Even though there hasn’t been any precipitation recently (which generally results in no snow), we’re still able to operate the tube-run and snowboard run thanks to cold temperatures and several snow blowers.

While students do have to bring their own cardboard, we take care of the rest. From the ice-rink to the snowboard hill, and from the mechanical bull to the indoor climbing wall we provide plenty of unique, high-energy games and activities. And in the evenings, the Gospel is simply and clearly presented through our theme videos, worship band, and passionate speakers.

Watch the wrap up videos from this winter to get an idea of how we do camp!

Register below or by contacting Jocey Pearsey at jpearsey@gmail.com or 559.305.7625

Please register no later than 3 days before the dinner you’d like to attend. Table seating is first-come-first-serve.

View 2012 Hume Vision Tour in a larger map

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• Jeff Bachman: The Life of an Ant
• Jeff Bachman: The Tax Collector’s Brokenness
• Jeff Bachman: True Worship is a Mixed Soda
• Jeff Bachman: Wedding Days & Waterslides

Week 4: January 27-29, 2012

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• Jason Bollback: Friday Evening
• Jason Bollback: Saturday Evening
• Jason Bollback: Saturday Morning
• Jason Bollback: Sunday Morning

Week 3: January 20-22, 2012

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• J.R. Coleman: Friday Evening
• J.R. Coleman: Saturday Morning
• J.R. Coleman: Saturday Evening
• J.R. Coleman: Sunday Morning

Week 2: January 13-16, 2012

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• Mike Smith: Friday Evening
• Mike Smith: Saturday Morning
• Mike Smith: Saturday Evening
• Mike Smith: Sunday Evening
• Mike Smith: Monday Morning
• Dave Hansen: Living Missionally
• Joanna Abraham: Worshiping God When You Want to Blame Him
• Mike Smith: Q&A with Mike Smith
• Rachel Closs: Is God Enough?
• Reveal: Keeping Our Hearts Pure in Music and Worship
• Will Abraham: Facelift

Week 1: January 6-8, 2012

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• Chris Simning: Altars and Monuments
• Chris Simning: Saturday Evening
• Chris Simning: Scribbles of our Existence
• Chris Simning: The Superlative Pages

Typically, by this time in January Hume Lake has a healthy layer of snow covering the ground. This year however, there have only been two small storms, the evidence of which has since melted away. What’s left though is a fun view of ice forming on the lake and at it’s inlets and outlets.

To view more photos from this series, visit the January Ice gallery.

If you had your family picture taken on the lawn by the lake, visit the online gallery to view, download, and order prints.

• Jim Cecy: Sound the Trumpet
• Jim Cecy: People of the Towel
• Jim Cecy: G.R.E.A.T. Day

MINISTRY MASTER PLAN PHASE ONE: WAGON TRAIN RENOVATION
Over the past few months, the staff and Board of Directors have been busy envisioning a new Ministry Master Plan for the next season of Hume’s ministry. This next plan, encompassing about 10 years into the future, allows us to be more effective stewards of the resources that you, our donors, entrust to our care.

I was recently meditating on the “Parable of the Talents” in Matthew 25. One of the principles that stood out from this passage was that God expects His people to make worthy and wise investments with His resources. The slaves that received the rewards were the ones that used their Master’s money with entrepreneurial expertise. It begs the question, “How are we investing our Master’s resources to make the largest return?”

One area we see phenomenal spiritual return on our investment is Wagon Train, our camp for kids ages 8-11. This camp was started back in 1963. Kids live in covered wagons, enjoy creek walks, explore a frontier-era fort and discover a three-story tree house. It is a virtual wonderland of adventure.

For many Wagon Train campers, it is also the first time they have heard the gospel message presented in a way that is age-appropriate and relevant to the way they live. As a result, a large percentage of these campers make first-time decisions for Christ during their week at camp.

I wish you could listen in during the evening campfire on the last night of camp and hear them share their stories. Some would make you stand up and cheer as they announce their decision to be “all in” in their relationship with Christ. Spiritual victories are declared and new life in Christ has begun. Knowing many of them will never be the same again sends a chill up my spine. I smile as I think of the difference these decisions will make in eternity.

However, stories from other campers would break your heart. The pain that many of them bring to camp seems overwhelming. They share stories of parents who have recently divorced, grandparents who are dying of cancer, siblings in jail, relatives fighting overseas in Iraq and friends who are in gangs. These are heavy burdens for such little kids to carry at such an early age. Looking at them you would never know how much pain many of them bring to camp.

Knowing what these campers are going home to the next morning makes me grateful that they had the opportunity to come to camp. At least at Wagon Train, for one brief week in their lives, they had the opportunity to leave their concerns behind and live carefree lives as young children.

For close to 50 years, Wagon Train has been a place where young children have heard the gospel message presented with clarity. After so many years of high impact use, it is time we focus our efforts on providing a thorough renovation of this camp. Wagons that have endured the hardship of winter snows and summer heat are showing signs of fatigue. The Outpost building no longer accommodates the larger camps that we currently house. When it rains our campers are forced to huddle under a large outdoor tent for their meetings. Our kitchen, comprised of five semi-trailers, desperately needs a facelift. All these elements have served their purpose well, but are in need of significant improvement and deferred maintenance.

Our goal in the coming year is to renovate the Outpost, create an indoor meeting area with climate control and build a new stage area. We want to add a new outdoor dining pavilion and place a new façade around our kitchen. We also want to expand the recreational field and double the size of the pond around Fort Logan. These efforts will continue to make the Wagon Train experience one that will last for a lifetime.

I invite you to consider partnering with us as we focus our 2012 priority on Wagon Train. This is our first Ministry Master Plan project. The time and money spent upgrading this ministry resource will reap huge dividends in light of Christ’s “Parable of the Talents.”

Thank you for considering making an investment in the lives of our next generation. The gift that you provide will go a long way toward making a week of camp, a truly life-changing experience.

Support the Wagon Train Renovation by giving online.

SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Summer at Hume is often characterized as crazy. With around two-thousand students per week on the Hume grounds and another five-hundred or so at Hume San Diego, it’s no wonder. But our ministry to students doesn’t end after summer. Starting in mid-August, Christian School Ministries takes over the campus and for ten more weeks we run camp for Christian schools with a variety of programs. Spiritual Emphasis is our ministry to Jr. High and Senior High students, designed to set a spiritual bar for the students in the coming school year. Our Outdoor Education program is a science camp for fifth and sixth grade students that teaches them about the amazing world around us which our God has created.

From week to week, we shared the same theme Hume used this past summer called “All In.” As we looked at the early life of King David and contrasted his decisions with those of King Saul, the students saw that there is good reason David was called a man after God’s own heart. At each turn David made decisions based on what God wanted, even when it was hard. On the other hand, Saul’s decisions were based on a selfish desire for power and glory. It was such a pertinent theme for these students in particular, as they live in Christian environments and are taught all the right answers and the right way to act. Often these students do the right things they’ve been trained to do, but they’re not actually “all in,” giving God their everything.

