November Update/2024 Recap

What a great year of ministry it has been.  As I sit back and reflect on all that God has done in and through His camp, the words that come to mind are grateful and impact.  Grateful for the Lord's guidance, wisdom, love, grace, and Him leading so many of His kids to His camp throughout the year.  Grateful for the ways in which this ministry has impacted the lives of thousands of people this year with the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  That's what this ministry is all about, providing space and time for people to know and experience the extravagant love of Jesus and leave impacted to share the Gospel with the world!

Here are a few other updates around camp:

1. Year End Giving. Many of you will have received our year-end letter by now.  Between November and December, we anticipate $130,000 in gifts to come in to finish our year strong!  God continues to provide for this ministry through the generosity of so many individuals and congregations each year.  I invite you to consider Riverside in your year end giving, and be encouraged that your generous gift helps make the impact mentioned above happen year after year!  

2. 2025 Camps and Retreats.  We are so excited for a new year of ministry ahead of us in 2025!  Please prayerfully consider joining us for a camp or a retreat this year. You won't regret it!  Please let us know if there's anything we can do to help-whether it be answering questions or you're in need of financial assistance.  We want you here!

3. Facility Updates.  

• Mortvedt Hall has been open for use this fall!  A few more pieces to wrap up include: staining trim boards, painting in outside bathrooms, purchasing new furniture.  What a great new space for ministry!

• Our Retreat Center will be getting new gutters which will complete the full renovation of that space!

• 30 new trees were planted along the property line of our new land, along with 6 new trees scattered around the main camp area for more shade in the summer.

• The purchase of our newest land that we have been leasing down by the Ranch will take place in 2025.  This new land will continue to be hay ground, providing hay for our horses, and open for future expansion of our trails/ranch program.  

• Tree House cabins are on the list for some renovations this next year.  Renovations will include exterior painting, window coverings, and interior paint/flooring.  We are looking for churches that may want to 'adopt' a cabin and help see this process through this winter/spring.  If you're interested, please let me know!

4. Welcome Jake Hughes! We're excited to welcome Jake Hughes to our year-round Program Team.  Jake brings a wide variety of gifts and experiences to the ministry.  While he may be new to the ministry of Riverside, he's not new to the camping ministry world through his background.  One of Jake's focuses will be engaging more fully with our congregations, specifically children/youth/family ministry directors to help us continue to best engage with our congregations!  Welcome, Jake and his wife, Christa, and their twin 4-month-old boys, Hazel and Indigo!

5. 2024 Impact Report: https://conta.cc/494G0ED

Check out our 2024 impact report that was shared with our partners in ministry recently, highlighting many other updates from Riverside!

Dear friends, I am so grateful for you and your continued partnership in the Gospel.  As we head towards celebrating the birth of our Savior, praying that you would know and experience His great love for you even more fully in these weeks ahead.  God's blessings to you from all of us here at Riverside!

In Christ,

Chris