When Retreating Is A Good Thing

For the past seventeen years, our full time staff has been passionate and faithful to create a culture and preach a vital message to those who would listen: Escape the Noise. Encounter the Whisper.® We have given our blood, sweat and tears to ensure this opportunity for many, many people. And yet, to our fault, in all those years, we have only practiced what we preached a handful of times. We sympathize with those of you who feel it is too overwhelming to pause the demands and schedules of normal life to get away for a few days. Getting away feels hard. Sometimes that’s just a lie. Sometimes that’s a legit thing. Wherever we live, whatever our vocation, we each have noise trying to deafen us and distract us from sitting with God. Retreating is vital to our walk with God and to sustaining us along the way: refocusing, renewing, and realigning us with Him and His call on our lives.

This fall our staff made the choice to retreat. We’d been running and working with no pausing for too long. We knew we needed to pull out so we could keep pouring in. We knew we needed to reset our focus before running toward the goal. We knew we needed to unify as a team before spreading out in the field. We packed our bags (and the dog!) and headed to an Airbnb a couple hours up the road.

A new location always gives life fresh perspective. The weekend was great because we were able to talk through many things that have been sitting on the back burner. We were able to cast vision for where we are going from here. We were able to inquire of the Lord and seek His face together for all things Whisper Mountain Camp. We had a great time relaxing together, laughing together, and sharing our hearts together.

Maybe right now isn’t the right time to pull out of your everyday to find some rest and perspective, but with a new year coming, when can you make the time for it? You don’t have to travel far or spend a lot of money, you just need to step back and breathe, refocus so you can return with fresh energy and heart. Retreating is the greatest gift — like a pit stop in a long race fueling you and resetting you to keep on going! Nevermind, the beautiful communion with your God! Start now to make plans to retreat. You won’t regret it!

SIDE NOTE | If you wanna come to Whisper Mountain for a retreat, you just shoot us an email and let us know. We’d love to be part of your journey and serve you while you’re here!

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Author & Photography | Cassi

Sam’s Journey at Whisper Mountain Camp | 2020

We first got to know Sam Wammock when she was a camper in 2011 and then as she returned for years until joining our Summer Staff team in 2016. (see these posts: 2016, 2017) Her story continued as she joined Full Time Staff last year (2019).

Today she is sharing with you how her story continues! Watch the video to see a quick peek of her through the years and hear what she has to say!

We love Sam’s heart for the Lord, how well she leads, her strong work ethic and her fun-lovin’ ways!

She tends to leave a mark wherever she goes. We know she will continue to do so as the Lord continues to lead and make Himself known through her.

We love you Sam! Thank you for your years spent Proclaiming Christ with us!

Until next time,
your Robbinsville family

Sam, Soccer, Worship?

by Sam Wammock 

Worship? Outside of Sundays?

 

I grew up thinking worship was something that happened before the pastor would get up and preach. I had no idea how wrong this is. I finally became aware of how worship can happen as we do anything in our lives. I learned how to worship while I play soccer and how to worship as I am going throughout my day. It has been a really cool experience to learn how to take a bunch of things that I love to do and use them as an act of worship.

 
There are two things that helped me get to a better place of understanding when it comes to worship.

The first thing is Romans 12:1, which says,

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

I began to think that if Jesus could offer his body as THE living sacrifice that offered me eternity with him, then I should be able to live my life in such a way that is for the Lord. The biggest misconception I had when I started learning this is that I cannot do anything that I enjoy (soccer, biking, hanging out with friends) because I needed to live a life that is holy and acceptable to God. How silly of me to think God would give me passions in life that I could not do because it was not holy or pleasing to him. So I learned how to instead use the things that I love to honor and glorify him as an act of worship.

The second thing that helped me understand worship better is realizing I can choose to worship God or his creation/people in His creation. We were made to worship something, so if I choose to not use my life to worship the Lord, I will find something else to worship. I think this was a hard pill to swallow because it reminded me of Romans 1:18-25 which says,

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

This is a bit more extreme than what is going on in my life, but the concept remains from Exodus 20:

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

I want to make sure that I am always worshipping the Creator and not allowing myself to worship any other gods in my life.

Worshipping is something that is so important and I want to make sure that I am aware of how easy it is to worship anyone or anything. I want to stay constant in offering my body as a living sacrifice to the Lord of what is holy and pleasing to be my act of worship to the Lord.

What’s something in your daily life you can turn into an act of worship?

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Author | Sam  (Photos provided by Sam)
FUN FACT: Sam played 4 years of collegiate soccer at Columbia International University. She was named Female Student Athlete of the Year and All-Tournament at Nationals for 2 years!

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!

