Work Trip to Florida | GIC Conference 2023

Earlier this month our staff went down to Fort Myers, Florida for the mission conference held at McGregor Baptist Church. Each year, this church hosts all the missionaries (both domestic and international) they support for a weekend of refreshment and encouragement (more than 30 attended this year). Different Life Groups (think Sunday School classes if unfamiliar with that term) in the church “sponsor” each missionary and give them the opportunity to share about what God is doing in their ministry and ways that Life Group can be involved. To be a missionary on the receiving end of this is such a gift and is most encouraging.

Fort Myers was home to Marty and Patti for more than two decades and McGregor the launching church to send them off to begin Whisper Mountain Camp. When you return to what was once home, the number of people you want to see and reconnect with gets lengthy. But these connections do the heart good. So we booked our days full to see the most number of people possible in between the conference events.

Something we always come away with is the beauty of God’s orchestration of people throughout our whole lives for specific reasons. Friendships, supporters, volunteers, staff, prayer warriors, co-laborers. The Church as a whole is a beautiful thing when we function as we were intended to function. We saw many, many people see the work God is doing in teen’s lives at camp and get excited and desire to be a part in some way. That’s what makes our ministry so special: all the people who join the efforts to proclaim Christ.

We created this reel on Instagram if you’d like to take a quick peek at the conference!

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A post shared by Whisper Mtn Youth Camp (@whispermtn)

We are thankful to each person who made time to stop by our booth to hug us and visit with us or learn about us; for each person who made time to open their homes to us or made time to connect with us at coffee shops or restaurants. We are thankful for the Kreller Life Group who hosted us, listened to our presentation, opened their hearts and were overall super hospitable to encourage and provide for us. We are thankful for McGregor welcoming us to the conference and continuing their support of Whisper Mountain Camp.

If you are reading this, you are probably among those we consider part of the Whisper Mountain Family. Thank you for whatever way God has prompted you to be involved. We are glad you are here. We pray God blesses you immensely as you see Him through His work at Whisper Mountain Camp. We hope to see you soon!

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Author & iPhonography | Cassi

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

2021 | Summer Staff 15 Year Reunion

Although everyone couldn’t come and not everyone even caught word about the gathering, we brought the family together for a little celebration! A FIFTEEN year staff reunion!

To have been here to see God cross so many paths over so many years all for the joint mission of helping teens find Jesus, or at the very least grow in their own walks with the Lord — there really aren’t any words to convey what it means to us full-timers.

We hung pictures all over the Axis walls from the beginning of Whisper Mountain’s summer staff through this past one…fifteen years later. What fun to watch all the reactions and hear all the memories being shared!

Meeting the kids of some of the staff was (crazy) exciting and fun. Knowing the younger version of their parents and seeing how they’ve grown into godly parents now adds depth almost like a parent watching their kids become parents. God’s faithfulness through the generations of our staff brings such hope, especially in these heavier times we live in.

Bazooka Ball was requested by quite a few, but more relaxed than when campers play! Pretty much, throw the rules out and just shoot whoever! Has it’s charm, until you’re the target! Good times, good times!

As is normal with all things surrounding Whisper Mountain, the time spent connecting with people was the highlight of our time together. People who wouldn’t otherwise have any reason to connect, people from all sorts of different backgrounds, experiences, denominations and walks of life have the mutual love of God and camp bringing them together. There’s just something entirely encouraging about this.

Ending our time together around the fire seemed just right. We got to hear testimony of how the effects of camp continue to impact their lives even now. The timing of their summer spent here, learning what discipleship looks like, understanding the importance of Christian community, finding clarity on soul-searching issues, how they are using what they learned in their living presently, and so much more was shared around that fire. Sometimes when we commit to something we don’t fully realize the impact it will have on us. Maybe something sounds fun, or distracting, or worthwhile, but we don’t always see the real work God was drawing us to until months or years later. Hearing testimony of this and recognizing God’s goodness all over again both astounds and encourages us.

Our time together went fast that day and we were missing quite a few, but how amazing to have gathered so many from year’s past. To share the memories, to celebrate God’s faithfulness and to recapture the vision of Whisper Mountain going forward was such a gift.

Thank you to all who made the effort to join us! Reconnecting was just what we needed! To those who couldn’t make it, your legacy lives on and we hope to see you at the 20th reunion!

