Return to flip book view

Message Reflections Spring-Summer2025Looking Forward... by STEPHANIE GEHMAN, CEO: I’m excited to write my first Reflections letter since taking over as CEO in January. I have vivid memories of reading Reflections as a child, and always hoped my tent’s picture would make the cut! Sadly, that was not to be. During the 2008 building campaign, I remem-ber reading with excitement about the construction of Spruce Lodge. It was encouraging to see the Lord’s provision and guidance as Spruce Lake stepped into new and unfamiliar space.God is again taking us into a new space as Mark has passed the baton to me. It is my heartfelt prayer, day after day, that the Lord would continue to guide and lead us into this new chapter just as He led us in the past. As we move ahead, it might be valuable to share my own experiences at Spruce Lake, and my heart for Spruce Lake Ministries.I grew up in the Doylestown Mennonite congregation, which has longstanding ties to Spruce Lake. As a child, I attended summer camp and made many core memories there. Camp was fun! I belonged there. I felt free there, and knew that I would encounter God! I remember Sterling Edwards as “Grandpa Ed” and Charlie Ness telling us wonderful stories about God’s creation. More importantly, they told us how the Lord who made this world saw us and loved us. I loved being at camp and looked forward to the day when I could FINALLY be a counselor!In the summer of 2006, I was in the Sta-in-Training (SIT) program (now Leaders in Training), which gave teens the opportunity to learn about camp. My fellow SITs and I spent our days helping around camp, shadowing sta members and learning more about the Lord. I saw the community of believers in action and ... I....was....hooked! I returned the next two summers as a counselor and again in 2011 in a leadership role. During those years, I met and married my husband, Jesse, who was also on sta. We knew that God’s plan for us >>More LOOKING FORWARD Stephanie Gehman in 2011, as a Wilderness Camp team leader. involved Spruce Lake, but we had no idea what that plan might entail.Over the next 13 years, both Jesse and I pursued our careers in athletic training. I loved the challenge of sports medicine, and before too long, began moving into management positions. God used that time to develop my instincts, skills and experience as a leader, preparing me for a new adventure at Spruce Lake. That came in January, 2024, when I became Youth Ministries Director for both Pinebrook and Spruce Lake. The rest, as they say, is history. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as this ministry’s CEO. I am filled with honor and respect for the many leaders who came before me, and who stewarded the resources God has given us. The Lord has blessed us with two incredible campuses where He continues to meet people in powerful ways.I came back to camp because I believe in its power to change lives. Our Lord meets, redeems, and heals people on these properties. It’s His grace and abundance which continue to sustain Pinebrook and Spruce Lake so that He may be glorified through all who encounter Him here.“I came back to camp because I believe in its power to change lives.”

sprucelakecamp.orgLooking Forward > from page 1We have an incredible opportunity in the coming year! Thanks to the generosity of faithful donors like you, we have been blessed with 16 new cabins at our Youth Campus. The first eight cabins were broken in last summer for our female campers. They were a huge hit! We saw strong growth in female camper attendance, and the feedback from those girls was impressive.January 2025 opened up the second set of eight cabins for use by our winter IGNITE participants. Every cabin was full that very first weekend! This enabled us to serve guests at the Retreat Center in spaces that had previously been tied up by IGNITE. We were able to serve large groups in Spruce Lodge, and also fill the smaller Mountainside Lodges! It has been a blessing to see God working through these new spaces, and I’m so thankful for the gift they are to our ministry.Our goal in 2025 is to continue filling the Youth Campus. Our young people face an epidemic of loneliness, a rapidly changing world, and a culture which tells them “anything goes.” That’s not the truth of God, and it has created a dicult environment for our kids and teens. But praise the Lord, the environment they will experience at camp is vastly dierent!At camp, we teach the Word of the Lord, we tell kids they matter to God, and we encourage them to wrestle with dicult questions. Because that’s where God meets us. He finds us in our brokenness and vulnerability. He meets us through community with other believers; His Word never fails.Summer projections predict a big year at the Youth Campus! Camp registrations are tracking ahead of prior years in nearly every measured category. If you’re waiting to sign up your kiddos for camp, don’t sleep on it—spaces are filling fast! Please join us in praying for the kids who come, the team who will lead them, and the speakers who will share the love of Christ with each one.THANK YOU for the many ways you bless this ministry,Our Goal in 2025:Focus on YOUTH— Summer Camp registrations are well ahead of last year at this same time!— People are responding positively to the new cabins!— Registrations for Pinebrook Day Camp are increasing; we’re hoping for 90 kids each week!Pray with us:— That God would meet each of the 1,000+ kids who come to camp this year.— For each counselor who leads the campers, and for speakers who share the love of Christ.Why CAMP?— It’s a safe, welcoming, encouraging community.— We teach the Word of the Lord through our actions, speech and worship.— We show and tell the kids they matter to God.— Kids are encouraged to wrestle with their dicult questions, because that’s where God meets us.PHOTO from 2011 when CEO Stephanie Gehman was a camp leader. 2024 Photo: Summer campers talk together about faith and life.Stephanie Gehman, CEO Spruce Lake MinistriesRegister for SUMMER CAMP today!

