Our Ten Year Staff Reunion

Labor Day weekend was quite the weekend as we celebrated ten years of ministry! We were thankful to share the day with a few locals, a few board members and spouses and about half of our over-the-years summer staff! I’m not sure how the others felt, but remembering God’s faithfulness — His big and sometimes quiet work in, around and for us — goes a long ways to encourage our walking right now!

Sharing laughter with our staff over the memories and retelling of favorite camp stories was completely delightful! Hearing Shaun’s well composed “poem” of all the campisms from over the years was perfectly hilarious and memorable! Reconnecting, though it wasn’t enough time, was refreshing as we caught a glimpse of how far God has brought each of us on our journeys, as varied and different as they all are!

I’m amazed how something like summer camp can gather such different people together to walk in the same direction in ways that benefit all of us but glorify God above all! The Whisper Mountain Family is made up of some pretty stellar people, and it just keeps growing as we welcome in special someones of past staff and as we continue to be faithful to Proclaiming Christ through camp ministry in the years to come!

Summer Staff, keep proclaiming Christ where you are! You are beautiful people that have helped make Whisper Mountain effective on any level! We love you and can’t wait for next time!

Thank you to all of you who have been a part of our ministry in some way over this past decade! We have seen God together, haven’t we? May He continue to be real and in our midst, for His glory alone!

 

Summer 2016 Volunteers

We couldn’t do what we do here at Whisper Mountain Camp without people serving alongside us. We also can’t thank those enough who spent their time, talent, vacations and energy to come serve with us this summer! These quick snapshots don’t do justice to what these people did to help us this summer, but here’s a try at helping you see some of the faces of our volunteers!

Some served all summer, some two weeks, most one week! For the big and small things they did — we trust God to bless them for their hearts in serving Him!

Thank you, Aaron, Jamie, Bay, Bruce, Brooke, Lori, Dave, Foster, Virginia, Gary, Nancy, Dave, Nancy, Kaleigh, Selah, Lexi, Mitchell, Traci, Parker, Susan, Chuck, Tara, Olivia, Emily, Bernie and Tayman. We appreciate all the ways you helped Whisper Mountain proclaim Christ this summer! 

Mt. Tirzah, Robbinsville Locals, Community Baptist | Summer 2016

For our last week of our tenth summer, we enjoyed welcoming three smaller groups together into one big happy family!  Mt. Tirzah, Community Baptist and some local Robbinsville teens meshed together so well, we had a hard time knowing who was with what group!

The week meant different things to different people, but in the end (we pray) it meant an encounter with God and His love. Whether they enjoyed getting away from their home lives, hanging with people they enjoy or experiencing fun and adventure, these teens were given a week of intentional connection from their leaders and our staff, the truth from God’s Word and a place to pause and hear some quiet.

We loved spending this historical week in Whisper Mountain’s history with you everybody! Thank you for coming to spend your camp week with us! You are a great crowd of people!

Keep God’s vantage point in mind in all you pursue! Whisper Mountain loves you!

Awesomeness Takes the Stage >> Erin

The final 2016 Summer Staffer is on the Awesomeness Takes the Stage today! Welcome Erin, if you will!

(Just to clarify the picture above — Erin was eating one of those delicious cookie stick things at the Dork Ball we have to kick off the summer! Sooooo, there’s that.)

As I feel like I have written throughout our whole Awesomeness Takes the Stage posts this summer, Erin was first a camper!

Holy smokes we have gotten to see Erin grow up! For around eight or so years, she has somehow been a part of Whisper Mountain! Being a local to Robbinsville, she has spent a lot of time with us through school or local community events, as a summer camper, and as a volunteer whenever we had need!

Seeing Erin go from sort of quiet and in the background to Lead Guide has been nothing short of God’s gracious and beautiful work in her life. He has clearly become her greatest joy in life which has made her confident to do what He keeps calling her to.

Seeing her exchange the brokenness in her life for the yolk of God’s peace and healing has been inspiring! He is shaping her into a virtuous woman who willingly carries the burdens of others so they too can know God’s freeing peace and ocean of love.

Watching her lead worship, teach and connect with campers makes us feel like proud parents in awe of the woman she is becoming. We couldn’t be more thankful for her being a part of our Whisper Mountain family for so long or more excited to see her growing as a strong leader for God’s glory!

Thank you Erin for serving with us this summer and being willing to be stretched through your role as Lead Guide! You have led well! We love you!

Awesomeness Takes the Stage >> Seth

You may not know it yet, but Seth is PRETTY awesome — welcome him to the Awesomeness Takes the Stage today, will ya?!?!

Like so many staff before him, Seth was first a camper.

Watching him grow from camper to Lead Guide has been a pretty awesome thing to see. Seth’s leadership, this summer especially, has been a gift to Whisper Mountain, but also to those under him, whether they realize it or not! The humility he leads with, the sponge-like desire to continue to develop and grow, the willingness to do the hard thing if it’s the right thing are just a few of the ways we’ve seen him flourish.

Of course, every leader gets his face smeared in the mess of the thing he’s leading at some point along the way! While that can feel discouraging in the moment, in the long run, it’s just a few more rough edges shaved off the solid character being built! Seth has the proven character to show for it!