There are a lot of differences between our Christian School Ministries and our summer camps. In a week of Spiritual Emphasis, rather than putting a lot of focus on recreation, each day the students participate in activities designed to teach them more about who God is and who they are in Christ. They may, for example, be part of a team building exercise, hike to a remote location or be challenged to face their fears on our climbing wall. Each afternoon, we set aside some solo time for them where they are challenged to spend time alone with God in the Word and in prayer.

During a week of Outdoor Education, students attend fun and creative classes in a beautiful environment they just can’t get in a school setting. One day they may learn about birds of prey or rock climbing. On another it might be wilderness survival or meteorology. In the evenings we have some fun recreation where we let kids be kids, followed by our evening meetings led by speakers who know their audience and communicate the gospel clearly for this age group.

It’s been a fun season with some exciting results. There were some first-time decisions for Christ and many students who recognized that they have not been “all in” to this point. We look forward to seeing what God will do through the Christian School Ministries program in the years to come.

Learn more about Christian School Ministries.

WE PROUDLY PRESENT: “THE STORYTELLER CHRONICLES”
The Hume Roadshow is a new venture created from a need to expand our children’s ministry to reach more people with the gospel. We will focus on partnering with our many Wagon Train summer camp churches. As we tour around California, our goal is to provide an evening event and an outreach opportunity for the whole family. Each show will be filled with fun and excitement, as well as a clear message of God’s grace and mercy.

The current children’s ministry at Hume Lake reaches many campers throughout the summer with our Wagon Train and Day Camp programs. Many lives have been eternally changed and affected through these ministries. However, our ministry has been limited to the summer months.

This winter, the Hume Roadshow is pleased to present, “The Storyteller Chronicles.” The first in this series of traveling shows, the Storyteller will bring his cleverly spun tales to audiences of all ages. It’s sure to be a fantastic journey of amazement and wonder. Through a series of unique tales and led by a wise, old storyteller, a young girl will discover truth in the most unexpected way.

Jesus Christ came to bring a message of love and mercy to all people. He often used stories to explain these spiritual truths to His audience. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, “The Storyteller Chronicles” will bring His message of forgiveness and love to young and old this winter.

For more information or to support this new ministry contact Kip Strawbridge

A NEW MINISTRY VENTURE
Over the past 10 years the Hume Ministries Board of Directors have received numerous requests to establish a camp on the East Coast much like the one that we operate here in California. Many youth ministry leaders who began their ministries in California have relocated to the East Coast but have not been able to find a camp program that operates like Hume. Over the years they have called and written, asking us to consider expanding to the other side of our country. Obviously, this is no small venture but if God is in the request, we want to be obedient to the call for His kingdom expansion.

In response to these requests we have been exploring camps and conference center locations throughout the East Coast. Along the way we discovered a camp located in the Berkshire’s of western Massachusetts. It’s comprised of 450 acres of pristine land with a beautiful 40-acre pond. Recent demographic studies revealed that one-third of the U.S. population lives within a three-hour drive of the camp. What a ministry opportunity!

In order to determine the feasibility of hosting a Hume ministry there we ran three weeks of camp on the property last summer. It was a huge success and we felt further compelled to move forward in the acquisition of the property.

Part of the miracle in this process was the price of the camp. While it was recently appraised at $5.5 million dollars, the current ministry is providing it to us for only the cost of retiring their debt. Together with some needed improvements, we can purchase this facility and have it fully operational for only one million dollars! At a recent meeting of Hume’s Board of Directors, the vote was taken to acquire the property and begin making plans to start camp operations in the summer of 2012. It was a bold step of faith and things are moving forward.

Why New England? This part of our country was once the birthplace of the Second Great Awakening in the early 1800’s. Revival camp meetings presented the gospel message and churches sprung up all throughout New England. It has a rich heritage of evangelical passion.

Now, decades later, the percentage of Evangelicals in this region of our country languishes. Many of the churches have succumbed to the pressures of postmodern theology and relativism. In essence, their light has died and it’s time for another revival and the resurgence of spiritual vitality. We believe God may be poised to do a fresh work in this part of our country and we want to be part of that movement.

As we move forward in obedience to God’s call upon Hume, we covet your prayers and financial partnership to make this dream a reality. As with the initial days of Hume’s beginning 65 years ago, men and women, led by God, established a camp in a remote part of our state with the conviction that it was God’s will. Over one million campers have come through Hume’s ministry since that time, and we are continually seeing the hand of God over Hume.

Starting a new ministry in such a remote part of our country is an audacious undertaking and unless God is in it, it is surely doomed to fail. However, as Jesus stated in Mark 9:23, “All things are possible to him who believes.”

Thank you for standing with us in this new ministry venture. Your prayers and financial contributions will allow us to present the gospel to a generation of young people who desperately need to be told that God’s Son is their only hope for finding meaning and purpose in life.

Support Hume New England by giving online. Designate “Hume New England” in the comment field

INTRODUCING THE NEW DIRECTOR OF PLANNED GIVING

With that in mind, Hume Ministries has asked David M. Harrison, J.D., to join our ministry team as the new Director of Planned Giving. David has spent his career as an estate planning professional with a charitable giving and tax law background. Prior to practicing law he was a financial planner specializing in estate and charitable planning. He has both practiced and taught estate planning.

If you, as a friend of Hume, are at that season of life where these matters need to be taken care of, then know that it would be our pleasure to serve you and your family during this process with helpful information and assistance.

This complimentary service is for families of modest or high net worth. Whether it is for traditional estate and gift planning or the more complex gifts of real property dona- tions, stock donations, business and corporate donations, etc., it would be Hume’s, and David’s, pleasure to come alongside you and offer any needed guidance.

Please contact David for more information
dharrison@humelake.org or 559-305-7611. He would welcome the chance to serve you!

TAKING HUME-STYLE CAMPS ACROSS THE WORLD
This past October, Hume International set out with a team of twenty people to bring camp to the missionary kids of Thailand. Partnering with Grace International School, we were able to put together a program up in the mountains of Chiang Mai for over four hundred students.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by our hosts and shuttled by songthaew (a taxi pickup truck) to the camp facilities. Our next few days were spent acclimating and setting up camp. All the necessary gear to do that had been compiled and flown over in only seven bags! The students loved playing recreation. They participated in intense games of Kajabe, the Human Slingshot and barefoot tug- of-war in the middle of the jungle.

Chapel times especially stood out. With a speaker and full band, we were able to provide an experience that the students will never forget. Using last winter’s theme, our speaker Chris Schultz (The Well Community Church) taught on being “filled with all the fullness of God.” In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he prays that the believers may understand God and His immense love for us. Sharing the truth of God’s love with these kids was incredible.

