Shoot Straight 2019

A month ago now, we hosted a crowd of men for our annual Shoot Straight Retreat! Kids 8+ came to our woods to relax, throw knives (mhm, that’s right!), shoot some arrows, eat good food and be encouraged!

The worship and encouragement throughout the weekend (from Rich!) helped center the time on Christ and uplift in those most personal spaces of the heart. The older men praying over the younger men was a highlight to see and a powerful time for both the younger and wiser among us!

All of Saturday was spent outdoors, first practicing with the bows and arrows and then the actual 3D tournament in the afternoon! The time shooting arrows ends with a long shot, which is a fun challenge for all! (No worries, guys, we did find most of the stray arrows 😉 !)

Of course, one of the favorite parts of the weekend is getting to draw for allllllll the raffle prizes! This year, we even had a fancy spinning machine to select the ticket from! They say it’s all in the details, right?!

After all the tournament scores are collected and counted, of course we have a trophy ceremony, because if you didn’t get a trophy, did you really win?!!

We hear such good things about this time away in the woods! The encouragement, the fun, the refreshment! Thank you to all who came this year! We hope you’ll gather again with us next year! Keep October 2-4, 2020 blocked out on your calendar!

Now, go be those men God’s called you to be! And help raise up some younger men to follow behind! To God be the glory!

---

Author & Photography | Cassi

2019 Summer Volunteers | July

We have been remiss in sharing with you our second round of summer volunteers that came to serve with us through the month of July! Terrible of us! Because we truly are so appreciative of them! Did you see the superheroes from June over here?

The month got kicked off with Brooke Maclarion showing up to help in the kitchen for two weeks! One thing we think is great about our volunteers is their willingness to use whatever time they have been given, free time in their schedules or vacation time they choose to “give up” to serve with us, to work hard in whatever capacity we need. Brooke did just that, using the free time she had to serve with us! She even got to try out our high ropes course and enjoy the quiet escape that is Whisper Mountain!

Lila Pearl came to lend a hand for a couple weeks! This girl — she can make people laugh! She joined in with our staff like nobody’s business. It felt like she’d been with us all along rather than showing up in the middle of summer. She worked hard wherever we needed her to and played hard whenever possible! We completely enjoyed having her pitch in this summer and are thankful for the joy and fun she brings to life!

Next up was the Nash’s! Brad and Melloe have been long time friends of Whisper Mountain (and beyond) and to spend a week with them is always most refreshing! They have such encouraging ways about them! They served in the kitchen and mingled with visitors, leaders and campers who were at camp. They also got to experience the teaching and worship time with our campers! When volunteers come to Whisper Mountain, they are most certainly helping us make it all happen, but they are also given the opportunity to see the power of camp at Whisper Mountain first hand! Win-Win!

Dave and Nancy Houchin returned again this summer — we just always look forward to their coming! They have such a peace about them that exudes to those around. Dave and Nancy both helped with various kitchen/serving tasks.  And Dave pitched in with Marty on random projects! They are really great about connecting with our summer staff and encouraging them while spending their weeks with us too! We are telling you, we get the best volunteers around!

To each of these we want to say a humungous thank you for giving your time and energy and talent to come and help carry the load of camp ministry! We seriously couldn’t do what we do without all the hands, all the hearts, pooling together for the glory of God!

We look forward to whoever God brings to serve with us next summer! What a privilege to be a part of God’s work with such amazing people! Keep promoting the gospel wherever and however you can! It’s worth our every effort!

---

Author | Cassi   Photography | Cassi + Adrienne

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2019 | Selah

Here we are at our final Awesomeness Takes the Stage of 2019! And we are ending on a sweet note with Selah!

Selah was our unofficial official GIT (Guide in Training!). She’s a unique situation, not having graduated high school yet, which is usually a requirement! But seeing as she’s also Full Time Staff and is around all summer anyways, we made the exception!

If we gave out awards, we just might give the Most Improved Player award to Selah. She has grown by leaps and bounds this summer, overcoming personal fears and struggles and coming into herself a little more confidently! It’s been wonderful to see!