Ministry ImpactFacelift at the gym Spruce Lake’s Fitness Room in Lakeview Program Center is getting renovated, THANKS TO GREG GUEMPEL and other volunteers who attend August Family Week every year.We expect work to be finished by the start of the summer, with new:• Gym flooring• Paint• Workout mirrors• Updated exercise machinesWhen we exercise, we can take the opportunity to express gratitude to God for the gift of a healthy body and the ability to move!50th AnnualGolf Tournament,JUNE 9 For 50 years, summer campers have been blessed by the huge support that comes from our annual tournament. THANKS to Indian Valley Country Club for faithfully hosting this event.• GOLF - morning & afternoon• LUNCH included w/either round• Full-course DINNER• AUCTION of tickets to special events and unique gifts.sprucelake.org/events/golf for Youth Groups!IGNITE Summer CampsWe take care of everything so you can FOCUS on nurturing RELATIONSHIPS with the youth, and igniting their FAITH & passion for Christ!May 30-June 1 FRI.-SUN.Grades 9-12July 27-31 SUN.-THU.Grades 6-12“Over the past year, it has been amazing to ‘Watch God Work’ through Youth Ministries. We are excited to see what’s in store for the year ahead!”by JOSH REICHART, Youth Ministries Program Director: (excerpts from a report to the board, February 2025)n Outdoor EducationWe have 25 schools coming this spring! Though this program is ending, we have wanted to keep the high quality experience that schools have learned to expect from us, and we were able to achieve that.n True North AdventureTrue North is our new educational program which debuts in the fall, 2025.We are meeting with each Outdoor Ed group to introduce them to True North. As of this issue, 10 schools are already committed, totaling over 400 participants for our first year!n Wilderness CampMany campers came because of the new cabins, especially kids who had never wanted to come before. Our counselors had powerful conversations about faith with campers, and many grew in their walk with God.n Day CampLast summer (2024), many campers took steps forward in their relationship with Christ. Two decided to get baptized. Another accepted Christ at home, and was excited to share with everyone at Day Camp. We continue to be blessed with tremendous sta who are passionate about kids and Christ.n IGNITE Youth EventsThis year (2025) we had the busiest season yet with Youth Campus lodging filled several times over the six weekends. We worked with 35 dierent youth groups from multiple denominations. Lodging everyone at the Youth Campus opened up space for guest groups at the Retreat Center. Next year we plan to add one more IGNITE weekend to the winter season.

Ministry Impact Retreat is like oxygen...“The messages were like oxygen in a long closed space!” —PASTOR-SPOUSE Retreat participant, February 2025Camp is pivotal point...“In our recent baptism of youth and young adults, one of the young men shared how Spruce Lake Summer Camp was a pivotal point in his faith journey...the testimonies we hear at baptism almost always have one ormore young people sharing that Spruce Lake greatly impacted their lives in some way!” —Youth Group Leader, IGNITE, January 2025The impact of a sacred space...“Spruce Lake is an amazing place that is filled with God’s holy presence. All of the sta and counselors are amazing people. I highly recommend this experience. We have been taking our daughter to Wilderness Camp and Family Camp for the past four years. She loves Spruce Lake and always looks forward to the summer!” —Guest review on Google, February 2025The power of a kind welcome...“Our son loved being outdoors, trying and learning new things while gaining a sense of independence and feeling accepted. He couldn’t wait to tell me about his daily camp adventures when I picked him up! Every person who interacted with him was kind, respectful and inviting and had such a positive attitude.” —Parent, PINEBROOK DAY CAMP, Summer 2024Loves Christ-centered focus...“Pinebrook Day Camp was truly a great experience for our daughter! We loved that Christian beliefs were emphasized! All the sta were supportive, responsive and caring to our daughter.” —Parent, PINEBROOK DAY CAMP, Summer 2024Miracles of salvation...“We wanted to disconnect from the city and connect closer to God, and God moved in a mighty way! Seven people committed their lives to God, and we believe miracles were received in Jesus’ name!” —Group Leader, PINEBROOK, March 2025What do guests & campers value?ABOVE PHOTO: PASTOR & SPOUSE RETREAT guests tried out Spruce Lake’s NEW high ropes course in Mountain View gym — and had a blast!RIGHT: JONI & FRIENDS Family Retreat guests had a great praise time last summer.FAR RIGHT: Gotta smile over these children laughing at AUGUST FAMILY WEEK 2024!Picture yourself at a summer retreat!SPRUCE LAKE EVENTSPINEBROOK EVENTSSuperb meal service It’s now a year since Pinebrook’s kitchen and dining room were reopened after the fire, a true blessing coming from tragedy. The Food Service team is doing a tremendous job, serving almost 95,000 meals this past year.Rising guest countsAt Pinebrook, the number of guests and the quality of their experience continues to climb. By early 2025, over 16,000 guests had experienced welcoming, gracious hospitality at Pinebrook. We are thankful for the ways God makes Himself known to our guests in various ways!Facility improvements Over the past year we’ve worked hard to upgrade guest spaces around Pinebrook, including:• 2 public restrooms at Overbrook;• Upgrades to meeting rooms in Stoneybrook and Echobrook;• As funding becomes available, we’d like to add a meeting room in the Guest Services building.