When camp was over, a junior higher gave one of our staff a hand-written letter. Inside she expressed her gratitude for everything we had done. She and her friends had been so excited that Hume was coming. These camps are something these students look for- ward to. At the end of her letter, she stated that coming every other year wasn’t enough. With more signatures than I could count, she and her classmates signed a petition for Hume to bring camp every year.

At the end of our trip we were given the opportunity to visit a Buddhist temple. The Thai people walked around whispering prayers, lighting candles and receiving blessings from monks; promising success in everything they do. Even though Christianity in Thailand isn’t outlawed, over ninety percent of the nation is Buddhist. As Christians, our hearts were heavy.

On one of our last nights, we were invited to a lantern lighting ceremony. Hundreds of local people gathered in a field to mediate and pray. When the time came, we were told to light our lanterns and let them fill with hot air. Suddenly it was like a beautiful sheet of glowing stars taking flight, filling the night sky. In Buddhist culture, the lantern lifting away is a symbol of karma being taken away.

Thailand is a beautiful country that is being affected by God through many missionary families. But there are still people bowing to golden idols, who need to hear the gospel of Jesus. Our relationship with Grace International School is the perfect connection for Hume Ministries to encourage and bring the gospel to the missionary kids of Thailand through camping ministry. Our hope is that these students will leave camp and share the gospel with the people in their country and everywhere they go!

Read the archive of the camp coverage and watch the wrap up videos

THE SWEET SPOT
Each year at the National Youth Worker Convention, Hume can be found in the exhibit hall running an over-the-top booth that shows youth pastors just how much we love partnering with them to make camp a truly life-changing experience.

This year’s booth was called, “The Sweet Spot.” This phrase describes not only our geographic location, but also our position in youth ministry. Hume, California is definitely a sweet spot—surrounded by the Sequoia National Forest and overlooking Kings Canyon. as a pAra-church orgAnization we’re definitely in the sweet spot between the excitement of a week at camp and the day-to-day ministry that youth workers do through the relationships they have with their students.

as youth pastors enjoyed the taffies, gummies, suckers, cotton candy, and caramel apples that our booth provided, we had the opportunity to dialog with them about camping and how it fits into their ministry plan. Our camp directors also took time to meet with youth pastors individually to ensure that Hume continues to be an effective tool for their ministry.

For the past two years, Hume has partnered with Thousand Pines Christian Camp to create a large recreation area in the center of the exhibition hall featuring pingpong tables, video games, couches and even indoor s’more roasting stations. This has kept the exhibit hall feeling fun and youthful while giving Hume yet another opportunity to engage with youth pastors and show them how much we love what we do!

Since playing disc-golf in the snow is exceedingly difficult, it’s usually not an activity that’s offered during New Year’s Family Camp. But this year, the lack of precipitation, freezing nights, and pleasant days have allowed us to offer families the best of both worlds—they get tons (literally) of man-made snow on the tube run and snowboard run and they get access to all the outdoor activities Hume has to offer.

View fullscreen on Flickr

While Hume provides plenty of fun and games for campers enjoyment, our mission is to clearly present the Gospel each evening in chapel with the hope that the Holy Spirit will transform the life of each student for His glory.

Without the partnership of those who spiritually and financially support Hume, we would have no ice-rink, tube-run, chapel, or staff! So please continue to donate and more importantly pray that Christian camps throughout the world would reach young people for Christ.

View fullscreen on Flickr

The O.K. Chalet is the refuge that campers and guests use all winter long to take a break from the snow play and winter activities. Inside you’ll find plenty of food and games to get you and your family rested, recharged, and ready to conquer the tube run once more.

View fullscreen at Flickr

Winter Camp at Hume Lake runs from January 6 through March 4 followed by a young adult winter camp March 9-11.

View on Flickr

• Jerry Huson: 1 – Friday Evening
• Jerry Huson: 2 – More than a Facebook Relationship
• Jerry Huson: 3 – Saturday Evening
• Jerry Huson: 4 – Sunday Morning

Visit the online gallery to view/download/order your father/daughter portraits

• Jay Foulk: 1 – Monday Evening
• Jay Foulk: 2 – Tuesday Evening
• Jay Foulk: 3 – Wednesday Evening
• Jay Foulk: 4 – Thursday Evening

Because of the popularity of the current ropes course, not all summer campers are able to participate. But with the Meadow Ranch course slated to be finished in time for Summer Camp 2012, every junior high camper will be able to enjoy a tree-top experience.

The ropes course is a gift from the Hume Ministries donors and staff alumni and will perfectly compliment the two other high ropes courses on property. It’s not too late to help fund the completion of this project, give online and put “Meadow Ranch Ropes Course” in the comment box.

Next time you’re on the ice at Hume Lake you’ll be able to visualize exactly what you’re standing on!

View on flickr

The team will be in Thailand for a little over two weeks running a Hume Lake style camp for the children of missionaries.

These Third Culture Kids face many unique opportunities and challenges because of their upbringing and lifestyle and it’s our privilege to run camp, minister to them, and fellowship with them.

Read more about the team’s ongoing experience on Hume News

October 28, 2011

Well, it is here. The last full day of camp. It’s been great to see God get a hold of the hearts of these juniors highers. Tonight, we had a time of extended worship after Chris was done with his message. It was so encouraging to see 100, 11-14 year olds worshiping God with all they have.

The name of the games today were spider ball and switch-a-roo. As fun as recreation is for the campers, it’s even more fun for us to pump them up. Team cheers, belly flop contests, and tons of extra points for having lots of team spirit are some of the ways we’ve been able to get them excited about Rec. The weather was also perfect the entire Rec time. We only had a few sprinkles fall on us and the rest of the time was beautiful.

Please continue to pray for our team’s safety and health. Also, for the campers as they get ready to head home tomorrow.

October 27, 2011

Life is fun but not always fair.

These junior highers are fast at everything. They run fast, they talk fast, and they eat especially fast. We’ve been running, swimming, belly flopping, throwing frisbees, trying to be king of four square, and tagging with campers like crazy. (And that’s just between meals and free time) Time really does seem to fly when we’re having this much fun.

The students got a double dose of chapel today. Chris presented the harsh truth of life being unfair and there’s always consequences for sin. Heavy subjects for these young minds but they’re up to the task. We started in Genesis with the story of Joseph to show that sometimes life is truly unfair and we don’t always know how God is working in our lives but we’re called to live out our faith in how we live, speak, and love. Life being unfair was easy for these jr. highers to relate to, the living out their faith in times of injustice is a challenge many will now begin to embrace.

As the day progressed, we moved into evening Chapel and the issue of sin. Chris helped the campers understand how sin in the moment can feel good but is never good for us just like junk food. (There were a lot of McDonald/Supersize Me references tonight by Hume staff so maybe we’re starting to miss American food…or just hungry for french fries) We never know how much the students absorb during Chapel but they really honed in on death as a consequence to sin. Not surprising since they have a tendency toward the dramatics. Many also found guidance in Chris’ advice to acknowledge their sin, be biblically formed, and have friends that they can be accountable when they encounter sin creeping into their lives. We’re not expecting these students to stop sinning but we’re prayerful that they might have new tools to help them deal with sin and know that God loves them unconditionally.

