Raymond was born May 16, 1928 in Breathitt County, the son of Emory and Maude Grigsby Haddix.  The Haddix family later moved to Hiner, in Perry County, where Raymond’s dad operated a coal company store.  At an early age Raymond learned business principles that were helpful to him throughout his life.

Raymond grew up in a christian home and came to Christ at an early age.  As a teenager he and his brother Truymond, using their musical abilities and skill with guitars, ministered in youth meetings and rallies across our region.  After high school he enrolled at Southland Bible Institute in Pike County.  While at Southland Raymond met Geraldine Falin from Virginia and they were married in June of 1953.  Gerry graduated in the morning and their wedding was that evening.  They shared their lives together for 59 years.

In 1953 Raymond and Gerry came to serve with SMMM for one year.  Raymond was part of a musical team that ministered in area high schools and Gerry worked in the Mission office.  That one year became 59 years as they spent their lives serving in many different capacities within the Mission.  In 1964 Raymond was chosen by his co-workers to be Mission director.  In addition to his leadership of SMMM and Camp Nathanael, Raymond also served on the board of trustees of Southland Bible Institute for many years.  His pulpit supply ministry in numerous area churches brought biblical teaching to many people.  Raymond and Gerry, living by faith and trusting God to supply their needs, touched the lives of countless individuals across southeastern Kentucky.

In addition to Gerry, Raymond is survived by two sons, Bradley and wife Pauline of Fisty, Kentucky and Stanley and wife Connie of Hager Hill, Kentucky.  One grandson, Glendon and wife Tabatha live in Charlestown, Indiana.  Raymond’s brother, Truymond, of Kansas also survives.

Raymond was a valuable resource of godly wisdom and counsel to many of us, which we will greatly miss.  However, we rejoice that he is in Heaven where we, as followers of Christ, will join him one day.

After power was restored preparations proceeded, the dining room was set up and decorated, and we began receiving numerous calls for reservations.  On Friday afternoon, just two hours before guests were due to arrive, the electricity went off again!  Thankfully the power company responded to our pleas for help and service was restored in time.

Just a short time into the dinner we received a phone call from the speaker for the evening’s program.  He had taken a wrong turn in Whitesburg and wound up on the other side of Pine Mountain, about an hour’s drive away.  We were able to stretch things out until he finally arrived.  David Garrard, a christian magician/illusionist, provided an excellent program which was very entertaining and included audience participation.  He also worked a spiritual challenge into his presentation.

In spite of all the setbacks, the 165 folks who came were treated to an evening of good food, fellowship and fun.

A volunteer work team from Community Bible Church in Beloit, Ohio will begin work next week on underground infrastructure (water and drain  lines, electric, telephone, etc.).  A local contractor will then erect the needed concrete pillars for the building.   Another work team later in the spring is planning to begin the construction of the floor, and the Community Bible Church team will return in August to get the cabin under roof.

When completed, the new building will be a duplex unit, having two dorm rooms with space for ten campers plus a counselor in each end.  The rooms will also have sinks and a shower. 

The Lord has provided funding for this project through two generous memorial gifts to the Mission.  One was in honor of Jeff Stanley, a young man from Community Bible Church who had been here with past work teams, and who was killed in a tragic accident.  A second gift was in memory of Madeline Hays Hall, a local lady who had helped with SMMM many years ago.

Nate and Mary Beth Brace have been with the Mission for ten years.  They have served in the school outreach in Perry County, and in many different aspects of the ministry.  Nate has been our camp recreation director for many years and Mary Beth organizes the annual Ladies Craft Fellowship.  Together they established our horse program and continue to provide the leadership (and hard work) for this very popular part of camp.  The Braces have four children, Simeon, who teaches at a private school in Knott County; Ethan, who works in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Shiloh, a student at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids; and Shalisha, attending the University of Kentucky.

Larry and Cindy Toner have been with us for thirty years.  They first came as summer staff in 1974.  After serving a pastorate in Ohio they were led back to SMMM.  They work and live in Harlan County, where Larry is involved in the school ministry and also pastors a church.  Cindy grades and processes the Bible lessons children do to earn a week of camp.  Summer finds them at Camp Nathanael, where Larry has worn many hats over the years, including a stint as camp director, and Cindy has faithfully served in our kitchen.  The Toners’ children are Josh, a conservation officer in West Virginia who recently married Sara, and Erin, living in Georgetown, Kentucky with husband Billy and eight month old daughter Zoe.

Bob Murr, who received a forty year award, came to eastern Kentucky as a single, independent missionary in 1951.  Here he met his first wife, Lillian, who was working with a small mission in Leslie County after graduating from Southland Bible Institute.  Bob helped at Camp Nathanael for several summers, and in 1971 the Murrs became a part of SMMM and moved from Leslie County to Camp.  For many years Bob headed up the high school assembly ministry and also served as our head lifeguard and pool operator.  He was literally “The Voice of Camp Nathanael” as he produced and recorded our radio program for 34 years.  Lillian faithfully taught Bible classes at camp until she passed away in 1984 after a long battle with cancer.  Bob married Carol in 1987 and they continue living at camp in the Homestead building.  They are very involved in our Outdoor Education Program.  Bob’s family includes Tim and Marla, living in Oklahoma, Mark and Linda in Virginia, and Melody, who serves with husband, Gary, in the Philippines with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

  Nate and Mary Beth Brace                                       Bob Murr                                          Larry and Cindy Toner

Volunteers, mostly retired adults along with a few younger folks, joined with our staff to present this well-received program.  They came from Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and from here in Kentucky.

