The Friendly Benwood Christian Youth Camp
 
 
Friendly Benwood Christian Community Youth Camp
August10, 2002 REPORT code:TY 

To: Mike Willison, ctministries.net Subject: Men And Women Of Action 
Project July 8-20,2002
Friendly Benwood Christian Community Youth Camp

The time has now come for reflection and analyzing. This is something every MWOA project leader does and so should you. After every project this difficult task takes place. Some do it one way and others do it another way. I choose to do it by letter so you can get into my head via ink and paper for just a short period of time so you can see and feel some of the things I felt before, during and after July 8-20,2002. The following are my notes-not necessarily in order. I trust this will help you reflect on God’s goodness as we labored for His people in unity and love.

As the old saying goes, been there, seen it and done it at least with respect to The Friendly Benwood Community Christian Youth Camp, Inc. project July 8-20, 2002, MWOA. You were a part of something special, demanding and challenging. You were a part of a group of people that came from California to Maryland, from Michigan to Florida. You were a part of a group of people that ranged in age from six weeks to eighty years of age. You were a part of a group of people that consisted of one hundred and one boys and men, and sixty-six girls and women. 

You were a part of a group of people that hauled over two hundred tons of rock, sand and pea gravel. You were a part of a group of people that poured and finished almost three hundred yards of concrete. You were a part of a group of people that consumed about two thousand and five hundred meals-all excellent I must add. 

You were a part of a group of people that conducted eight services that ministered to hundreds of local residents surrounding Brazil, Indiana. You were a part of a group of people that worked side by side with other denominations, a local community and the unsaved. You were a part of a group of people that shared twenty-six moving devotions for the uplifting of everyone. 

You were a part of a group of people that installed six hundred and fifty feet of water line. You were a part of a group of people that raised almost one hundred thousand dollars in four years and secured thirty-three acres of land designated for the primary purpose of constructing a youth camp. You were a part of a group of people that worked in ninety-degree plus heat with one hundred per cent humidity and worked in mud half way to your knees and never complained. 

You were a part of a group of people that built one thousand two hundred feet of walls eight feet tall. You were a part of a group of people that hauled these walls on a semi-trailer to the job site. You were a part of a group of people that anchored and squared these walls. You were a part of a group of people that installed forty windows, ten doors and seven porches. You were a part of a group of people that installed one hundred and ninety trusses to ten buildings that were twenty-four by thirty-six each. You were a part of a group of people that installed ten thousand eighty square feet of five eighths decking to trusses, covered it with thirty pound felt and then applied twenty nine gauge metal roofing. 

You were a part of a group of people that sheeted eleven thousand five hundred twenty square feet of stud walls with OSB. You were a part of a group of people that removed over one hundred trees. You were a part of a group of people that cut two roads out of a dense jungle and developed a roadway for workers to use about a quarter of a mile long. You were a part of a group of people that stoned one building with riffraff stone and then started another with the same type of stone. 

You were a part of a group of people that came to this project using your children’s youth camp money as your travel money to allow you to work on this project. You were a part of a group of people that gave two hundred and sixty-nine dollars to two great young children. You were a part of a group of people that watched a child design and construct his own personal cross and carry it across the work site to show everyone. His name is Aaron Winklepleck. 

You were a part of a group of people that saw a young child from Michigan design and build a workbench by herself. Her name is Anna Winklepleck. You were a part of a group that watched Margaret Badowski get on a ladder, handle a nail gun and climb trusses for the first time. You were a part of a group that watched the Jenkins family and all the young girls that came along with them clear brush, move trusses, get muddy and have fun. 

You watched little David Jenkins ride the bulldozer with Bill Reberger. You watched Raymond Kramer install windows with a bad back. You were with Steve Crane as he prepared to go to surgery, yet remained on the project. You watched Bette Fisher put on her bibs and create all kinds of activity. You watched Darryl Royer put his heart into this project by working at his own job then working at the project after most of us had finished for the day. 

It pleased you to work with Don Loughmiller, Howard Chamberlin and Bradley Chamberlin as they fought mud, rain, and equipment to accomplish the task at hand. You worked with John Brant, Bill Houck, John Fisher, Steve Yellish, Paul Reberger and Mark Caddell as they prepared and poured concrete for the pads. You were there when Darryl Huyett gave us much needed technical support. You watched Richard Marks hit Paul Fillers on his finger with a hammer. 

