Rave Review: New Life Academy

I just wanted to say a tremendous thank you to the whole of Living Waters staff. I just returned from a trip with my class at New Life Academy and I want to say that you changed my life. I appreciated everything you guys did. Serving meals, leading nature classes, and hanging out with us at the rock wall and swing.

I was - and still am - so amazed at the selfless, serving attitude shown by staff and Siler family. I personally feel convicted of being extremely selfish, and after spending a couple days with all the wonderful people I want to change myself more than ever. I never thought that such giving, humble people could effect me so much.

I've prayed for you all so many times since I have come home, just asking the Lord to keep you sustained, doing the amazing work you do and touching so many lives. Again, thank you for that unforgettable weekend.

God Bless You!
~Macayla S.

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Thanks, Macayla, for your kind words. We hope to see you back at camp in the near future!
~LWBC Staff

Rave Review: Hope Christian Academy

Dear Andrew and Living Waters Bible Camp Staff,

Our students and staff were very blessed to visit you at Living Waters Bible Camp. From your greeting on our bus to some of the staff gathering to say goodbye, you demonstrated the love of Christ. From the first time I heard about Living Waters, I was impressed that you (the camp and Dennis) would provide and try to meet the camping group’s needs and desires for preaching and teaching. Dennis Siler did an excellent job of relating to the teens and giving them applications that they could relate to.

Your camp offers quite an impressive array of activities and I feel confident that we could return and do quite a variety of different things from what we experienced. The mud bog stories and applications are still being talked about in the halls of HCA. And many kids overcame their fear of the height to conquer the zip line. Several felt this was an area of significant personal growth – that besides the obvious analogy to stepping off into God’s will when we can’t feel His supporting hand. I’ve heard that talked about more than once too. The fort breakfast and all the associated skills challenges were really fun, although I am still disappointed that I couldn’t throw the hatchet and spit the tree in half – after all, I watched Daniel Boon as a kid do it dozens of times on TV!

Personally, I was blessed to have Tim notice that our bus needed some attention with the muffler and then take the initiative to fix it. We made it home safe and I praised God for a brother who was paying attention to our old bus.

Thanks for all you gave to make our Hope High Retreat memorable. I believe that we will be harvesting fruit from the seeds sown there all year long. May God bless you and your families and the ministry of Living Waters Bible Camp.

Sincerely for Christ-like kids,

Randy Krussow
Principal

Reflections: 3rd - 6th Grade Camp #2 2009

From the Directors of 3rd - 6th Grade Camp #2:

Although it has been a whole month since 3-6th Grade Camp #2, memories and blessings experienced during camp that week are still fresh in our minds. We had a great group of children who were - for the most part - cooperative, obedient, and eager to learn. We were blessed to have an awesome group of servant-minded volunteers working to serve the campers and each other. It was such a blessing to see the unity in the staff and the care and concern they displayed towards each other and the campers.

The central theme and message of the Bible was clearly taught during the evening chapel services, and staff and campers alike were challenged to be “firmly planted” in the Word of God. Morning classes, taught by husband/wife teams, focused on aspects of the life of a tree and how it applied to the lives of the camper. After breakfast each morning, campers were encouraged to participate in a time of personal devotions with their counselor and a few of their cabin buddies. During this time, campers were taught what a quiet time could look like, so they could take this skill home with them and practice it daily.

The highlight of the week for us was the salvation of two of the campers; both children willingly and boldly shared their testimonies with others (one shared it in front of the whole group on Friday evening). We praise God for these two decisions and for any other decisions that were made that we may not be aware of (and may never know of). Another highlight of the week happened at the registration table the first day of camp when one of the campers who had attended camp last year and had accepted Christ as his Savior let us know that he had been reading the Bible we had given him last year. Pointing to the Bible, which he carried under his arm, he informed us that he had started reading in Genesis and was up to the book of Numbers. What a blessing!

We feel privileged to have been a part of this memorable week and look forward to serving God at LWBC!

-Tim and Mindy S.

Rave Review

Dear LWBC,

I wanted to thank you and your staff for an outstanding week of camp this summer. We sent one of the young guys from our church and he accepted Christ while he was there. His mother stopped me on Sunday while I was heading downstairs to teach Sunday School . She was so excited and kept talking about how great camp was for her son. I’m hoping to use her excitement (and her son’s) to generate interest in bringing several more next year.

Thanks and God bless!

Tim Chaffey
(Director, Speaker, Author - Midwest Apologetics)

Reflections: Family Camp 2009

From Kelly Siler:

There may have been just a small amount of families, but that definitely didn't hinder the magnitude of how God worked in the lives of those of us who were able to attend Family Camp 2009. We were we able to enjoy great food, wonderful fellowship, and a short retreat (Sunday through Wednesday) with our families down at camp.

While the kids were out experiencing nature programs, the parents were blessed by the video series from the 2009 "Focus on Marriage" Conference. Though it was originally broadcast as a national simulcast conference, we didn't feel like it was at all second-rate. The Lord still used the speakers from that conference to make a deep impact on our marriages -- the foundation of our families.

I think it's safe to say that we all left camp encouraged, well-nourished, and with a purer love for our spouse and family. Oh, and I probably shouldn't talk about how much fun we (the parents) had playing "Digital Praise" one evening because I'm still not sure if we broke a rule by "dancing" at camp or not...

=)

Reflections: Girls Camp 2009

From the Director of Girls Camp 2009:

This year at Girls Camp we had the privilege of seeing the Lord's amazing power moving in hearts and lives! Our theme this year was Firmly Planted on God's promises with the tag line of "God's promises are always, always, always, always true!" Opening our Monday chapel time with staff testimonies, the staff had the opportunity to share how God has been faithful in their lives. During our camper testimony time at the campfire on Friday night we had the joy of seeing the girls be able to apply the things they were learning to their own lives. The schedule was full of a wide variety of activities, everything from a glow in the dark party to our 80's banquet. We are so thankful to have been a part of the girls' lives for the week and really count it a privilege to be used by the Lord in this way!

-Missy

Reflections: 11th and 12th Grade Camp 2009

From the Director of 11th and 12th Grade Camp:

11th and 12th Grade Camp was a great week spent reviewing the foundation of Christianity. John Lyman was the guest speaker for the entire week and he carried the campers through 5 major topics including who God is, why we should believe the Bible, our human state, sin and salvation, and future events. Many of the campers and staff began asking great questions by mid-week.

Rain changed our plans multiple times, including our overnight camping trip. We drove two hours to hike in the rain and then drove home again. I like when God changes our plans because it means He is in charge – not me. We were also able to do the tree climb for the first time. The view from 75 ft. in the air is amazing!

The highlight of the week was the influence of one of our campers named Jacob. Jacob lost his father and sister a couple of years ago in an auto accident and he also suffered traumatic head injuries. His comments tell it all: “I lost my father, my sister, and half of me, but I love God.” Jacob challenged all of us to live each day as if it were our last.

-Vince