Thanks to longstanding effort and dedication, Camp MiVoden has achieved a key goal by remaining under budget for two years in a row as of this year.
“This was possible because of the support of our Camp MiVoden vision to connect campers with Christ that we’ve seen from church members, camp alumni, camper’s parents, pastors, teachers, each member of our full time and seasonal Camp MiVoden staff, and UCC office staff,” said Jeff Wines, Camp MiVoden director since 2016. “Each person contributes something and that is so crucial to what we do here at camp.”
In recent years, Camp MiVoden has operated over budget for several reasons, including the lingering effects of the 2020 pandemic, rising costs and low registration in some camp programs.
While Camp MiVoden stayed open for summer camp in 2020, the accompanying lack of facility rentals for five months during the pandemic and the additional costs of running camp created a deficit. However, given time, Camp MiVoden’s facility rentals resurged due to the work of Caleb Foss, Camp MiVoden program director who works with rental groups that use Camp MiVoden year-round. In the past few years, Camp MiVoden has remained booked nearly every week from UCC ministry events, church retreats and rentals to other organizations.
To address financial shortages, Wines worked with Camp MiVoden board members and UCC administration to compare the average support of camp ministries from Adventist conferences in North American Division. They found that UCC was below the median average. A plan was made to gradually raise the annual conference support for Camp MiVoden to the lower end of the average.
“To be clear, Camp MiVoden is a ministry first and foremost and always will be; however, good stewardship means we have to make decisions to keep this camp ministry running with what God has provided,” said Wines.
Camp MiVoden began its mission to connect campers to Christ in a wholistic outdoor environment in 1940, providing a ministry of hope for youth as the world descended into WWII. Eighty-five years later, Camp MiVoden’s ministry remains crucial as it specifically grows the spiritual life of campers, families and young adults.
Camp MiVoden has a unique ability to connect people with Christ who would never set foot in a church building. Camp forms a first impression for many Adventists.
Research sponsored by NAD Camp Ministries found that 50% of campers reported that their spiritual life grew because of their experience at camp, and nearly 65% of campers saw an increase in their spiritual identity.
“Camp MiVoden is a special place,” said Wines. “There’s a unique community at camp, like the fellowship of believers found in Acts 2. You don’t find that just anywhere.”