Selah is willing to work hard, has a sure-thing attitude and offers sweet encouragement to those she’s around!

She seems to not take herself too seriously as much (ie: embrace the clumsy and awkward and work with it!!!) and she’s gotten to see that all leadership isn’t front and center!

She’s proven to be a great asset to our team this summer and we are thankful she was willing to serve in the many ways GITs do (ie: hello water coolers!)!

Thank you, Selah, for allowing God’s light to leave a trail wherever you go! We appreciate you spending your summer serving with us!

---

Author | Cassi      Photography | Adrienne + Cassi

Summer Camp 2019 | Calvary Road + Berry’s Grove

Last week was a great week with our combined groups — one from not so far away and another across the state!

Calvary Road and Berry’s Grove are both groups that have come to us before and have given us feedback on loving the intentionality and group unifying effect Whisper Mountain Camp has for their groups! We always love hearing how God uses what He’s built for His purposes! Helping everyone feel loved and part of community is crucial!

Being able to build relationships with the leaders of groups is equally as important to us! So many times we encourage each other in ways we didn’t expect! Ministry can be hard and challenging, but investing in teens is worth the investment!

The teens last week were confronted with the holiness of God in some life-giving ways through the messages from God’s Word, through cabin time discussions, through solo times across the campus.

Of course nothing is wasted at Whisper Mountain as we use all the activities and adventures at camp to offer life application and spiritual parallel! God is always speaking, but are we always listening?!

We had a fantastic week getting to know these teens and their leaders and pouring into them the hope of Jesus! May His great work continue as they return home!

Thanks Berry’s Grove and Calvary Road for coming to Whisper Mountain Camp this summer! Keep chasing Him!

---

Author | Cassi      Photography | Adrienne + Cassi

 

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2019 | Marshall

It’s his birthday, it’s his birthday! The one and only Marshall Grant is on the Awesomeness Takes the Stage today!

Marshall came first as a Guide in Training (GIT) but has now returned as one of our outstanding Guides! Marshall sure brings some life to any party! Well, adventuresome spirit if nothing else!

He’s got some nutty ways about him, but his heart is to live and love life and those in it! His thrill seeking, ahem, excuse me…cough…cough...his love for adventure in the great outdoors really knows no bounds. Calculated risk is a good thing, pushing yourself to see how far you can go is a good thing. Living this one adventure of life to the fullest is a good thing. Marshall embraces life.

And he’s great about doing the hard work first, and then playing second. He’s proven to be trustworthy on many different levels and is stepping into his role as Guide naturally and with confidence!

He’s showing himself to be a strong leader and role model and remains teachable through each new experience he’s been given! He’s a great friend and man chasing Jesus! And he’s always stretching, literally!!!!

Marshall, thanks for the laughs, adding fun to the crew and loving Jesus enough to serve teens this summer at camp! We are thankful for the time and energy you pour out to help make our team stronger!

AND HAPPPPPPYYYYY BIRRRRRRTTHHHHDAYYYYY!!!

---

Author | Cassi        Photography | Adrienne + Cassi

Summer Camp 2019 | Estero + New City

In camp ministry we have the amazing opportunity to come alongside youth pastors and churches as they strive to help teens find the hope of Jesus in this world! New City Church (formerly Church at Charlotte: here, here and here) and First Baptist Estero (here, here, here, here, and here) are two groups we’ve been blessed to walk with for several years now. These guys feel like family!

Having a place for teens to get away out of their ordinary, out of their bubbles, and find fresh mountain air (filled with gnats;)!!) and a slew of people whose job it is to hang out and encourage them makes for a week that can be quite life changing!

Escape the Noise. Encounter the Whisper.® It’s what we exist for. And no matter how many times they’ve been to Whisper Mountain before, there’s nothing quite like God’s personal whisper into messy and complicated lives, over and over again.

Trying new things on our own but surrounded by people who are cheering us on can be helpful in pushing us to hard things and knowing the victory of doing life with others!

 

Last week we saw six teens get baptized at our local lake. The joy they wear on their faces as they’ve publicly proclaimed to be a Jesus follower — nothing like it! So amazing the story God is writing in each of these lives. It’s beautiful to catch even a sliver of His work while they are with us.

