WELCOME TO THE TABLE

Sunday evening, November 17, 2024, found the gym full of Jonah friends gathered together for a time of remembering the camp’s history and looking forward to the future. Delicious food, sweet conversations, heart-felt testimonies, and future plans were shared. (We missed you.)

WHAT WAS THE FOCUS OF THE RECENT FUNDRAISING EVENT?

We began by sharing “Stones of Remembrance” (from Joshua chapters 3-4) so we will never forget all that God has done in our history – and then we moved into sharing plans for an exciting future, which includes hiring a new Executive Director and the Duke’s moving into semi-retirement. Click here for the link to the message shared.

WHEN WILL THE DUKE’S RETIRE?

The plan is for Jeff and Beki Duke, Camp Managers, to hand over their major responsibilities in the Spring of 2026 and the new Executive Director to arrive prior to that. The Duke’s still plan to work behind-the-scenes for the foreseeable future.

DO WE REALLY NEED A HOUSE?

Yes! The Board of Directors has committed to providing continued housing for the Dukes as a way to honor their contributions as Camp Jonah’s founders. Given the high cost of housing and the need for at least two additional homes in the coming years, starting with a new Executive Director, we felt the need to accept the opportunity to purchase the house next door. Affordable housing in Trout Lake is almost non-existent. In today’s market, the average price of all homes has increased by 70% since 2017 and the average home price is $1.2 million. We are in a contract with our neighbors to purchase their home for $600,000. As of today, thanks to beautiful and generous donors, we have already raised $229,000 in gifts and pledges! The purchase closing date is December 13, 2024 (just 23 days!).

$100,000 MATCHING GIFT OPPORTUNITY!

A blessed phone call from a generous couple was recently received. They believe fully in the mission of Camp Jonah, and they want to help reach the need of $600,000 in gifts and pledges. They are pledging $100,000 in hopes to raise a matching amount by midnight of “Giving” Tuesday, December 3, 2024! That would bring the total raised to $429,000. We’re getting closer!

SAVE THE DATES

• Giving Tuesday: December 3, 2024 (see above goal)
• Thrive Ladies Seminar: May 2-4, 2025
• Creekside Lodge Family Rentals: November 25 – December 26 (upon availability). See our website for details.
• 2025 Summer Camp Schedule is now on the website!

NO LONGER AMAZED

Since 1996, we have tended to overuse the word “amazed,” starting with day one of Camp Jonah. How could a fledgling camp run by unskilled amateurs ever be blessed by a holy God? We believe the answer is simply by saying one yes at a time. Not performance or perfection, just surrender and sacrifice, and showing up for work. We’re still here shaking our heads and searching our hearts as we count our many blessings. The struggles have been real. And hard. The miracles have been constant. And amazing. Each gift, each piece of furniture, each paid bill, each volunteer, each completed project, every hour of every day over so many years can only be defined as amazing. Until yesterday. Yesterday we realized that when you pray to a mighty God, you’d better expect some answers. EXPECT AMAZING! Expect to come near to the Father’s heart and receive his good gifts. Expect a relationship where His sacrifice engulfs and magnifies any sacrifice any of us could ever make! We will no longer be amazed at random answers to prayer; we will LIVE AMAZED and expectant as we are fully blessed as children of the Most High God.