You were there when Charlie White broke his rib. You saw Peter Donovan deliver materials. You got to see the Curtis family put on metal roofing, install concrete siding and hold our beautiful Alexia. You visited and worked with the youth group from North Fort Myers, Florida who did exactly what Ben told me they would do by phone- work and witness. This is a powerful witness for Jesus. You watched Lincoln Hagy try to make it to the project as he worked on an overheated van. You watched as Kenny Kincaid worked sick for several days. 

You were there when Charlotte Crafton and Ramona Bryant had you sign quilt pieces that will be made into a quilt and presented at a later service to the camp. You helped Landell Rayburn and James Dixon work until ten o’clock to keep our project on schedule. You got to see eighty-year-old John Davis drive from Veedersburg, Indiana and work almost every day. 

You saw Bill Bradley sprint out of the dining room one evening. Everyone thought he had to go to the bathroom, but later I found out he was actually moving very rapidly to Bill Reberger’s daughter’s ice cream shop. Seems like Bill enjoys his ice cream as much as Kenny Kincaid. Bill Bradley never stopped working for two weeks. 

During all of these activities you saw Perry Mager pull away to minister to some serious needs of his congregation. We listened to the voice of Marvin Burns as he gave a super devotion and said his good-byes to all the workers. You witnessed Toby Wilbanks win the heart of many as he worked side by side with you. You saw Leroy Burrell lay stone and have fun while doing something for God. 

You heard Brenda Burrell and the Woods family sing praises to God and have fun. You were there when Howard Hughes visited the campsite and prayed the prayer of faith with John Fisher and Jake Crafton for his wife and brother. You watched as Martha Fillers-even as she was not feeling good - hug the children and pray for them on the work site. 

You were with John Bealmear when his feet were so sore he could hardly stand up, but continued to work. Cheryl Bealmear was cooking for the crew. You were there when Donella Crane and others made noodles to sell for the camp project. You were there when Annette Royer cut siding, smoothed concrete and removed wood forms. You were present when Bill Harbin greeted you with a big smile and just said “thanks.” You were there when Rachelle Royer gave her devotion to adults. “Atta girl Rachelle, fine job.” 

You were there when eighty-plus years old Helen Loughmiller brought you your drinks and asked you if you needed anything. You were there when Rozanna Akers made sure everything was right for the meals. You were there when Josh and Jake (I like this boy’s name) operated machinery and hauled materials to you. You were present when Bob Hansen had an appendicitis attack and had to have surgery. 

You were there when John Fisher took Bob’s place along with all the responsibility and did a great job. You were there when we signed a MWOA get- well card for Bob Hansen and Dave Bell. You were there when you saw Jeremy Bussing annotate on the form for volunteer service-anything that needs done. I want to bring to your attention now that he did exactly what he annotated on that form. Jeremy was one of many young people that worked their heart out for this project. You young people are fantastic in my book. You were there when Dave Bigney learned to lay stone from Mark Caddell. You were there when Dave Myers worked on some of the technical things of the camp. 

You were present when Garry Myers worked with Kenny Kincaid in the heat of the day. You were there when Russell Vail, Butch Leek, and Jamie Switzer brought groups of people to aid this project. You watched Tom Zentko climb a ladder and work on a roof with Herman Clegg. Herman said his skills were laughing and cutting up. He lived up to all this and more. 

You saw Shunt Quill move several tons of riffraff stone from the drop zone to the cabins in terrible heat and humidity. You were with John Henderson as he helped deck the cabins. You worked with Aquila Martinez as he moved materials and nailed sheeting. You worked with Larry Pleat as he prepared the cabins for roofing. You were at the breakfast when the Mayor of Brazil (Kenny Crabb) encouraged you to keep doing the fine job that you were doing as he stated he would help you in any way he could. 

You were with Bruce and Pat Winklepleck as they sheeted and nailed. You were there as Walt Courtney helped deliver bag after bag of much needed ice. You were there as Christopher Curtis delivered a super message as he preached. You were there as Emily Curtis played the flute. You were there as Linda Curtis gave her testimony on healing. You worked with Jerry and Ida Bailey as they framed walls and cleared brush. You saw Ken Seymour as he and several teens installed trusses. 

You were there when we adopted the song “Faith, Faith, Just A Little Faith” as the theme song for our project, played and introduced by Richard Marks. You witnessed an engineer by the name of Brian Meister work in the hot sun with contractor Tony Trotter. You witnessed the State Lay Director Darryl Huyett and The Terre Haute Church Of God Lifebuilder’s Treasurer Bob Auterson donate over seventeen hundred dollars for the camp project. 

In addition you were there when Tim Russell from Christ Community Church gave a check for twenty-five hundred dollars and stated that this was an installment and more would come at a later date. You were there when a man on oxygen drove to the campsite and wrote a check for five hundred dollars, then simply drove away saying this should have been done twenty years ago. 