Countries or regions visited for workshops included Japan, Great Britain, African Savannah and Sahara Desert, Costa Rican Rain Forest, Amazon River Basin, Barrow Alaska, and Polar Tundras.  Every day an up-to-date weather report was given in each country.  Students visited a weather bureau, learned how climate affects our way of life and heard about weather myths and legends.

The Outdoor Education Program, with a different theme each year over a six-year rotation, is very popular with local educators.  Every year all the available time slots are filled, and there is usually a waiting list.

Folks started arriving after school between 4:00 and 4:30.  After checking in they were offered a wide variety of activities in which to participate including swimming, water slide, pony rides, hay wagon rides, cornhole, ping pong, air hockey, foosball, box bowling and basketball in the gym.

Around 6:00 everyone gathered in the Picnic Pavilion where they were entertained by Mark Clark with some Gospel magic.  A picnic supper followed with hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings.

As they left, each family was given a gift packet which included general information about Camp Nathanael, a schedule of activities for the year, introductory information regarding the Bible memory program to earn a free week of camp, a list of workers they can contact in each of their counties, Camp Nathanael refrigerator magnet and post-it notes, pens and pencils, a children’s tract, and a copy of Ray Pritchard’s book,  An Anchor for the Soul.  Each child also received a spiral notebook.

The old pines, which were planted around the camp grounds in the early days, are slowly falling victim to disease, insects and storms.  Several had to be removed from the hillside behind the Chapel a couple of years ago for safety reasons.  There are still several others around camp that need to come down.  If anyone reading this knows of someone with expertise in removing large trees, who would be willing to donate a few days work this fall, we would appreciate your contacting the Mission office.

Arrangements have already been made for someone to come and clean this one up for us.

         The root system left a huge hole and damaged some of the blacktop along the edge of the road.

The most vital of the ‘invisible’ funds in the financial affairs of SMMM is the General Fund. This account provides the resources for many of the things that make this mission effective. Whether it is paying the utility bills, providing premiums for property and liability insurance, caring for all aspects of donation receipting, contributing to missionary benefits, such as the retirement and medical assistance programs, or a host of many incidental expenses, the General Fund does it all.

This fund has experienced a significant increase in responsibility over the last two years which it did not have previously. The biggest increase has come with the state mandated workers compensation insurance policy which, until spring 2009, was not required of us. We do not disagree with the requirement which is an added protection for our mission staff but the approximately $10,000/year premium has obviously had a huge impact on the General Fund. We rejoice in the growth of our mission staff but that comes with added expenses to the General Fund through Social Security, retirement program and medical assistance contributions along with other incidental costs. We have also absorbed in recent months a 6.5% increase in the electricity rates. Add in even a modest increase in cost of other expenses and pretty soon you are talking ‘real money.’ The mission leadership has been examining all expenditures and making some changes by reducing where we can. But, speaking frankly, SMMM has always been frugal in its practices so there is not much ‘fat’ to cut.

Over the same time period of those increasing expenses we are thankful that giving to the General Fund has remained steady, having not experienced the decline other ministries have reported. But it has not grown either, leaving an increasing gap between income and expenses. The reality is that for SMMM to continue providing high quality, effective ministry, as it historically has, new ministry partners are needed to meet the growing economic costs. This is why we communicate with you now.

SMMM has been blessed over it history to have committed financial supporters who have provided so this mission could accomplish what the Lord established it for. We are grateful for each one, many who have actively given for decades. But change comes to all of our lives and some have already been called to heaven while others are living on very fixed incomes. Quite honestly, the General Fund needs new folks to stand in the gap and support financially the responsibilities this fund carries.

Remember the little red metal missionary offering box, which we still use today, that many of you dropped your pennies, nickles and dimes into when you attended camp? Remember how you gladly pushed that offering toward a goal each week? Where are you investing your missionary giving today? Is it perhaps the time for the next generation of former campers and ministry friends to pick up the responsibility of propelling SMMM into the future? SMMM is a faith mission in name and action. We are confident in God’s promises to supply for each need. We simply want to share with you our circumstance, trusting the Lord to guide your participation.

- Roy Hodson

Mission Director

The best solution seemed to be hydroseeding.  After a couple of dead-end leads a former camper, who is now a state highway department engineer, put us in touch with Mar-Kel Enterprises, a local company right here in Knott County.  They came and evaluated the project, and after agreeing to do the work said that it would be their contribution to the camp.  Recently their truck arrived, with four employees, and the work was completed in an afternoon.  Their generosity in donating the materials and labor saved the Mission well over $2,000!

As the new grass begins to grow this spring, it will still require treatment in order to avoid a repeat of the problem.  Pray with us for wisdom as we pursue the best solution.

The building was constructed around 1966 to replace the “old” Kentucky.  In addition to basketball goals, ping pong, and foosball tables it also housed camp’s snack shop (store) and souvenir shop (bookroom).  After the Gym was built, the goals were removed and the interior was upgraded.  A drop ceiling was installed along with a new heating and cooling system.  The original concrete floor was covered with tile. 

More recently a lounge area was added so guests could sit around, relax and enjoy fellowship.  An addition was built on one end to house the outdoor recreation equipment (basketballs, volleyballs, softball items, miniature golf, etc.)  as well as laundry facilities and a storage area.

Kentucky is still a multi-purpose facility.  Ping pong and foosball are still available, and air hockey, box bowling and table shuffleboard have been added.  Guests still make purchases from the snack shop and souvenir shop.  It is used for meetings during the Couples Retreat, as well as on other occasions.  The pleasing appearance of the exterior adds to the overall attractiveness of our campus.

                                                                             The Finished Product