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Big shout out to Megan Hunt for making our amazing shirts.

picture from Megan

picture from Kaleigh

She designed and screen printed them and we couldn’t love them more! Even the little ones were included with each one tailored to their parent as staff!

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Author + Photography | Cassi Werner

Life | When God Feels Absent

by Selah Werner

Hey guys!
So today I want to share something that has been popping up a lot lately, and something I personally need reminding of myself.

I have reached the point in my life where I am faced with the “what’s next” question. I need to decide where I want to go and what I want to do after I graduate high school. This feels so daunting and overwhelming. I sometimes feel like I’m walking in the dark or in fog and I can’t really see what’s in front of me. I’ve been reminded recently that the waiting is an important part of the process and can actually sometimes feel exciting!

Waiting is not my most favorite thing to do. In fact, I can be quite impatient in life. There’s a big part of me that wants the frustrating things fixed, the questions answered, the chaotic things quieted. But really, what’s the fun in just arriving at something without the journey? The adventure is where it’s at, so I’m told 😂.

I think God likes the adventure part because it stretches and pushes us to trust Him like never before. The adventure tends to pull us in close to Him and allows us to see Him work. Where will He take us next?

I love when people tell their stories of life. Taking a look back at our story helps us see a little better just what God was doing, how He perfectly timed everything and arranged things better than we could have ever done ourselves. During the waiting process, God can feel absent. It’s hard connecting with him during this time, but I wonder if by trusting that He’s present when He doesn’t feel like it causes us to actually exercise our faith in the best of ways. I know He really is there and has control of all the things. Sometimes we just need reminded.

Psalm 62 demonstrates this well. Verse one and verse 5 are similar:

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. (v1)

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.” (v5)

Isn’t it interesting how verse one says, “My soul waits in silence”, while verse five says, “Oh my soul, wait in silence”? It’s that reminding of, “Okay, Self, keep waiting because God really is my hope and salvation.” Just as David reminds us all throughout the Psalms, we can have peace knowing “that the power belongs to God (v11).” We can overflow with peace and find patience to wait in silence when we remember who He is. (see also Job 40) The scary trek in the dark then becomes a hope-filled adventure!

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Author | Selah Werner    Photography | Cassi

Living In Tents can be Intense!

by Shaun Werner

“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.”

2 Corinthians 5:1

I don’t know if you’ve heard me say it or not, but one of the phrases I like to use at camp is “Camp is intense! We sleep in cabins, but camp is in-tents!” This play on words, among many others, is one of my favorites. So much so, that my lovely wife made a shirt several years ago that expressed this saying.

We also used this idea of camp and life being intense for our summer camp theme — were you here that year? Based out of 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, we talked about how our bodies are earthly tents and we have an eternal home in heaven.

Remembering this earth is not our home, this life is temporary, we are just passing through offers hope in times of trouble and encourages us to not invest in things that are fading away.

I Peter 2:11 also encourages us to abstain from worldly desires because we are sojourners or temporary residents. Our perspective, or rather God’s perspective from His Word, helps us to stay on track as we seek to follow Him. God’s Word encourages and calls us to this higher road of living for what we cannot see, to walk in this faith that stretches beyond our right now.

I don’t know about you, but what’s happening around me seems to distract me from this big picture living more than I want it to. My focus gets so easily pulled from the eternal things and placed on things that, in the end of all things, really don’t matter at all.

So I leave you with this encouragement: stay in the Word daily so God’s perspective becomes ours and can rightly be placed on the eternal things. Let’s keep stepping toward abstaining from the “worldly desires” today so we can be in pursuit of those eternal desires as we keep passing through to our eternal home! Keep walking, Young People!

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Photography | Cassi Werner

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!!!

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Author | Cassi        Photography | Adrienne + Cassi

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2019 | Micah

Micah! Micah! He’s our man! If he can’t do it, nobody can! Say a big “Heeyyyyyyy!” to Micah on the Awesomeness Takes the Stage today!

Micah is a gentleman with a side of quiet hilarity! He’s got this way of throwing lines out at the last second in a conversation that are so funny, but you’d miss it if you weren’t paying attention. They come quick and quiet!

He’s got a love for adventure and fun. He’s one of the guys who races around campus on their mountain bikes! Downhill, on a bike, on graveled mountain roads — yikes! No big deal for him! Can you see that boyhood ornery sparkle in his eye?! It’s what keeps things fun!