You were a part of the reason a local contractor donated five hundred dollars. You were a part of the reason that a man making a small income gave one hundred dollars is cash after driving eight hundred miles, working two weeks and said “I just want to be a part of this camp” then left. You watched a dream come true for Gale Jarvis. Gale said “I’ve had never seen anything like this is my forty two years of being a Christian.” You heard Dorothy Reberger say: “awesome.” 

You witnessed Bob Auterson so tired he could hardly stand up due to lack of sleep. You watched the gentle spirit of one man not stand in the way of working for Jesus. He did the work of a twenty-year old man. His name is Bert Zuch. You worked with Dan Dragon, Shawn Royer and Herman Clegg as they decked cabin number two in sweltering heat and humidity. You were with Roger Fairchild who devoted a day to work on cabin six. 

You listened to Jack Pittman give a devotion about being able to help on this project. You listened to Randy McPike deliver a timely message that everyone appreciated. You watched as Beck’s Seed Company gave a substantial donation to the camp. You were a part of a group of people that raised money in various ways. One lady took one dollar and made noodles. She sold them for one thousand dollars. I am currently reminded of the passage that says, “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.” 

One bulldozer, five farm tractors, two backhoes, one dump truck, one semi- trailer and one old van were used on the project. Charles Taylor-The MWOA leader from Michigan had a heart attack while helping plan this project. He thought he just had indigestion, and drove all the way back to Michigan. You were there when the local Kiwanis donated five hundred dollars to the project then visited us at the project site. 

You were there when Brian Miller decided to stay another week to work on the project. You were there when I received phone calls from Hugh Carver and Charles Taylor to see how things were going. You were there when the following pastors arrived for work: Mager, Henderson, Switzer, Pyeatt, Leek, Fillers and Roschlein. You were a part of a group of people that arrived from Maryland, California, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee, Iowa and Indiana. 

You were present when one Christian newspaper and three local newspapers printed front-page articles about the project. You were there when two TV stations aired footage on the project. You were there to witness Church Of Gods, Assembly Of Gods, Four Square Churches, Baptist Churches, Independent Churches, Community Churches, Christian Churches, United Methodist Churches and Presbyterian Churches come together and work for a common concern: youth. 

You were a part of a project that touched an entire community in a good, positive and beneficial manner that will last for a very long time. You were a part of Mike Willison’s efforts to promote the project and MWOA through his personal web site located at ctministries.net. While promoting the camp project Mike’s hits on his web site jumped from fifteen hundred to seven thousand. There are many that really care about this project nationwide. 

You were there when every pastor in the Wabash Valley received a personal letter of invitation to visit the project. You were there when all churches and Christian organizations were challenged to send one man to visit this project. You were there when Perry Mager received a call wanting to rent the camp for three hundred children. You were there when Alan Bryant worked many hours editing and preparing a video about the project. 

You were there praying for this project months before it started. Your name is Landell Rayburn and you attend The Dexter Church Of God. You were there when Robin Myers mailed several hundred letters to area residents. Graham Myers helped Robin stuff the envelopes. You were there last winter when Kenny and Vi Kincaid drove their Ford to Michigan to present the youth camp vision to several churches. 

You were there when seventeen people signed up for this project in Sevierville Tennessee in February of 2002. You were there when this number then expanded to one hundred and sixty-seven by July of 2002. You were there when Barbara Seymour and Ida Bailey looked into the camera and shared what they felt about this project. You were there when the phone calls were made all over the United States. You were there when I got e-mail from Barbara Burns as Marvin Burns worked on the Ayden North Carolina church project with the Curtis family. Marvin felt God was directing him to work on youth camps inside the United States. 

You were there when I had a conversation with Ronald Ragan in Indianapolis and we agreed that we would pray for each other and our projects. You were there when Travis Girldler and I talked about this project. You were there when Charles and Audrey Taylor encouraged me. You were there when Indiana Administrative Bishop Jerry Chitwood said, “Jake, get the information to me and I will get it to the pastors.” Thank you Brother Chitwood. You were there when Leroy Burrell, The MWOA leader told me everything would work out. You were there when Stan Tribble volunteered my services. 

You were there when we realized that we were spending a lot of money, but knew that God had not brought us this far without having a plan. You were there when I read the letters from The Friendly Grove Baptist Church children. You were there when seventeen children from The Terre Haute Church Of God were taken to the camp and went fishing. Larry Bennett, Walt Courtney, Brian Meister, Darryl Huyett, Kevin Lawrence took the time for children that had never been to the country. Bert Zuch said he just kept seeing heads pop up out of the water line ditch as the kids played there. AJ Millar and Zech Bennett expressed their thanks by telling the MWOA thank you personally. 