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Author | Cassi      Photography | Adrienne + Cassi

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!

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Author | Cassi        Photography| Adrienne + Cassi

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2019 | Chaz

We are kicking off this summer’s Awesomeness Takes the Stage today! In case you are unfamiliar with this, we like to spotlight each of our staff to help you get to know them a little better! We get to see how awesome they are every single day, but you need to know too! So let’s dive in with Chaz Grant!

Like almost all our other staff, he started at Whisper Mountain as a camper! The top 3 things that come to mind when I think of Chaz: initiative, trustworthy, invader of personal bubbles. We know we can fully depend on Chaz for whatever comes up.

We have had Chaz on our team for the past four years! His first year with us on staff was as a GIT — a Guide In Training! We were super impressed with his initiative and willingness to do whatever needed to be done. He continues to excel at both! Now he serves as Lead Guide, helping to lead the staff and make all the things run smoothly for the campers! He does so with such ease, knowing the role like the back of his hand, but still wearing an attitude of service and joy.

Even though he enjoys invading people’s personal bubbles, his sincere care for people is one way he really shines His love for Jesus.

We are thankful for the front row seat we’ve had getting to see God grow Chaz over these last four years. We are completely thankful to have Chaz serving with us again this summer! He is one of the manly’s on campus that gives us hope for this generation of men entering the world!

Be that world changer, Chaz! We have loved getting to watch God grow you into a man who shares His love with this needy world! Thank you for being part of the WM Fam! 

[See his second year spotlight here! (sorry, we missed last year’s spotlights!)]

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Author | Cassi Werner  Pictures | Cassi + Adrienne

The Beginnings of Summer Camp 2018

We have officially kicked off the 2018 Summer Camp Season here at Whisper Mountain with the welcoming of our summer staff this past week! Midway through our first week of staff training and we are super excited for who God has brought to serve alongside us!

Each one brings something unique to the table, so to speak, and we know God orchestrates all things for His glory so we are looking forward to His work through each of our staff this summer!

The laughter, the camaraderie that’s beginning, the stretching beyond expectations — all this and so much more are molding this staff to be an instrument for God’s glory alone!

We look forward to sharing more about them and their summer as the weeks go on!

SUMMER STAFF 2018 — thank you for being here at Whisper Mountain Camp this summer! We are so glad you are here and look forward to what God has in store for you this summer!

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2017 | Christian Miller

Hello, Friends!! Do you have a minute to get to know Christian Miller today on our Awesomeness Takes the Stage! He’s the last of our Media Collective Team!

Christian is a big guy with a big passion for videography/photography! He takes his work seriously and uses his creativity and mad skillz to capture stories to bless others! Which kinda comes in handy at camp, right?!

He’s a one on one kinda fella, but doesn’t mind shouting random things at random times within large groups of people! Always keeping us on our toes, this one!

I’ve seen Christian grow this summer and it’s been great to see him stretch himself more and more out from behind the camera to connect with campers.

He’s done a great job compiling all the photos and videos from the other media team members and putting together each week’s videos! Thanks for serving with us this summer, Christian! And thanks for having a laugh that is contagious!

[Author: Cassi | Photo Creds:  Cassi, Casey, Emilie]

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2017 | Emily Frew

And the introductions keep rolling! You’ve met Casey and Chloe, but today I’d like you to meet Emily Frew on our Awesomeness Takes the Stage Series!

Emily is always wearing a smile. Maybe it’s the dimples, but for sure it’s the bright and cheery light that makes her smile so refreshing! When the dark and heavy cloud hangs over our days (we all have them, right?!), Emilie’s smile is a little sunshine to keep us going!

She seems to prefer the one on one interactions over the front of the large crowd interactions, but Emily has a heart to be involved and connect with others!

She uses her camera to capture the best of people’s moments and encourages the people around her!

Emilie, thank you for spending your summer snapping with us! And thank you for always flashing your smile to brighten our days! (see what just happened there?!)

[Author: Cassi | Photo Creds: Cassi, Casey, Chloe]

A Whisper Mountain Story >> Ramsey Propp

One of the biggest perks of camp ministry is getting to experience turning points in people’s faith journey and pieces of the story God is writing in their lives. With each glimpse of the story, we are always brought to the same conclusion: God’s amazing love and personal pursuit of people astounds us. He holds nothing back to personally bring people to the place of knowing Him and walking them to the place of making Him known.

Ramsey Propp has been a part of our Full-Time Staff for over five years. Watch this video to hear a brief telling of his story and the next chapter God is leading him toward!

(if unable to view the video, click here)

We are thankful to have been a small part of his journey, and we praise God again for His faithfulness in the lives of His people! Ramsey, we will miss you!