The good ole fashioned fun squished in between all the other more intentional heart moments, Bible time and connecting really just rounds out the week in all the best and fullest of ways.

Thank you for choosing to come to Whisper Mountain Camp, New City and Salt and Light Youth! We love you and the opportunity to be a small part of the story God is writing in your life! See you next time, Lord willing!

---

Author | Cassi         Photography | Adrienne + Ellie + Cassi

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2019 | Jessie

Jessie, Jessie, she’s our girl…on the Awesomeness Takes the Stage today!!

Jessie has got the sweetest nature about her! She’s never imposing and always sincere!

She’s got such a willing heart to do whatever needs to be done. Being on staff at Whisper Mountain is not for the faint of heart. The exhaustion is a real struggle. No joke! Jessie has been keeping up with all the things and smiling through it all!

Jessie has a great love for music! We’ve loved having her help lead worship with the teens each week.

Her humility, willingness to really listen to others and her love for Jesus have made her a great asset to our team this summer! She’s a friend to all on staff and we are stronger for that!

Thanks for all you’ve given up to come and serve with us this summer, Jessie! We’ve seen God use you and work in your life and we are grateful for your heart for Him!

---

Author | Cassi        Photography | Adrienne and Cassi

Summer Camp 2019 | Shiloh’s Enclave Students

When we encounter God’s Word and glimpse even a sliver of the holiness of God, we don’t walk away the same. We saw the teens from Shiloh Baptist in Tennessee walk away different than when they came!

They were a fun group from a church that is just getting on its feet! The commitment and sincere care from their leaders is a beautiful thing to behold. We hope the teens know what a gift that is!

Teens getting in the quiet with Jesus has been a recurring highlight of many campers throughout the summer so far. There’s just nothing like an encounter with the personal God!

Watching this group grow in unity, rallying each other on and caring for each other was encouraging to see. There are always the moments where that isn’t the case, but the overall end is unity! That’s something to celebrate!

Thank you for spending the week with us Enclave Students! We absolutely loved having you and look forward to welcoming you again as the Lord allows! Chase Jesus above all else!

---

Author | Cassi       Photography| Adrienne

 

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2019 | Jake

Hey Hey! It’s Jake on the Awesomeness Takes the Stage today!

How about that man-bun, huh?! Might not be Shaun’s favorite style, but we will still keep this guy around!

After you get past the man-bun and his one thousand “Why’s”, you will find a great guy with a great heart who wants to love people and follow Jesus! His inquisitive nature is part of what makes him a thinker and a person of understanding. He has his own idea on things, but his thoughtfulness and care has been encouraging to more than a few people!

Jake is also an adventurer and outdoor lover! He pushes the limits but lives fully and freely! There’s great joy in that!

He has a soft heart for people and shows that in a million little ways at camp. Through his music, his athleticism, his drive in life, he is able to connect with campers in eternal ways.

Jake, thanks for using your leadership here at camp this summer. And thank you for allowing God to have His way in your life! We are grateful to serve with you!

---

Author | Cassi        Photography| Adrienne + Cassi

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2019 | Alex

Whhhhhhaaaat a Whhhhhomannnn! Alex Davis — you need to know her! Welcome to Awesomeness Takes the Stage!

The girl who is always smiling, always asking engaging questions, always there to lighten the atmosphere.

She delights in carrying other people’s loads, encouraging the struggler and being present with people in a way that makes them feel safe with her! You guys, people need this, am I right?!

I mean, look at the shenanigans she’s willing to get into to help her people!!!! 😂 (this was Ellie’s car — no one was breaking any laws here!!!)

People respond to life in all different ways. Alex has allowed God to heal and lead her through life in a way that makes her simply glow with joy for Him! She’s a delight and we are so thankful to have her serving with us this summer!

Alex, receive this — you are beautiful! Keep shining Jesus to all those around you! Whisper Mountain wouldn’t be the same this summer without you — we are so thankful for you and excited to continue to see God work in your life this summer!

---

Author + Photography | Cassi