God loves us and that makes life even more fun. Please pray that we continue to make connections with the campers, the health and energy level of the Hume staff, and we have another full and fantastic day of camp.

October 26, 2011

Well, after a beautiful morning/early afternoon (as we like to call it, the calm before the storm), the junior highers showed up by the sang tows (or truck loads) and immediately the activities began.  Everything from swimming and taking it easy, to a four square tournament and the infamous human slingshot were utilized by the students this afternoon.  Needless to say, we are all excited for the next round of camp and getting to know another slew of campers.

Please continue to pray for what God is doing in the lives of all the students that have been experiencing camp.  Specifically, for the high schoolers who are now back at home, that they continue to process everything they learned during camp.  For the junior highers over the next couple days, that God opens their hearts for what they are going to learn at camp and, safety for all of us as we start Recreation tomorrow.  Prayer for the counselors that have joined us, that they be able to relate to their campers, engage in meaningful conversations and that those conversations turn into meaningful mentorships.  The topics and videos for the camp theme were designed for high school age campers, so please be praying God will be speaking through Chris and there would be a sense of understanding among the campers.  Finally, please continue to pray for health, safety, and energy for the Hume Team.  Thank you for all your prayers!

October 25, 2011

That’s a wrap!  High School camp has come to a bittersweet end.  We hope they’ve been filled with the fullness of Christ as we send them out.  Chris closed with a final reminder to the students from 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”  It’s hard to know what impact camp will have on the lives of the students but we hope that by slowing things down and getting out of the way, God was able to do great things.

We’re encouraged by the words spoken during closing by the campers, here’s a few quotes to help illustrate how they felt God moving in their lives over the past few days.

“Before I thought modesty was just about what I was wearing but now I know it’s also my thoughts. So instead of covering myself from head to toe, I’m going to start changing my thoughts.” A concept beyond her years that some still struggle with, she was touched by what was discussed during Girls Night.

“During camp I’ve been noticing the different ways God speaks to us. In how people worship and in nature.” We have been blessed with a beautiful location for the students to slow down from their busy lives of school, sports, and just being high schoolers. By slowing down, many of them were able to experience God moments that opened their eyes to God’s greatness and power.

“I didn’t want to come to camp but everyone kept telling me it would change my life. But I didn’t want to because I had some other things going on. And then I did come and was able to slow down and spend time with God and that really changed me.” We don’t know how or who God will reach during camp. But as we faithfully made ourselves available to serve, He’s been able to change lives.

We are blessed to have so many gifted servants as part of the Hume team.  One member of our team, who is rarely seen on camera, put together an awe inspiring Rec wrap-up video which you can see below.

As we gear up for jr. High camp to start tomorrow, the team took time to go relax. We spent the evening at the night bazzar and had some truly Thai experiences. Some people picked up t-shirts and watches, others had fish nibble their feet to help improve circulation. Hey, after a few days of Rec some of our feet really needed the attention.

Please keep us in your prayers, that we be overflowing with the love of Jesus and have the energy to keep pace with the 100 jr. highers we’ll meet tomorrow.

October 24, 2011

We had a FULL day. We’re exhausted and excited about how camp’s been going. Thank you for your continued prayers and we can’t wait to send you the camp highlights tomorrow.

October 23, 2011

We want more!  This morning kicked off with a great morning worship session with an impressive turn out considering we tired them out the night before with an epic game of dodgeball.  Just picture a David vs. Goliath match-up of a few fearless counselors vs. 200 campers (talk about stacking the odds).

Most of our Hume team was stretched out of our comfort zones and encouraged to teach a seminar to the student about what God has been teaching us.  The topics ranged from Seeing Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, to the Anatomy of a Disciple, to How to Be a Ninja (or really, How to Share Your Story).  All in all, the campers had quite a few to choose from and, hopefully, God was able to speak through us today.

Recreation has begun! A part of camp that many campers have been waiting for in eager, competitive anticipation.  The Rec guys did a great job (of course) of picking games to play that get everyone involved; Kajabee, Cross-fire, Spider Ball, and Switcher-roo.  I know what you’re thinking, “What?  I’ve never heard of those games in my life.”  Well, just trust us. They are high energy, action packed games.  Let the pictures speak for themselves. (Unfortunately, we did not include Switcher-roo in the collection because pool and camera don’t mix well)

Each Chapel talk is introduced with an amazing stop-motion video that provides a visual connection to the evening’s topic.  (Here’s a link to see how the videos are made at Hume by our very own Rec guy Kip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0gjlUnpcok) Tonight, Chris spoke about sin and how it infects our lives.  Much like how a fly gets trapped in the seductive look of a spider’s web, if we are not careful sin can damage and engulf our lives.  He used Genesis 3 and 2 Samuel 11 to show how easy it is to let sin in and Hebrews 12:5 to remind everyone of the redemption and discipline that comes through Christ.

Please continue to pray for camp as we cross over the halfway mark.  For the campers: that God is continuing to fill their hearts; that they would choose to seek Jesus and make their faith their own. For the counselors: that they are taking every opportunity to hangout with the campers that are in their groups and relationships are made that last long after camp is over.  For the Hume Staff: We need our Voices to stay strong all week long, especially those in the Band and leading Rec (Chris, Matt, Allison, Daniel, and Kip), and that God is continuing to work in our lives and we are sensitive to what He is doing around us.

October 22, 2011

Today was the day and we’re loving it!  We’ve been preparing diligently for camp to start and I think some of us were starting to get a little anxious for things to get going.  And today, we definitely got it going.  The students arrived in the sang tou loads.  We spent the afternoon checking students in and jumped right into starting to get to know who these kids are and if they are brave enough to get in the human slingshot.

Kip and Daniel started Chapel off with an epic candy toss to the crowd and the students were instantly excited.  It’s crazy how quickly you can get the attention of the crowd once you’ve offered them free sugary treats.  The only thing that could follow the Rec opening was the Band.  Matt, Allison, Sean, David, and Paul led an incredible worship session.  If you ever get the chance to listen to 300 students singing worship, don’t pass it up.  These students might live half way around the world but they sang out boldly to the last song, “He Loves Us.”

Fill, Full, Fall is the camp theme and Chris started us off with the story of Solomon, a man who in the world’s view lived the good life in every way.  Yet at the end of his life, Solomon writes the book of Ecclesiastes and together we looked at the reflections of a man who had so much and yet was not filled and did not have a full life (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11).   As we continue on, our prayer for these students is that they come to know that the only thing that can fill us is the Living Water (John 4: 10-15), that God offers us a fullness found nowhere else and, being centered in Christ, God’s love overflows from us and falls onto those around us.