You were there when Angie Millar and Tammy Auterson appeared live and on stage as The Sisters. You also witnessed tricky Dickie Burchell arrived in costume and with self-designed tools to keep the project on a steady course. He presented the house built by Dick. John Fisher installed it just a few feet south of cabin number seven. It is beautiful and should not be overlooked by inspectors. 

Bert Zuch opened the camp for tours even as we worked. This proved to be a pretty neat thing and several visited the project. Our hosts provided us with quality housing in their own personal residences. One could not ask for better accommodations or hospitality. When on a mission trip, this is special and you are permanently etched in the minds and spirit of those you housed for a period of two weeks. 

You were there when John Ptak sheeted cabin number seven in the heat of the day. You helped Laura Ptak as she used a skill saw to cut decking for team members on the roof of cabin four. You were there when Russell Vail and company arrived after spending a week on the Maine project. You were when my brother from Blue Ridge, Texas visited the project. You were there when my sister called to see how it was going on the project. You were there when Dick Burchell received a brand new, never rode four wheeler-somewhat small but pretty. 

You were there when we through our hats or gloves into the center of our prayer circles that we had every hour. What we threw into the center represented something we wanted God to help us do or get rid of something we did not desire. You were there when people cried. You were there when children worked as hard as adults and stated that they wanted to come back and stay in the cabin they helped build. 

You were there when Terre Haute, Indiana businessmen met and discussed what was taking place in Brazil, Indiana. You were there when Paul Fillers said he used to run the aisles; now he said, “I just stand and rock.” You were there when the camp passed out one hundred and forty four T-shirts for the workers. 

You were there in the prayer circle holding hands when I heard my name called out in prayer. Years ago when I was a child I would get to stay with my Grandpa and Grandma Hapenny. Grandpa would always have me pray and they would pray with me also. I would always hear my Grandma call her grandchildren out. I would hear Butch, Tom, John, Jerry, Avalon, Marybeth, Bobby, Phyliss, Johnny, Mike and Annette, Brad and Josh were not born yet. When I heard my name called out by my Grandma it made me feel safe from all harm and confusion. My Grandpa would always call me Jakey Lee, and his prayers always gave me comfort. Please remember to call the youth out by name, and hope that they hear your voice and know that they are loved and special gifts from God. 

You were there when our spouses and children joined us for supper and devotions from Ann Burchell, Bill Houck and Perry Mager. You were when Toby Wilbanks presented a mime that had us all laughing. It takes time to reflect, meditate and consider all that happened prior, during and after a project. This project was difficult to project and analyze because over one hundred and sixty-seven people worked on this project for various periods of time during the month of July. 

The Holy Spirit guided us through the entire project. The Holy Spirit provided us with engineers, heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, concrete finishers, carpenters, window and door installers, electricians, plumbers, brick masons and landscape professionals. The Holy Spirit also set into place an awesome team of crew leaders with an estimated one hundred and twenty years of experience combined. 

The key leaders were Dick Burchell, Kenny Kincaid, Bob Hansen and John Fisher. This leadership team created an atmosphere of love, gentleness and respect - a teaching environment in which everyone learned something new. These are some of the finest people with whom I have ever had the opportunity to work. 

