Post Friends of Wi-Ne-Ma Day

The 2007 summer camping season came to a wonderful conclusion with Friends of Wi-Ne-Ma Day on September 15. 170 people came together to enjoy music by the Vintage Gospel Lads, a delicious Barbecue Chicken lunch, and the opportunity to encourage the Camp’s ministry through the silent and oral benefit auctions. All told over $35,000 was raised through the day’s activities. What gave us “goose bumps” came at the point in the auction for the “special project.” At this point people are not bidding for an item but on how much they would like to give towards the Missions Building project. People were given the opportunity to bid in increments from $25 to $1,000. After the bids were recorded, $19,836.50 was given towards the Missions Building project. Along with some strong giving in the past couple of months for the project, our total raised to date is $225,000. We are closing in on our initial goal of $250,000 to be raised before physical construction. While the total cost of the project is now pushing $600,000, how wonderful it will be to start with about half the cost in hand.

Not to be outdone, but another special blessing to Friends of Wi-Ne-Ma Day were the baskets created by churches. The ten theme baskets brought $1,625. Thanks to the folks from Gates Community Christian Church, Canby Christian Church, Wi-Ne-Ma Christian Church, Stayton Church of Christ, Oregon City Christian Church, Mill City First Christian Church, Englewood Christian Church, and Tillamook First Christian Church.

A further blessing to report is found in the youth camp directors’ follow-up reports. We had 992 campers and 407 staff volunteers in the nine youth camps this summer. We have heard of 55-60 baptisms connected with those nine youth camps. Some were baptized into Christ here. Others were to return to their home churches. Along with these decisions to begin their walk with Christ as Lord, there were even more decisions to greater faith and service.
Now the Camp is shifting gears to host a number of guest groups this fall. One high-schooler here with a Christian High School group said that he had been coming every year since he was in Junior High. He said this was his favorite place to be. We had to respond, “We agree.”