His leadership is quiet but strong. He works hard. He plays hard. He’s faithful and reliable. Micah is an all around fantastic fellow!

Thank you for being here this summer, Micah! We love getting to be a small piece of your faith journey! Thank you for being the kind of man that is worth these teens emulating! Keep at it!

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Author + Photography | Cassi

Awesomeness Takes the Stage 2019 | Adrienne

Have you ever been walking along with your arms so full you’re about to drop everything AND you have to get a door open? You’re struggling, struggling and then — praise the Lord — someone shows up just as your arms are about to give out and drop it all; and that someone not only opens the door for you but takes the heaviest load out of your arms too. The biggest wave of relief and ginormous amounts of gratitude wash over you and bubble out of you and you get reminded that everything’s going to be okay! Do you know what I’m talking about? That’s Adrienne Brand for me (Cassi)! Let’s welcome her to the Awesomeness Takes the Stage today!

Adrienne is our camp’s photographer this summer, although she also wears a partial guide hat as well! Have you been seeing some of her pictures on Instagram or Facebook?! She’s capturing the story of camp so so well! Ahh, I’m just so thankful!

Adrienne brings much more to the proverbial table than her camera though! She’s a willing servant, a listening friend, and an encouraging role model to these campers coming through the gates and the staff she’s living with all summer!

She is quiet in her approach to connection but gives the touch of sincerity and kindness that really makes people feel seen and heard. And she likes to laugh! Getting to see God use Adrienne’s gifts and grow her in new ways — it’s a privilege to see!

Thank you, Adrienne, for giving your summer to serve and capture the power of camp with your lens and for being here with us! We are all pretty thankful to have you on the team this year! (But I don’t think anyone appreciates you as much as I do 😉 !)

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Author + Photography | Cassi

staff take a road trip | GIC 2019

A couple weeks ago our staff hit the road and headed down to Florida for a week to participate in what’s called the Global Impact Conference! As a supporting church of Whisper Mountain Camp, McGregor Baptist invited us (and many other missionaries they support) to participate in their weekend of blessing and encouragement. We couldn’t be more thankful to have been included.

Much of our week was spent connecting with people, life groups, churches, families and friends. The community of people within Whisper Mountain is amazing! People who share our heart to proclaim Christ to teens, who support us and participate with us, who encourage us to keep going! Amazing: the number of people God pulls into His work here at WM! We wouldn’t be able to do any of what we do without the community He’s pulled together! (If you’re part of this – thank you for being here!)

Along with the event, gathering and meeting with people, and some of us getting brave to speak in front of crowds, we were also able to have a few stolen moments of play and relaxation! A quick swim here, a hurried beach walk there, a nap when possible.

How refreshing to find a piece of hold still and enjoy the beauty of winter days in Southwest Florida! We were completely thankful for the hospitality of Brad and Melloe Nash! They welcomed us, invited us to make ourselves at home (which we took them up on!) and overwhelmed us with love and fellowship and goodness of all kinds.

We put together a video to give you a glimpse into our trip! We hope you enjoy!

Watch the Video

Thank you to all who made the time to meet with us, encourage us, and give to us in some way! You are a big reason we remain encouraged to keep going in this thing called camp ministry!

Come visit soon!

 

 

Author + Photography | Cassi

Let The Games Begin

First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Chloe, I am one of the staff members here at Whisper Mountain Youth Camp. I have been asked to tell you about what has happened so far in the staff training week. Yes, I know, it sounds boring, but you may find interest in what you read.

Well, it’s that time of year again. Kids start rolling in for a week of fun, food, and most importantly God. Staff training started almost a week ago and already I have learned so much, and have made a lot of new, very supportive, friends that have helped me push myself to limits I didn’t know I could go. Every morning, after breakfast, we have a devotional and we discuss the days activities, we then go from there and begin our day.

Two days ago, part of our training was coming up with games for the campers, and a very popular game is Bazooka Ball. It’s like paint ball but without the paint. We also did archery, we were taught to teach the campers how to hold the arrows when walking around with them, how to properly hold the bow, and the best way to try to get a bulls-eye. When the staff had first arrived we played a lot of name games which we will teach the campers when they get here.

On behalf of the entire staff, I think it’s safe to say that we are all excited about the upcoming summer.

[Author: Chloe Headings | Photo Creds: Casey Bell, Cassi Werner]