November Giving Letter
Dear Lakeside Supporters,
Summer camps and fall rentals have come to a close! The staff are busy refurbishing the camp and performing our annual deep cleaning and long-term maintenance. This summer was full of good things, including the largest group of TCL (Training in Christian Living) and Summer Staff to have ever signed up! We already have individuals applying for the 2026 summer.
TCL
For those not familiar with TCL, this program is designed to make deeper, serving disciples of students who want to go above and beyond in their Christian walk. Jr. TCLs are one-week intensives, and our high school TCLs are three-week long engagements in learning, serving, and community. Church leaders have told us how TCL creates a desire for students to make an impact in their church once they get home. YAY!
This summer brought many new things and “firsts.” New believers placed their faith in the Lord for the first time, and many campers rededicated their lives to our Savior. We celebrate those who chose to be baptized, and the 73 first-time campers in August alone. We are thankful that Shelley Lewis joined our staff as the Kitchen and Rental Manager, and that Grant Belleque joined our Facilities team. Both of whom helped facilitate a record four Salmon Bakes this summer! We had a new summer speaker, Jesse Bradley, from Grace Community Church in Auburn; and he will be returning to speak this winter for our Young Adult Weekend (January 2-4, 2026).
Our Vision
Folks, Lakeside’s vision has always been to present the gospel to kids, teens, and families. Some camps around the country have become rental-only facilities, or worse, have removed biblical teaching; replacing it with “self-improvement,” “self-help,” and “social gospel” messages. LBC has been firm in training our attendees to focus on the Bible and develop real, authentic, and effective Christian faith.
Our vision includes discipling kids in spiritual disciplines: authentic worship, devotions, Bible study, service, and community. We believe kids of all ages need solid faith, and we work to be that beacon on a hill to a dark and chaotic world. Lifelong friendships and relationships are developed here at camp. There is nothing like it!
To support this, we’ve been asking new-to-LBC churches if we can set up a booth in their lobby on a Sunday to share about volunteering and supporting Lakeside. It costs about $1,000 for one child to attend a week-long camp (amortizing all expenses over the entire year). Supporting churches and individual donors subsidize that cost so we can keep our camp fees to around $600 per child ($100 a day). Donations allow us to provide scholarships to campers and families who cannot afford the cost on their own. The saying, “Your Generosity Changes Lives” is literally true when you give to LBC!
We also ask churches to consider donating to camp with their missions funds; as we are just that, a local mission. One church recently started donating $500 per month, which is fabulous. There are smaller churches that donate $100 or $150 a month to help us reach one more boy, one more girl, one more family for the Lord. Churches can also engage with us through service! We are always looking for more volunteers – youth groups, small groups – to come up for the day and help with projects. Contact the camp office to arrange to come and help Hiram, Grant, or Shelley.
Increased Costs
It’s no secret that for the last three years, we’ve been inundated with increased costs at LBC. All the different insurances have gone up ridiculously. That, and the crazy cost of food being delivered to the island by Sysco and Costco, just make our operational costs soar. Hence, we have a need from each of our friends and supporters that appreciate LBC’s efforts to reach people for the Lord. Here is how you can support us:
1. Invite your church, friends, and family to attend camp. Registration for 2026 is open now.
2. Talk to your church leaders about adding LBC to their financial missions’ support.
3. Plan a time when you can volunteer at camp. There are many ways to serve, including (but not limited to), kitchen help, cleaning crew, work parties, cabin leading, serving as a medic (EMT, Paramedic, or Nurse) for a week or weekend of camp.
4. Donate at least $30 a month (or $360 annually). This provides a subsidy for one more kid to come to camp! Go online and hit the GIVE in the top right-hand corner of www.lakesidebiblecamp.org and make a recurring gift for $30+. It would truly warm our hearts! We certainly hope you’ll consider a special gift for LBC this end-of-year/Christmas season!
5. Give generously to the Brown House Fund. We must repair the foundation so the Summer Staff girls can live there while they serve. The estimated cost is $200,000. We received $10,000 from an east-coast couple who haven’t even been to LBC but believe in the mission we try to uphold!
This year we have been renovating various elements of this 65-year-old camp. The Ark (currently the staff building and craft center) got a facelift. We replaced the roof of one cabin and a 150-foot water line. We repaired a water leak in the café, the main water line to the women’s bathrooms; and the bathroom of one of the staff homes. I could give you a mile-long list of all the property and facility issues we deal with every year, but it’s all worth it as we try to reach people for the Lord.
One thing we’re putting out this year is a video montage of people who share what LBC has meant to them and their family. If you’d like to add a message to that project, please contact Daniel Jensen. We would love to know and share your story.
If I don’t see you before Christmas, know that I appreciate all of you, as well as what you and your family mean to this camp. LBC isn’t perfect by any stretch, but it certainly is special. We thank the Lord for this place and its people!
God Bless,