Please keep the entire camp staff in prayer that we may be overflowing with the love of God, that the passion of these students continues all week and well past the time we return home, and for the unplanned moments that God uses to do great things.

October 21, 2011

There’s a small chance we’ve been offending people since we stepped off the plane.  Thankfully, after an excellent Thai Cultural Training session this morning, we’re much more aware of just how bad we were.  We covered the basics with Hello, My name is, and Thank You.  Maybe one of the most popular phrases we learned was “Mai bpen rai”(It’s Okay). The Thai people are constantly smiling and there’s a lot of importance placed on saving face.  Lots of grace has been shown to us and we’re happy to be able to communicate with the staff at the hotel.

And, since eating is part of the Thai culture, we rewarded our 5-tone language efforts with a tasting of the various fruits, juices, sweets and savories offered in Thailand.  Besides the traditional Thai ice tea, there was tamarind juice which a few ventured to try.  The fruits were a big hit by all, including the dragon fruit, it has the texture and seeds of a kiwi, and the longan fruit which was a bit sweeter than lychee.  According to our cultural training, to avoid offending our hosts if you don’t like a food you can response with it’s “Interesting.”  For many who tried the durian fruit for the first time today, it was Interesting (and really smelly).

As we approach the start of camp tomorrow, we’ve got four good Rec games ready for the students. It’s great that we practiced because we had a few minor bumps and scrapes.  Like everything else, it’ll be better once the students arrive.  Thankfully the band was able to get all the remaining equipment they needed so we’ll be ready to rock out the worship.  We have been blessed with absolutely amazing weather, no rain, and we would appreciate continued prayers for more of the same as we move through the camps.  Prayer for the counselors that will be joining the students is another big request as many are counseling for the first time.  We expect 278 high-schoolers this weekend, and request prayer for the safety of the Hume team, students, and counselors.

October 20, 2011

We’ve arrived!  And we’re working on the conquering part as we type…we’ll do our best to send out an update every couple of days.  Please feel free to forward to others who would like to share in our journey.

After our arrival yesterday, with all our luggage (nothing lost or taken away), we were met by the Grace International School welcoming crew.  We loaded up a few sang taos (pickup trucks with benches in the back, luggage up top) and headed off to the have lunch at the school.  Classes were in session but we got to meet a few friendly faces between classes and look forward to getting to know them more during camp.

The Suan Bua hotel is just up the road from the previous location, set outside Chiang Mai in the mountains.  It’s beautiful lush greenery and spacious outdoor areas will be a great new home for the Hume Camp on Saturday.  The team took some much needed down time to recover from our travels.  After settling in a bit, we regrouped for dinner.  The dinner orders ranged from so spicy you cry to the traditional hamburger and fries.  Much like getting over jetlag, we’re all settling into our new surroundings at a different pace.

Setup is moving along.  There’s band practice and rec games, even a few human slingshot sessions to help us all get prepared for camp to start on Saturday.  We’re learning to be patient with our communication and hope to learn a bit more about the Thai culture with a few lessons tomorrow.  We’d love prayers that our hearts are open to what God’s doing in this place, we continue to grow together as a team, and that God continues to work in the hearts of the students coming to camp.

• Pete McKenzie: 1 – Thursday PM
• Pete McKenzie: 2 – Friday Morning
• Pete McKenzie: 3 – Friday Evening
• Albert Tate: 4 – Saturday Morning
• Michael Franzese: 5 – Saturday Evening
• Albert Tate: 6 – Sunday Morning
• Pete McKenzie, Albert Tate: Saturday Q&A Seminar
• Jason Knott: Friday Seminar
• Pete McKenzie: Saturday 1:15 Seminar

• Jeff Bachman: 1 – Sunday Evening
• Jeff Bachman: 2 – Tuesday Evening
• Jeff Bachman: 3 – Wednesday Evening
• Jeff Bachman: 4 – Thursday Evening

Purchase this photo from the online gallery

• Ryan Suzuki: 1 – Monday Evening
• Ryan Suzuki: 2 – Tuesday Evening
• Ryan Suzuki: 3 – Wednesday Evening

Purchase this photo from the online gallery

This retreat also features dozens of other activities including off-road tours, a high ropes course, fishing, paintball, and more.

And more than just a fun weekend away, multiple chapels and seminars focus on what Scripture can teach us about being a godly man.

• TJ McDaniel: 1 – Monday Morning
• TJ McDaniel: 2 – Tuesday Evening
• TJ McDaniel: 3 – Wednesday Evening
• TJ McDaniel: 4 – Thursday Evening

Purchase digital downloads and prints of this photo from our online gallery.

• Kristin Miller: Adopted Into The Royal Family
• Laureen Mgrdichian: Contentment – Issue of the Heart
• Lisa Ritter: Standing Firm Under Pressure
• Melanie Bernard: Live Life!
• Peggy Rupple: 1 – Friday Evening
• Peggy Rupple: 2 – Saturday Morning
• Peggy Rupple: 3 – Saturday Evening
• Peggy Rupple: 4 – Sunday Morning

Shep, Boone, and the Creative team work together on an upcoming Hume program called, “The Storyteller Chronicles”.

This traveling road show will be coming to a church near you to present the gospel in an immersive storytelling and stage performance format that won’t just be fun for the whole family, but will serve as a powerful evangelistic tool as well. Stay tuned to www.humelake.org/ or subscribe to our monthly newsletter to learn more!

Earlier today I took a family on a tour of our extended Hume Lake facilities. They had stayed an extra day in one of our lodges after coming to pick up their two daughters from their week at Wagon Train. It had been a memorable week for their two girls and they wanted to see and hear more about our ministry.

Throughout the tour, one of the little girls kept bursting into tears as she saw reminders of her week at camp. The afternoon at Fort Logan where she had paddled her kayak, Long Meadow Field where she played her recreation games, and the Action Bible she received at camp all brought back fond memories of her time at Wagon Train.

The part of camp that brought her to tears the most was when she spotted her Hume staff counselor in the Dining Hall and ran up to give her a big hug. While the wagons, meetings, and great activities provided fun and excitement, it was the love and compassion brought by her counselor that had the most profound impact on her life. I was touched to see the bond that was created in just one week.

I began to reflect on the many Hume campers that would return home from their week of camp and the tears that would begin to flow. Some of our Wagon Train campers are sent to camp while their parents finalize their divorce separation.

The child returns home to a living situation of their greatest fear. Likewise, we have Meadow Ranch and Ponderosa campers who come from homes marked by physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and a wide range of addictions. When they return home and contrast it with their week at camp—the tears flow.

I am grateful for the nearly 20,000 campers that visited Hume this summer. We may never know on this side of eternity just how much of an impact a single week of camp can have on a child in need. The speakers provide a clear gospel presentation of hope and salvation in Jesus Christ. Our counselors help them apply the Bible-based message to their unique life context and many of them make decisions which connect their lives to a loving Heavenly Father.

