Your Prayers and Support Will Lead Us in 2021
Over the past few years Michigan Area United Methodist Camping has been through a time of strategic and sacrificial decision-making to come to a place of sustainability. And, along with every other nonprofit small business, COVID-19 has required us to adapt quickly as revenue from doing what we do best – camps and retreats – was depleted or eliminated.
Yet we look to 2021 with renewed hope and a vision for what is most needed among the people of faith in Michigan – the opportunity to experience God’s creation outdoors and know the blessings of community and powerful experiences in camps and retreats.
To that end the Board of Michigan Area United Methodist Camping is in the midst of the following initiatives:
- Completing the sale of camps to provide much needed capital resources for improvements at Wesley Woods, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
- Completing renovations of the bath house, pool and nurse’s cabin at Wesley Woods, a new roof on Littleton Lodge at Lake Huron and a roof on the welcome center, plus tree work and new platform tents at Lake Michigan. These much needed improvements were made possible from the proceeds of property sales. Additional renovation projects are planned for the spring 2021.
- Engaging in a detailed master planning process for Wesley Woods, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron centers that will upgrade and improve facilities and create new opportunities for faith-forming experiences for all ages.
- Reducing administrative overhead through staff changes, streamlining accounting procedures and eliminating a central office location (please use PO Box 134, St. Johns MI 48879 for correspondence).
As we look toward the future with hope and excitement, we lift up these announcements for your prayers and support:
With gratitude for his service, Interim Executive Director Joel Wortley completes his work among us at year’s end after successfully steering MAUMC through many difficult transitions, transactions and transformations!
Welcome to the Rev. David Berkey as new Executive Director who started in late October.
Reluctantly receiving the resignation of Lake Michigan Director Dana Hunt who has shared the need to be closer to family in Indiana. Dana will continue through December 31 as we seek a new director for Lake Michigan Camp and Retreat.
Our gratitude was expressed on Nov. 7 for the ministry of Judson Collins Camp and Retreat Center with a powerful decommissioning service led by Bishop David Bard. Judson Collins remains holy for thousands whose lives were changed there through the camp experience. See photos and remembrance booklet
Finally, our plans for Summer Camp 2021 are well underway with deans, volunteers and staff! Look for the schedule of events and the start of registration coming soon!
What a challenging time in which to live! Yet we have hope as God’s people. We are blessed with beautiful holy places, a great staff committed to Christian hospitality, and an abundance of opportunity to provide life-changing experiences through camps and retreats.
As we go forward into 2021, if you have questions or suggestions please contact me at dberkey@umcamping.org.
– David Berkey, Executive Director