The week of July 5 was shaping up to be another incredible week of camp.
200 junior high campers were on their way to Oil Belt, and our staff was busy getting everything ready for their arrival.
Then, just two days before campers arrived, a powerful lightning storm rolled through camp.
In a matter of minutes, portions of our sound system, fire alarm systems, WiFi network, and HVAC controls were damaged. One of our biggest concerns was the girls' dorm. The air conditioning had been knocked out, and with temperatures expected to climb well into the 90s, we wondered how we would keep nearly 100 girls comfortable throughout the week.
So our team went to work.
Over the 4th of July weekend, repair technicians were called. Parts were ordered. Window air conditioners were purchased and installed. We let parents know what had happened, explained our temporary plan, and shared one simple hope:
That this would be a hiccup—not a distraction.
God answered that prayer.
The temporary air conditioners kept the dorm comfortable until the repairs were made. In fact, several girls told us they actually turned them down because they were getting too cold! What could have become the biggest story of the week became something the campers barely noticed.
Instead, they focused on what really mattered.
By the end of the week, sixteen students had publicly declared their faith in Jesus Christ through baptism.
That's exactly how it should be.
Our goal has never been to build impressive facilities. Our goal has always been to create a place where young people can encounter Jesus Christ.
The buildings aren't the ministry. They're simply where the ministry happens.
This summer, more than 2,100 campers came to Oil Belt Christian Service Camp. They laughed together, worshiped together, memorized Scripture, built lifelong friendships, and many took important steps in their walk with Christ. Those moments happen because faithful supporters like you have helped provide a place where God continues to work.
The lightning strike was only one reminder of how much ministry depends on things quietly happening behind the scenes.
While insurance is covering much of the lightning damage, Oil Belt is responsible for a $10,000 insurance deductible before those repairs are covered. Throughout the summer, we also invested more than $10,000 repairing and replacing refrigeration equipment to safely serve thousands of meals, and we've already spent more than $5,700 on HVAC repairs, with additional work still ahead.
None of these repairs are exciting.
But every one of them helps ensure that unexpected challenges remain just that—a hiccup, not a distraction from the life-changing work God is doing at camp.
Would you consider giving toward our goal of $25,000 to help recover from these behind-the-scenes expenses and continue faithfully caring for the campus God has entrusted to Oil Belt?
Your gift won't simply help pay an insurance deductible or repair equipment.
It will help provide a place where children hear the Gospel for the first time, teenagers make decisions to follow Christ, families grow together, and lives continue to be changed for eternity.
Thank you for prayerfully considering how God might lead you to partner with Oil Belt through this special project.
To give, simply mail a gift to the camp office with "Hiccups, not distractions" in the memo line.
If you prefer to give online, click here to go to our online giving platform.
Every gift, regardless of size, helps faithfully steward the ministry God has entrusted to us. If gifts exceed the $25,000 goal, they will be used to address additional behind-the-scenes repairs and infrastructure needs that help keep Oil Belt ready to serve campers for years to come.
Thank you for your prayers, your encouragement, and your faithful partnership. Because of friends like you, the things happening behind the scenes can remain just that—behind the scenes—so campers can focus on what they'll remember for the rest of their lives: encountering Jesus Christ.