This summer’s theme was “All In” and it challenged young people to examine their lives and explore the possibility of making a decision to give complete control of their lives to a living God who cares very deeply for them. The results were overwhelming as campers accepted the challenge and committed their entire lives to following Christ. They wanted to be “All In” in their relationships with God.

One young camper wrote on his decision card, “I felt so distant from God. Even if I tried I could never fully run from Him. He never really let go of me. This year at Hume God really showed Himself to me. I don’t want to be a luke-warm Christian anymore. I’m all in.”

Another young camper simply wrote, “All my sins have been forgiven. I am clean now.” Imagine the joy this young camper feels, recognizing that God has forgiven her sins and she now has an eternal relationship with a God who cares very deeply for her. One main focus of our ministry at Hume is to present the gospel to everyone who comes in contact with our ministry. Whether it’s a camper here at Hume Lake or a foreign student in a third-world country experiencing “Hume-in-a-Can,” we are passionate about presenting the gospel message of salvation in Christ. It’s what we’re called to do and it will always be a major thrust of our ministry.

In addition to all the events and activities at our summer camps, we have also spent a great deal of time developing a new Ministry Master Plan for Hume. This 10-year plan will focus our energies and activities for the foreseeable future. It will be presented to the Hume Ministries Board of Directors this Fall and discussed in detail. It is our intention to unveil the future of Hume Ministries at the Vision Dinners in the winter.

As we transition into our Fall Adult Retreats and look forward to our Youth Winter Camps, I want to thank you for your continuing partnership with Hume Ministries. It’s our desire to present the gospel message to families, adults, and young people here in North America and throughout the world as God provides us with opportunity and capacity. Your prayers and financial support help make that possible.

by Jeff Sanford, Meadow Ranch Recreation Leader

The Lord often uses us at the most unexpected times to do His work. One Tuesday night I found myself in need of some recouping alone time after a long and tiring day of yelling, screaming, and belly flopping. Just as I was heading to the Lake for some necessary respite, I saw a young boy named Luke, sitting on a railing, crying. I thought to myself, “I have nothing left to give, I’m exhausted.” But it was clear that the Lord placed him in my path. I asked him what was going on and he said, “I just wish God would give me a hug.” I had the opportunity to be a hug from God for this hurting kid. It is clear to me now that God was using me, despite that fact that I had other plans for that time.

For the next 30 minutes Luke told me that he was extremely lonely, misunderstood, and hopeless; to the point of entertaining notions of ending his own life. I didn’t know where to start, and I in my fatigue continued to ask God to give me the words and the wisdom that Luke needed. I shared the parable of the prodigal son with him, and I myself  was taken aback when these words  of the parable came forth, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

There, in that moment, a young man wishing that God would give him a hug heard that God runs to those who are broken and shrouds them with his loving arms. By the time we were done talking, Luke was comforted and lit up. I am so thankful the Lord allowed me to be a part of this kid’s life, and that now Luke knows that he is loved by a good and gracious Heavenly Father.

For information visit humelake.org/meadowranch

Ponderosa: High School Summer Camp
by Rachel Closs, Assistant Director of High School Ministries

A lot of people have the misconception that Hume is just about fun and too into recreation. However, this misconception was totally shattered by one recreation team this summer, the Lonesome Doves, who truly got the meaning of the whole week. This recreation team totally killed it all week long with a group of super senior guys and really excited girls who were on a mission to win the coveted championship t-shirt. They came into Friday’s recreation in 1st place and having done memory verses all week long, were pretty confident they would win. As they started to take off for the Great Race, one of their counselors who was in a wheel chair cheered her team on and encouraged them, saying she would meet them at the finish line in hopes that they’d take 1st place.

Throughout the week God had been working on a lot of the guys on this team. The night before, many of them had found themselves humbled by God during chapel…staying late and breaking down. They looked at each other, and in unison committed to the fact that there was no way they were going to leave her behind. So they carried her through the entire race and ended up coming in 17th place for the Great Race and 2nd place for the entire week. But there has never been a team that celebrated as much as they did for taking 2nd place, because at the end of the day they realized that the unity and commitment to each other far outweighed a championship t-shirt. They truly understood the meaning of Christ’s love and displayed it beautifully.

For more information visit humelake.org/ponderosa

Wagon Train: Kids Summer Camp Ages 8-11
by Wagonmaster Shep, Director of Children’s Ministries

Sunday night began like any other week of camp. As I dismissed the kids from chapel, a young boy stood awkwardly in front of me. I asked him if he had ever been to camp before. He replied, “No, this is my first time.” He proceeded to explain with stunned hesitation, “I’ve never been to anything like this.” I felt a connection with him in his overwhelmed innocence and I knew he was in for a life-changing week. I offered my hand to introduce myself. “I’m Shep. What’s your name?” He replied with a smile, “Joe.” I encouraged him, “You’re going to have a great week. Have a good night Joe.”

The next evening at chapel, we took the campers on a crash course through the Bible from Genesis to Samuel using pictures. Joe came up to me again with his Bible in his hand. He said, “I learned a lot tonight. Thank you.” I responded, “I told you that you were going to have a blast.” As he walked away, I looked down and noticed he had no shoes on. I just smiled.

The following night Joe came right up to me again. “Hey Joe. What’s up?” He looked at the board where I had drawn a timeline that had a stop sign at the end of it. He asked with a bit of concern, “So, that stop sign…what happens after that?” I explained it to him briefly and walked him through what Jesus did for us on the cross. I explained how we don’t have to worry about the stop sign if we have Christ in our hearts and accept His gift of forgiveness. I then urged him to consider surrendering his life and accepting God’s forgiveness. He responded, “Oh yeah, I did that last night with my counselor.” I smiled, and we shared a high-five. I told him, “Well, then, I’ll see you in Heaven.” He smiled back. “Good night Joe.” “Good night Shep.”

For information about our junior high camp visit humelake.org/ponderosa

Hume San Diego: Junior High & High School Summer Camp
by Andy Conli, Hume SD Head Lead Counselor

Stone cold heart. Those three words described Kelli, a camper at Hume:SD in 2010 as she got in trouble for something which normally results in dismissal from camp. Kelli came into last summer dealing with a number of issues and her parents didn’t know what to do with her. They signed her up for camp as a last resort. Instead of sending Kelli back home where she would go back to the bad influences, our staff prayerfully decided, along with her parents’ encouragement, that camp was the best place for her to be. The decision was made to keep her with one of our staff members, Jena, for the rest of the week. Because of her interactions with not only Jena but the rest of the female staff, Kelli was able to witness amazing examples of women who loved God and did not need to look to anything else for fulfillment. They impacted her so much that she rededicated her life to Christ and determined to make drastic changes.