God has been leading, growing and prepping Seth for mission or pastoral ministry! His focus to follow God in this is quite frankly a refreshing thing to see! Leaders really are being raised to proclaim Christ to this generation. Doesn’t it sometimes feel too lost?! This right here, friends, is just one among many that God is calling forth to change the world for His glory! The reality that God is still actively working and moving through His people should be making us shout with joy and confidence in Him!

Seth, thank you for the years you’ve spent at Whisper Mountain Camp! It has been our pleasure to know you and be a very small part of your journey! May God continue to bless you and keep you as you continue to follow and Proclaim Him! We love you!

 

Awesomeness Takes the Stage >> Morgan

Morgan Goodson — friend, Guide, sassy commentator on life — is shining brightly today on the Awesomeness Takes the Stage!

Having first come as a camper, Morgan has now served as a Guide with us for two years! We have seen God at work in her life, stretching and challenging her, shaping her into the beautiful woman He’s created her to be. This journey, getting to see small glimpses of people’s becoming, is a favorite part of what we do here at Whisper Mountain.

For having such a quiet presence among the crowds, Morgans many faces are windows into her soul!! She’s equal parts sass and sweet, silly and serious! A lover of all things fun, Morgan enjoys being right there in the middle of the action! She has a sincere love for the campers that is expressed in the way she walks as a friend with them through the week.

We have seen Morgan continue to grow in confidence in her leadership skills as she continues to seek how God would have her spend her life! And we love how, even as she awaits God’s clear direction, she is pouring into others even beyond the summer camp season!

Morgan, thank you for serving with us this summer! We know God will continue to lead you and shape you as you continue to follow hard after Him!! And yay, Tegan likes you!!!! #lifegoals 😉

 

Collision Youth | Summer 2016

Last week we enjoyed the Collision teens from The Pointe Church! They seemed to enjoy a fun-filled, Jesus-centered week that their awesome youth pastor planned for them!

Thank you for coming to Whisper Mountain this summer, Collision! Keep being relentless!

And Justin, keep leading well!

(find more of their instagram pictures here!)

Awesomeness Takes the Stage >> Sam

Hey guys! Do you know Sam?!

If not, today’s your day to meet her as she’s the star on our Awesomeness Takes the Stage!

The things we love about Sam: Soccer Star (at CIU), outgoing personality making a person feel comfy with her, tender on the inside, fun on the out, hard working team player, and just down right enjoyable to hang with! Oh, and she loves Jesus!

She’s a friend you’d want to have in the tough times, but also that friend you’d wanna go have a carefree day with. She, like many before her, started her time with Whisper Mountain as a camper and has been a great first-time Guide for us!

She speaks her mind, but doesn’t allow differences to come between. She is a people girl after all! And Tegan loves her, which is saying a lot!! (nice photobomb from Kinsley!)

Her moods/exhaustion/struggles don’t hinder her from what needs to get done and in the end she’s always laughing! We like how God is shaping this girl for His glory and all the ways we’ve seen her grow this summer!

Sam, you may be tough on the outside, but we like how you’ve let your heart out while serving with us this summer! You’re beautiful! Thank you for being here!

Awesomeness Takes the Stage >> Natalie

Hey friends!!! Let’s welcome Natalie to our Awesomeness Takes the Stage today!

This is Natalie’s first year as a Guide with us, but she has come as a camper for the past couple years! With her heart of compassion and fun loving spirit, Natalie offers great friendship to those campers coming through our gates!

Her love for punk rock, ukuleles, photography and living au naturale make up only a small part of who she is! Natalie is a natural born leader who never takes ideas as her own without first discovering what she personally believes. It’s been a good thing to see how God continues to fine tune and shape her through her role as a Guide.

Natalie can be pretty funny and has all manner of little sayings or movie quotes…

We are thankful for her willingness to come serve with us this summer and offer the campers a little bit more of Jesus, Natalie-style!

Thank you, Natalie, for being willing to serve with us this summer! May you continue to follow God’s path for your life and allow Him to have every nook and cranny of your person! He’s got good plans for you! 

Come Celebrate a Decade of God’s Faithfulness

Did you know Whisper Mountain Camp has been in operation for ten years?! We have seen God be faithful from the very beginning in answering audacious prayers and in providing what we didn’t know to ask for. We have seen Him faithfully at work in the intimate and personal depths of our hearts and those who’ve come through our gates. There is much to celebrate and many who have been a part of the journey. We want to gather as many as are able to come celebrate with us, to share how they’ve encountered or witnessed God in this place, and to enjoy the simple fellowship of the church coming together to celebrate the God we serve!

Saturday, of Labor Day weekend, (September 3, 2016) we are throwing a party. The party begins at 11:00 with (a free) lunch served from 11-1. We will have a Celebration Program at 1:00. Beyond these two things, this is a come and go as you please kind of event. Think Open House! Our camp store will also be opened throughout the day for those looking to remember their time (and represent when they go back home!).

Come enjoy the Whisper Mountain atmosphere you keep hearing about and seeing pictures of but haven’t experienced for yourself yet!

If you are able to come celebrate with us, please fill out the form below. We want to be sure our plans include you!

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We hope to see you there!