You were there with Casi Jenkins, Shannon Jenkins, Raymond Kramer, Cheryl Bealmear, Donella Crane, Bill Parr, Everett Fulk, Shirley Parr, Marilyn Wells, Bette Fisher, Don Wells, Butch Johnson, Julie Pell, Annette Royer, Darrell Royer, Ron Chamberlin, Vickie Chamberlin, Bill Harbin, Esther Harbin, Rachelle Royer, Christine Loughmiller, Shawn Royer, Charlottie Whitty, Martha Fillers, Dorothy Reberger, Beverly Sampson, Helen Loughmiller, Rozanne Aker, Paul Fillers, Norman Nelsn, Wilma Bayer, Thomas Bayer, Bret Lee Hodge, Gary Hodge, Carol Hansen, Marty Hansen, Bob Hansen, Sharon Donovan, Lorien Martin, Denise L. Fisher, Heather Mager, Josh Mager, Greg Mager, Jeremy Bussing, Dawn Johnston, Richard Jenkins, James A. Bush, Peter Donovan, Mary Hodge, Carol Lohse, Dave Bigney, Dave Myers, Garry Myers, William E. Scott, Kevin Cox, Bryant Shelton, Charlotte Crafton, Alan Bryant, Ramona Bryant, Justin Cox, Charlie Hapenny, Avalon Hapenny, Matthew Vail, JC Cox, Thomas Zentko, Shauntia Quillen, Nikki Vail, Raja Hollifield, Russell Vail, John Henderson, Lucille Wood, William Wood, Leroy Burrell, Brenda Burrell, Toby Wilbanks, Aquila Martinez, Willard Ellis, Jiarus Martinez, Ray Martinez, Larry Pyeatt, James Dixon, Landell Rayburn, Shelly Morgan, Bruce Winklepleck, Walter Courtney, Christopher Curtis, Rusty Tryon, Wilma Phelps, Mary Tryon, Jean Brown, Crystal Grubbs, Tiffany Grubbs, Joni Ditto, Betty Brown, Emily Curtis, Shirley Lintz, James D. Pridgen, Harold Curtis, Kimberly Curtis, Christina Pridgen, Alexia Pridgen, Joshus A. Curtis, Linda Curtis, Jessica Puckett, Justin Liguori, Ronald L. Bond, Ben Pridgen, Dyan Hutchison, Beth A. Grubbs, Brandye R. Lawson, William A. Houck, Jerry Bailey, William Bradley, Ken Seymour, Richard Marks, Kenny Kincaid, John Davis, John Bealmear, Steve Crane, Brad Chamberlin, John Fisher, Charles A. White, Brian A. Meister, Tim Russell, Paul Reberger, Joy Jarvis, Don Loughmiller, Mark Caddell, Tony Trotter, Darryl Huyett, Bob Auterson, Gale Jarvis, Burt Zuch, Richard S. Jenkins, David Jenkins, Julie Reeves, Bryon Miller, Brittany Jenkins, Holly Scott, Melissa Clemmer, Lauren Crafton, Herm Clegg, Charles Taylor, Audrey Taylor Marvin Burns, Richard Burchell, Ann Burchell, Dan Dragon, Roger Fairchild, Jamie Switzer, Butch Leek, Mike Kiger, Bill Reberger, Margaret Badowski, Peggy St. Amouv, Pat Winklepleck, Audrey Abernathy, Marilyn K. Beaty, Evelyn A. Holler, Kathy Yowell, Terry Webster, Randall McPike, Jammie D. Holler, Marty McPike, Imogene Crague, Penny Mattingly, Judy Pruner, Lucille Parker, Daniel Balty, Mary E. Chaney, Dennis Sanders, Amy Meister, Rick Burchell, Rene Bose, Jeff Bose, Jerry Floyd, Dale Yockey, Mary Beth Hill, Doreen Neff, John Ptak, Laura Ptak, Kenny Crabb, and Mike Willison, and many more that have escaped my memory momentarily.

The ten buildings, twenty-four by thirty-six somehow now seem insignificant to what we saw in the faces of other Christians we were helping. There is absolutely nothing fancy enough or big enough or loud enough to illustrate the emotions I felt, the desire I witnessed or the accomplishments I saw with my own eyes. Truly this was a revival in the real meaning of the word. Each of you was a big part of it. You are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I love and appreciate each of you from Alexia (3 months old) to John Davis (eighty years old). In God’s eyes you are all children and that makes you special. 

God developed this team. He was the teacher and we were the learners. I learned a lot. The MWOA team leaves with more than they left. Our hearts are full of joy as we reflect on our time with you. I consider it an honor to be a small part of your life as we labored together in spirit, unity and love.

Special thanks to Dick Burchell, Bob Hansen, Kenny Kincaid, John Fisher, Charles Taylor, Hugh Carver, Bill Reberger, Perry Mager, Bradley Chamberlin and Gale Jarvis. May I close by just saying that you played a significant role that God ordained for you to do a long time ago. I thank you for being my mentors. I am one of the most blessed men on the planet. I do not want to stop sharing what I saw with my own eyes and felt in my own heart, but must close now until we visit and work again for The Kingdom Of God and His people. 

God’s Blessings On You Until We Work Together Again,

Jerry (Jake) Crafton, MWOA Project Leader, 
Friendly Benwood Community Christian Youth Camp Project Jul. 8-20,2002

Distribution: International Director, Men And Women Of Action, Hugh Carver
Indiana Administrative Bishop, Jerry Chitwood
Indiana Lay Director, Darryl Huyett
Terre Haute Church Of God Pastor, Dennis Sanders
All Names Annotated In This Report
 
 

 
 

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