Shortly after Hume:SD last year, Kelli attended a two week YWAM camp in Hawaii and decided to stay there for an entire year to participate in their Discipleship Training School. Along with training, Kelli has participated in mission trips and wants to work with high school students so she can encourage them in their walks with Christ. Jena has been able to stay in touch with Kelli and has noticed an entire life change, not just merely an aspect. The girl with the stone cold heart has been transformed into a girl with a heart after God.

For more information visit humelake.org/humeSD

Wildwood: High School Discipleship Camp
by Evan Griffin, Director of Wildwood Camp

This being my first summer running Wildwood on my own, I approached the season with some apprehension. It’s been encouraging to hear from Youth Pastors and students alike not only how much they’ve enjoyed the summer, but how much God had impacted them this year at camp.

One story of God’s work involved a student from Bakersfield. This was unique simply because we don’t often get to hear the stories of students’ lives once they go home. His youth pastor emailed me soon after camp to pass on that this particular student was affected pretty quickly. On the drive home he was opening up to his youth pastor and didn’t seem to care who heard him. Then, when they got back to their church, he sat in the car with his mom for over an hour confessing things he’d been hiding from her. We teach students of the importance of bringing our sin into the light, so this was a huge encouragement to see students taking that concept seriously.

The same youth pastor shared that soon after camp, two of his students came to him saying that they wanted to take their faith more seriously and be more involved in youth group and join the student leadership team. These two students hadn’t come to camp, but had been so affected by the other students who had, that they recognized a need for change in their own lives.

As summer has come to a close, we’re continually encouraged by stories similar to these and feel absolutely privileged to be a part of God’s work here.

For more information visit humelake.org/wildwood

New England Keswick: Elementary, Junior High, High School
by Richelle Latona, Director of Christian School Ministries

Each week at Keswick we saw the Lord orchestrate His plan and purpose in the lives of the campers. Chris Simning flew out to be the speaker for the middle school week of camp. Chris absolutely captured the attention of the students on the East Coast. They loved his stories and his passion.

One heart that was changed was that of Ken Graves’ grandson. Ken has been a speaker at Hume for many years, and his daughter Jessica was the co-director of New England Keswick. Jessica, at the beginning of the week asked for prayer for her nephew that had come as a camper. Her family knew that he had never made his faith his own. He had been living with her family for a few years and was getting ready to move to California for military school. Their heart’s desire was to see this young man make a decision for Christ.

Chris’ words moved in his heart on decision night. Chris challenged the students by saying, “If you aren’t going to make the decision for Christ now, you aren’t going to make it someday down the road.” Jessica’s nephew stayed behind and asked Chris to pray with him that night to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

Jessica was overjoyed to share about her nephew that night with the rest of the staff. She encouraged the staff by saying, “All the work, time and sacrifice was worth it to know that my nephew’s life was changed for eternity at camp.”

For more information, visit humelake.org/youth

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER
Between the camps, retreats, activities and vacations associated with Hume, most people are unaware that we collaborate with, and invest in other camps all over the United States and around the world. Many of these camps have spent time at Hume learning about our camping ideas and philosophies. This summer we had the privilege of hosting and pouring into two international camps here at the lake; La Montana Christian Camps from Costa Rica and Eksderde from South Africa.

Recognizing that all we have belongs to God, we’ve also had the privilege of passing along our resources to those in need. For example, we gave Indian Hills Camp in Jamul, CA one of our fire trucks. We also passed along a bungee bull ride to Wolf Mountain Camp in Grass Valley, CA, and donated our old laptop computers to Student International for their ministry in the Dominican Republic.

Our Joshua Wilderness Institute students spent two weeks in the Dominican Republic this year working with Student International. Every year, our students also serve at Hartland Christian Camp, and at Rancho Sordo Mudo, a home and school for deaf children in Mexico.

About five miles from Hume Lake Christian Camps is the Bearskin Meadow Camp, which is run by the Diabetic Youth Foundation for campers who live with diabetes. This year we needed to replace the Ponderosa pool covers because they had lost their heating effectiveness due to frayed edges. Bearskin Meadow’s pool is smaller than ours, so when the tattered portion of the cover was trimmed, it fit their pool perfectly!

It is a privilege to partner with so many camps and ministries. As co-laborers for the Kingdom, we want to do everything we can to support the work God is doing through other camps, even if that means going down the road or around the world.

To support Hume Ministries with your finances visit humelake.org/support.

INFLUENCING KIDS FOR CHRIST
The mission statement of Hume Lake Christian Camps emphasizes our ministry to youth. Todd Pam is an alumni who not only learned what the mission of reaching youth for Christ means while he served on staff, but has continued to live that mission out in his own life.

After coming to Hume as a Meadow Ranch camper and hearing the gospel for the first time, Todd couldn’t help but return to camp every summer. Once he graduated from high school, Todd returned to Hume to serve, and then spent the next nine summers on staff. Evidenced by his time spent in just about every department, it’s safe to say that Todd Pam has always loved Hume Lake. During his time on staff, Todd also realized another love—ministering to kids. In fact, it was Todd who first started meeting with various staff during decision nights to pray for campers. Todd was part of the group who started asking counselors to fill out cards with specific prayer requests so they could pray more effectively. Of course, it was also Todd who performed ridiculous recreation skits in Meadow Ranch and had tons of fun counseling kids in Wagon Train. While working at Hume Lake, Todd Pam found and developed his passion for influencing kids for Christ.

While helping with a church-plant in downtown Chicago, Todd met his wife, Jill. They soon moved to Pasadena and had three children—Mackenzie, Harper and Everett. But Todd Pam loves kids; and three just wasn’t enough. So earlier this year, he and Jill packed up their family and headed down to Ethiopia to add one more. It was a life-changing experience for all of them as they spent time in Ethiopia getting to know 21 children at an orphanage, seeking to understand the culture and country. A proud dad, Todd is quick to tell stories of how his children showed Christ’s love to all the kids they encountered. And in May, they came home with five-year-old Kibru as the newest member of the Pam family. Todd said, “We had hoped to help out a little boy by adopting him, when in fact, we as the adoptive family have been blessed beyond our wildest expectations by the entire experience. In July, Kibru made his first visit to Hume, and while he still can’t communicate everything he is feeling, nothing made us happier than to see our Ethiopian boy frolicking in the lake at the end of the grassy lawn at Hume.”

And so it seems that Todd Pam has continued to live out the mission statement of Hume in his own life as one more child will get the opportunity to learn more about Christ at Hume Lake.

To check out all the fun stuff for Alumni visit humelake.org/alumni

Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability
At Hume Ministries, we are committed to facilitating life transformational experiences and leading individuals to Christ. In addition, we are committed to operating with financial excellence to ensure those experiences can continue for many years to come. An expression of that commitment is our recent membership to the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability (ECFA).

