Ministry: Camp Orchard Hill

Location: Dallas, Pennsylvania

Project: New gymnasium

Story: A gymnasium had been a long time dream for Camp Orchard Hill, according to Jim Payne, Executive Director for Camp Orchard Hill. "There is mention of building a gym back in the 1980's in Board Minutes," says Jim Payne. The dream was there, but the resources to get there didn't come right away. The camp had always been debt free, so the idea of such a large project was somewhat daunting. Prior to the gymnasium, the swimming pool had been the largest project the camp had undertaken.

In 2001, Camp Orchard Hill contacted Ministry Campaign Services to assist them in running a campaign to raise the funds for the new gymnasium and so the process began. Bob Gentzel came alongside the camp as the consultant from Ministry Campaign Services. From the beginning there were unplanned hurdles to be overcome - change in staff, zoning challenges and unexpected changes to the plans that greatly increased the overall cost of the project. "Jim provided good, strong leadership for the camp through the process...a story of real perseverance in the case of some real roadblocks," shares Bob Gentzel.

Through the challenges however, God really made his presence known. As discouragement was setting in during a fund raising road trip, Jim received a call from a donor. The donor and his wife felt God compelling them to pledge $100,000 toward the project. What makes this pledge so moving isn't just the amount but the timing of the pledge. "I guess you could call it laying out of Gideon's fleece. We decided that we needed to raise $100,000 in a month in order to justify moving forward," Jim relates. Additionally, God provided further pledges of $30,000 to $40,000 during the designated days.

The project was finally able to break ground in 2004 and opened in 2005. With the first full year of camp behind them since the completion of the gym, overall attendance was up 45% and Summer resident (overnight) camp was up 67%!

"We're extremely thankful to CIF [for providing the gymnasium financing]. They were really easy to work with...the flexibility that they gave us was a blessing," states Director Payne. The camp brochure accompanying the annual report further describes the camp's future plans. "Camp Orchard Hill continues to improve facilities, programs, activities and staff so that we can meet the physical, emotional, social, mental and spiritual needs of our guests. We are becoming a center for effective ministry by creating and maintaining a community of "learning by doing". The result is a multi-tiered ministry where participants receive blessings from a well run and God directed program and the staff increase in their competence to do ministry and discover the specific purpose God has for them in life."

Investors in CIF enable ministries like Camp Orchard Hill to get the necessary funds to expand their ministries and reach people for the cause of Christ.

For more information and photos about Camp Orchard Hill, please visit their website www.camporchardhill.com.