowed from Landmark Construction Group.  Our own maintenance crew also had a hand in the wiring, etc.

We are thankful that we have been able to accomplish a sizeable project at minimal cost, basically just for the materials, and appreciate all that have helped to make it possible.

The year began on February 26th with 105 adults in attendance for a fellowship dinner and movie/popcorn night.  We showed the film, Flywheel, an entertaining story with a positive gospel message.  Weather conditions that whole week had been very questionable with light snow each day through Thursday.  Poor road conditions would have forced us to cancel the evening’s activities.  After much prayer, Friday turned out to be the first clear day we’d had in weeks.  The Lord blessed the evening and everyone had a good time.

The first weekend in March brought 75 junior high age young people to Camp Nathanael for a Breakaway overnight conference.  The teens enjoyed good meals, group games in the gym and on the field, singing, and challenging messages from Steven Bell, youth pastor at Hindman First Baptist Church.  Once again we were blessed with good weather, allowing some recreation activities to take place outside.

Another Breakaway, for grade school students from Perry, Knott and Letcher counties took place the second weekend of March, with 107 children in attendance.  Our own Rick Franklin was the speaker for the weekend.  During the two overnights a total of 18 young people recorded a spiritual decision of some type,  with 8 being first time salvation decisions.

Before the end of April we still have another grade school Breakaway, an overnight for high schoolers, two Senior Citizens Days and the annual Couples Retreat on the schedule.

Candi Caudill has been a part of camp since she was in the fourth grade.  Her dad, Ron, is a former camper from Perry County, who later settled in Richmond, Virginia.  She began attending camp as soon as she was eligible, and has been followed by her younger sister and two brothers.   As a high school student, Candi joined our summer staff, continuing on through her college years at Bryan College in Tennessee and obtaining her masters at Virginia Commonwealth University.  She has filled the vital position of swimming pool supervisor and head lifeguard at camp for several summers.  For the past four years she has been teaching and coaching at Banner Christian School in Richmond.

Candi will be assigned to live and serve in Harlan county, working in the school ministry with Larry Toner and Jerry Bailey.  She will also be involved in the weekend Breakaway events during the school year.  Summers will find her back at Camp Nathanael, in her familiar role at the swimming pool.  We are also hoping that she will be able to assist in the maintenance of the Mission’s website.

Candi Caudill will be a great asset to the ministry here.  Before she can join us full time, she will need to develop support teams in the areas of prayer and financial support.  If you would like to have a part in the ministry of Candi, please contact us and we will put you in touch with her.

Kimberly “Kimmi” Van Dyke comes to us from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she learned about the ministry of Camp Nathanael through her home church, which supports Carol and Bob Murr.  Her interest in missions was encouraged by her parents, and she has had a desire to work with children and adolescents in a camp setting, as well as maintaining ongoing contact with them.  Kimmi has served with us as part of our summer staff for the past five years.  She graduated from Cornerstone University last summer, with a double major in Bible and Youth Ministry.

Plans are for Kimmi to live and work in Knott County.  Her involvement will be in the school ministry as well as all the weekend events during the year.  Summers will find her back at camp.  She desires to begin a discipleship ministry with high school girls.  As time permits, we are asking her to develop official social networking (i.e. Facebook and MySpace) sites for Camp Nathanael and also help in the office with mailings and processing orders for VBS materials.

Kimmi Van Dyke will be a great asset to the ministry here.  Before she can join us full time, she will need to develop support teams in the areas of prayer and financial support.  If you would like to have a part in the ministry of either one, please contact us and we will put you in touch with them.

Dick’s musical skill, on a wide variety of instruments as well as vocally, has been used in high school assembly programs, camps, conferences and churches, as well as on radio and TV broadcasts.   He is the only person we know who can play a tune on a door spring!

In recent years Dick’s ministry has been somewhat limited by health problems, but he continues to serve the Lord as he is able.

Leah had valiantly battled cancer for nearly eight years, maintaining a wonderful spirit and positive testimony through the trials of the disease, right up to the end.

Leah and Dick came to the mission in 1969 and she served  in many capacities over the years, but her first love and greatest contribution came in the area of music.  A trained musician, Leah began piano lessons at age four and her training continued through school years and college at Tennessee Temple in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  It was there that she met Dick as she was playing her flute and he was playing saxophone.

The Bowers were married after graduating, moved to Detroit, Michigan, where Leah had been born, and were involved in the music ministry in their church.  A man from Knott County, who had moved north, told them about Camp Nathanael and they came for a visit during our Family Week.  Shortly after, they felt the Lord calling them to become a part of the ministry here.

They arrived in 1969 with their son, Richard, who was two years old.  Bonnie, Timo and Bethany were later added to the family.  As the children grew they all participated in the family’s music ministry, singing and playing various instruments.   Bethany developed a very serious illness as a young adult, and after several years of treatments and hospitalizations passed away at age 25.  It was shortly after going through that difficult period in their lives that Leah was diagnosed with cancer.

Leah and Dick were part of our high school team for many years with Dennis Cline and Bob Murr, presenting assembly programs in area schools.  Leah gave piano lessons to literally hundreds of people, both children and adults.  She served in music ministry at the Little Carr Bible Church and also at Calvary Christian Academy and Bethel Christian Academy.  Many of her students participated in state and national Christian school competitions and always excelled.  Leah was also involved in Bible teaching at Camp Nathanael, and in her last few years was part of a jail ministry in Hazard.  Just this past July, she was able to participate in our Family Week, taking her place at the keyboard and singing with Dick and the family.

Leah’s musical abilities, love for the Lord and sweet spirit will be greatly missed.  In addition to Dick, Richard, Bonnie and Timo she is survived by five grandchildren, four sisters and a brother.  Following the funeral service at Hindman First Baptist Church she was laid to rest next to Bethany at the Camp Nathanael cemetery.

Usually, two programs are scheduled each school year, spring and fall.  We have used athletes, musicians, multi-media presentations, jugglers, comedians, body builders and others to share good values in each assembly.

Mark Clark is the coordinator for this outreach, as he contacts principals, sets up the schedules, provides transportation and hosts each program.  The series of assemblies just concluding this week presented a unique challenge to Mark.  Due to an outbreak of sickness, various school systems cancelled classes for anywhere from one to four days.   With the Lord’s help, he was able to re-arrange schedules, change dates and add schools, with the result that programs were still presented for all eight days.

This program was special to us, as it featured Mark’s son-in-law and daughter, Jacob and Alicia Crevier.  Alicia grew up here at Camp Nathanael and spent many summers as a camper and a part of our summer staff.   Jacob, the oldest of twelve children, has literally travelled all over the world with his family, presenting programs featuring basketball handling skills.  His father, Bruce, and his aunt, Tanya, have both been with us on previous occasions.  They have appeared in halftime shows at NBA and college basketball games,  other sporting events, numerous prisons and schools all across the nation.

Jacob’s message for the program focused on an acronym using the word GAME.  Students were challenged to set GOALS for their lives, develop a positive ATTITIUDE, live a MORAL lifestyle and pursue EXCELLENCE in all they do.  This was interspersed with ball handling, dribbling, juggling and spinning as many as nine basketballs.  Some of these skills took place while Jacob was riding on a ten foot high unicycle!  This entertaining and challenging program was thoroughly enjoyed by students and teachers alike.

Jacob Spins Nine Basketballs At Once

Alicia Crevier With Her Dad Mark Clark

Mark Gets Into The Act

The Ball Nearly Touches The Ceiling

Don't Try This At Home!