The mission of ECFA is “to help Christ-centered organizations earn the public’s trust through developing and maintaining standards of accountability that convey God-honoring ethical practices.” The ECFA logo is a symbol of commitment to financial excellence and adherence to seven rigorous standards, which are necessary for membership. ECFA’s seven standards (which can be found at www.ECFA.org) cover many facets of financial accountability, including doctrinal statements, use of resources, and guidelines in fundraising.

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 8:21, summarizes our commitment to you well, “We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

Look for the ECFA logo on all of our future publications! For more information visit ECFA.org

Labor Day Weekend
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Country Fair and/or our Staff Alumni Reunion! We had a great time seeing all of you and both events were a great success.

This year, we had many former Hume Lake staff in attendance at our reunion and enjoyed a great time of catching up with old friends. Any one who would still like to purchase an Alumni Memory Book can still do so by contacting Suzanne West at swest@humelake.org.

We are pleased to announce that the 2011 Country Fair raised a gross amount over $143,000 to go toward future needs and projects here at Hume.

Thank you for helping provide for us this year!

For information about our Country Fair visit humelake.org/countryfair

The morning sun illuminates the frosted grass on Ponderosa lawn and the snowcapped Wren Peak in the distance.

Hume Lake’s first snow and first freezing temperatures came this week along with the storm that brought winter weather to most of the west coast mountain ranges.

While rare, light snow flurries in October aren’t unheard of, and are a fun reminder of the amazing winter season that is just around the corner.

Want to come up and enjoy fall weather in the Sequoia National Forest? Check out our Men’s and Women’s retreats!

• Sheri Rose Shephard: 1 – Friday Evening
• Sheri Rose Shephard: 2 – Saturday Morning
• Sheri Rose Shephard: 3 – Saturday Evening
• Sheri Rose Shephard: 4 – Sunday Morning
• Kristin Miller: Adopted into the Royal Family
• Laureen Mgrdichian: Contentment – Issue of the Heart
• Lisa Ritter: Standing Firm Under Pressure
• Melanie Bernard: Live Life!

Hume staff pose for a group portrait in front of Ponderosa Lodge in 1972.

While the people come and go, Hume’s mission remains the same—to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you’ve ever been on staff, volunteered, contributed financially, or even simply attended a camp or retreat here at Hume, thank you for being a part of the ministry!

Check our more classic and historic Hume Lake photos on our gallery.

Students attending Hume’s Outdoor Education program dissect owl pellets and identify the various bones fragments to learn more about owls and their diets.

Outdoor Education and Spiritual Emphasis make up Hume’s Christian School Ministries, providing teachers and students an authentic mountain experience where they can explore the world around them and learn more about our Creator.

• Brent Eldridge: 1 – Friday Evening
• Brent Eldridge: 2 – Saturday Morning
• Brent Eldridge: 3 – Saturday Evening
• Brent Eldridge: 4 – Addressing Contentment
• Curt & Rhonda Hamner: Marriage Seminar

Laura, one of our registrars, stands in front of the Hume Lake Christian Camps booth at the National Youth Workers Convention.

Each year, Hume finds new ways to go over-the-top in order to show youth pastors how much we love partnering with them to make camp a truly life changing experience.

This year The Sweet Spot was the phrase we used to describe our geographic location and our position in youth ministry. Hume, Ca. is definitely a sweet spot—surrounded by the Sequoia National Forest and overlooking Kings Canyon. And as a para-church organization we’re definitely in the sweet spot between the excitement of a week of camp and the day-to-day ministry that youth workers do through the relationships they have with their students.

So, welcome to The Sweet Spot…because you can’t say Hume without saying Mmmmm!

• Brad Bell: 1 – Marriage & the glory of God
• Brad Bell: 2 – Marriage & the family
• Brad Bell: 3 – Marriage & the Gospel
• Brad Bell: 4 – Marriage & looking back
• Curt and Rhonda Hamner: 5 – Marriage Talk

On clear nights when you find a break in the 100 foot trees, the Milky Way can be seen almost larger than life.

Although Hume Lake has tons of activities the simple act of using ones eyes far surpasses them all. From the Giant Sequoia’s to the majestic High Sierras and from the meandering creeks to the steaming lake at sunrise, there’s always something to simply gaze at while marveling at God’s artistry.

A couple attending Hume’s Marriage Retreat shares a laugh while posing for portraits on the lawn.

In addition to great food and fun activities, this retreat features biblical speaking, marriage coaching, dynamic musical worship, and plenty of downtime to reconnect with your spouse.

Looking East into Kings Canyon shows an immensely powerful view of highway 180, the mountains, and the clouds.

If you’ve never taken the time to drive down into the canyon and witness first hand the enormity of the canyon and the beauty of the waterfalls you’ve got to make time to do so on your next trip.

Countless basketball, recreation, and broom hockey games have been played on the floor of the Ark since the concrete was first poured in the 70′s. It is now being removed to allow for a new, more efficient floor and cooling system for the ice rink.

We’ll save a few chunks of concrete for those of you who get nostalgic. Contact web at humelake dot org if you’re interested!

The United States flag flies at half-staff in honor of Patriots Day while a wedding ceremony is performed on the Ponderosa lawn for Nathan and Jocey, two Hume Lake staff members.

At first glance, there is a strong contrast between the symbolism of the flag and of the wedding. While the flag at half-staff represents sorrow, loss, and death, the wedding celebrates joy, unity, and life. However further reflection on this contrast transforms it into a homogeneous picture of the cycle of life, sacrifice, death, and new life.

Undeniably the half-staff flag represents death, but it also represents life’s continued triumph over death. In the same way, Christ’s death and triumphant resurrection is both the foundation for and model of Biblical Christian marriage. Deep personal sacrifice and death to the idea of self is at the core of an intimate relationship with Jesus as well as with our spouse.

So what better day to fly a flag at half-staff? It’s a day to remember the people who died in the attacks ten years ago and it’s a day to remember those who live on, keeping their memories alive. It’s a day to reflect on the sacrifices of those who have died and those who live their life protecting our country here at home and abroad. It’s a day to remember Christ’s death on our behalf, his resurrection, and his offer of new life in Him. And it’s a day when the groom promises to give himself up for his bride and she promises to submit to him.

The powerful juxtaposition of life and death are ever-present and should not be viewed as contrasting ideas but as a simultaneous acknowledgment of death and grateful celebration of life.

Isaiah 25:8-9
He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Hume’s youth program staff, creative team, and Ben Akina discuss next summer’s script and look at the recent successes and challenges from summer 2011.

Hume’s summer theme serves as a creative link between the fun of camp and the clear presentation of the Gospel. While campers look forward to the epic excitement and adventure of each new theme, our guest speakers, counselors, and youth pastors all use the stories and topics presented in the theme as a springboard for deeper conversation and spiritual discussion.

Knowing the potential influence that each theme has moves our staff to prayerfully and methodically choose, create, and present each year’s theme. The meeting pictured above is just one of many meetings that will be taking place between now and summer 2012.