"A Story To Tell"
Camp David News, Published: September 2011 "A Story To Tell" by: Ben Smith, Camp Director
"The last evening of camp, 13 year old Mark’s lips were tight with anger after an argument with another camper. John, the other camper, had apologized for his part in the conflict but Mark wasn’t talking. At this point I realized that telling him what the Bible said, or reasoning any more, would only further entrench him. READMORE
"Bold Love"
Camp David News, Published: November 2010 "Bold Love" by Ben Smith, Camp Director
"I can still remember sitting by little Xavier with his short curly hair and teary brown eyes. He was telling me about a fight he saw in his home that ended with a gunshot and police cars. As I remember it today I want to say “fortunately, no one was hurt”; but someone was hurt- Xavier. READMORE
"I Have A Dream"
Camp David News, Published: March, 2010 "I Have a Dream" by: Ben Smith, Camp Director
"Nine years ago Grace and I were married with two children, and a small remodeling business. We were living in a old farm house on my parents' farm when God stirred in Grace’s heart to ask Him for a dream. We began to daily make this request: “God what do you have for us?” One morning, Grace excitedly called me on the phone and said “I was walking from the barn to the house and looking across the valley when I got the word ‘camp.’ READMORE
"Finally!"
Lit. 3-4A, Oct.10th, 2010 "Finally!!" by Brooke, Camper
"It was July 5th, 2010, also known as the first day of Camp. I had never felt so excited in my life! It was my third year going to this camp and it always got better every year! I had no idea what to expect. After all, I hadn’t been there in a year! As I boarded the bus, all I could think about was my best friend, Rebecca. She had got back surgery in May and was coming to visit me at camp! READMORE
"Whispers of God"
Camp David News, Published: September 2010 "Whispers of God" by Adell Ferrell, Counselor, Wrangler
"Heading back to camp for the second Junior Girls Week, I was looking forward to being a Wrangler. Though, while driving up to camp, I kept thinking things like, "My girls are going to be great this week!" and, "My team is going to be so awesome!" I was shocked that I was thinking those thoughts. I had never been a counselor before READMORE
"I Will Go Where You Send Me"
Camp David News, Published: September 2010 "I Will Go Where You Send Me" by: Paula Smith-Culp
"About two weeks before Camp David was to start the training week, my sister and I (we are both in our 50’s) felt the Lord had put into place an opportunity to serve him in this camp ministry. I thought volunteering to ‘teach’ a class or be a helper was a good place to start, but the need was for counselors. I am thinking, “OK, God I trust you. I will pray for strength and stamina. I will go where you send me.” READMORE
"Your Prayers Make a Difference"
Camp David News, Published: February 2008 “Your prayers make a difference…” by: Ben Smith
"Sending campers home is one of the most difficult jobs I have. This time was no different. I had checked and cross checked all the evidence, and the fact was that this camper, *Ruby, had been secretly smoking and making cell phone calls at camp. I was also dealing with campers sneaking out at night. READMORE
"I forgave him."
Camp David News, Published: August 2006 “Summer Camp 2006” by: Ben Smith
"The sun was just setting. The staff and campers were settling around a small fire in the woods, on scattered lawn chairs and a circle of benches made from cedar posts and old cabin logs. Outside the parameter were three covered wagons, an outhouse, and a picnic table. READMORE
"Sharing the Love of Christ"
Camp David News, Published: August 2007 “Sharing the Love of Christ” by: Ben Smith
"It was our first day of camp. The campers had arrived a couple of hours ago and were moving into their wagon cabins and finishing all the check-in procedures. All, that is, but *John. At 14 years old, with sandy blond hair that hung over his eyes, he sat slouched in the front seat of his social worker’s car. READMORE
"A New Look at Camp"
Camp David News, Published: August 2008 "A New Look at Camp" by: Kayla Priest
"This year I had the opportunity to be a part of Camp David for the first time. For several years I have had friends involved with Camp David who came back and raved about it, every time I’d hear this I’d take it in and dismiss it as post camp excitement. I had been a camper and a counselor at church camps for most of my life but they had grown stale to me. READMORE
"A Chance to Know Love"
Camp David News, Published: August 2009 “A Chance to Know Love” by: Ben Smith, Camp Director
"Monday afternoon I received the news that the St. Louis bus was heading back to camp with 11 boys, instead of 15. One boy just didn’t show, and another three (brothers) were lost somewhere in route with their aunt. Being a father, I could only imagine the three sadly driving back home in a hot car after hours of hopelessly trying to catch the bus. READMORE
"Razor Wire and Wrestling"
Camp David News, Published: December 2009 “Razor Wire and Wrestling” by: Ben Smith, Camp Director
“I once told a man “We run a summer camp for children of prisoners.” “How do you control them?” he responded. I could almost see his mind running to razor wire, chain link fences, and guard dogs. Quickly, I reworded it, “they are children who have a parent in prison.” “Oh!” he said. These children aren’t criminals, in truth they are victims. READMORE
"The Last Day"
Camp David News, Published: September 2011 "The Last Day" by Kayla Norton, Camp Counselor
"I woke up that morning at 6 am, more tired than normal. It was the last day of the girl’s camp week, and also my last day at camp that year. Waking up with that being my first thought made it hard for me to be my normal cheery self. READMORE
"Our Family Mission Trip"
Camp David News, Published: August 2010 “Our Family Mission Trip at Camp David” By: Bob Holmes
"It's a whopping 95 degrees today, and I'm sweating buckets, trying to get the wire pulled from the outside transformer into the electric panel in Grandpa Tom's cabin. I sure wish I was replacing light fixtures in the air-conditioned Fort Turley like yesterday! READMORE
“A Daisy begins to Bloom”
Camp David News, Published: August 2010 “A Daisy begins to Bloom” by: Ben Smith, Camp Director
“When I came, I knew this was Christian camp... I had decided that I wouldn’t sing or be part of any of the Christian stuff… I hated God and I hated men… For the past nine months I broke every one of the Ten Commandments- except do not murder..” READMORE
“Stepping Out and Stepping Up”
Camp David News, Published: November 2010 “Stepping Out and Stepping Up” by: Susanne Eldredge
"The campers were all arriving and I was standing on the front porch of Fort Turley watching as the little girls came tumbling out of the bus. I thought... “Alright God, here it goes. I am ready for however you want to use me. This is the first of the next 8 weeks here at camp. READMORE