campfire news - july '15 - wheeler mission training center at camp hunt
TRANSCRIPT
CAMPFIRE NEWS
Featured Story (pg. 3)
“I always wondered if there
was something more to this
life...”
Charlie, Student at
Wheeler Mission’s Training Center at
Camp Hunt
In This Issue
Providence: The History
of Camp Hunt
Director’s Corner:
Dwayne Shares His
Training Center
Updates!
God Changes Lives:
Charlie’s Story
The Story Continues…
How Can I Help?
A Reminder of The Cross of Christ, Wheeler’s Logo Greets Those Who Enter Camp Hunt!
A Window To Our Ministry! We are excited to share this and future monthly newsletters with
you about this ministry of Wheeler Mission. We hope you will take
a look inside this “window” and stay informed about what is going
on here at Wheeler Mission’s Training Center! Each month, we
will share stories from the people who are involved in this ministry
and keep you connected to what is going on here. We hope that
this newsletter will make you feel connected to our ministry and
inform you about how you can pray for us! Thank you for your
support of this ministry. God is saving lives here, and your sup-
port makes you a vital part of this ministry.
A Newsletter from the Wheeler Mission Training Center at Camp Hunt—Bloomington, Indiana July 2015 #1
Providence: The History of Camp Hunt By: Josh Callahan, Office Administrator at Camp Hunt
Evidence of God’s providence is all around us. One testimony of God’s providence
is with the land here at Wheeler Mission’s Camp Hunt. You see, back in 1955, a
group of doctors that were developing this land in Monroe County ran short on
capital. As a result, they had to sell—just to get back what they had in it. Howev-
er, God had big plans for this land.
One May morning in 1955, Leonard Hunt, superintendent of Wheeler Mission at
that time, saw the ad for the sale of this land and wanted to buy the 112 acres and
Lazy Lake. Leonard Hunt and the Mission board had plans to find a camp for
Wheeler Mission. This land was a great fit for that vision! The price for the land
was $35,000, and their counter-offer of $22,500 was accepted. However, Wheeler
did not have that money. Not yet anyway. God called Leonard Hunt and the Mis-
sion board to take a step of faith— and they did.
God honored that step of faith. No sooner did the doctors accept Wheeler Mis-
sion’s offer, a lawyer called to inform Wheeler’s leadership that an estate was left
for the Mission. Guess how much that estate was for? $23,000! Just enough to
cover the purchase of what is now referred to as Camp Hunt.
Since then, Wheeler Mission’s Camp Hunt has grown and has been a place God
has used in the lives of children, mothers for a retreat from the inner-city, and a
place where men can focus on their recovery from addictions. Today, Camp Hunt
and its near 300 acres, is home of Wheeler Mission’s Training Center. Men are
able to heal from addictions and become certified to help others in biblical disciple-
ship. Camp Hunt is also home to Wheeler’s ministry internship, Servant Leader-
ship Training, where men go deeper in their abilities to help others in preparation
to be leaders in their community and their church.
God is always in control. His providence is all around us! Camp Hunt is a testimo-
ny to that.
Director’s Corner: By: Dwayne Gordon,
Director of the Training Center at Camp
Hunt
It’s been an exciting summer so far at Camp
Hunt. We love seeing God transform lives
and restore families. Right now we have
seven men enrolled in our Family Counsel-
ing Program. These are men that are still
married and working through the restoration
process with their wives and families. Addic-
tion puts such a strain on the family, often
times the marriage is in shambles when a
man enters our program. He has to learn
how to take ownership of his past behavior
and ask for forgiveness. They are truly acts
of God when families are reconciled, they
often times need to be healed of bitterness,
unforgiveness, depression, and trauma. It is
a pleasure to see people overcome life and
marriage threatening sin.
This summer we also had a special guest
on camp. Luna is a 6 year old girl whose
father graduated the program and enrolled
in our Servant Leadership Training Pro-
gram. After he graduated he was granted
custody of Luna for the summer. It is spe-
cial when you see a man who was absent
and unavailable become a father. This par-
ticular guy went from manufacturing meth-
amphetamines and spending time in prison
to freedom in Christ and an abundant life.
He now wants to work on his certifications
to become a drug and alcohol counselor…
Giving back through a repentant life!
Lazy Lake at Camp Hunt!
Just a few of the men whose lives were changed at Camp Hunt!
God Changes
Lives!
One of the programs at the
Training Center is our Ad-
diction Recovery Program.
Here, men are considered
students studying a new
way of life through following
Jesus. We know God is the
one who changes lives!
We believe that the Chris-
tian approach to recovery
involves applying God’s
truth to our lives (John
17:17). In other words, true
recovery hinges on individ-
uals applying what they are
taught (Matthew 7:24-27).
Most issues started well
before the onset of the ad-
diction, and abstinence
from the addiction is only a
small part of being set free.
The issue of sin and a life-
style set in opposition to
God, which is common to
everyone, is the greater
problem (Romans 3:23).
We believe that by being
reconciled to God, through
a relationship with Jesus
Christ, people can begin
the process of growth and
maturity in Christ (John
3:16, Romans 6:23, 8:29).
Meet Charlie, Student at Wheeler Mission’s Training Center
Charlie’s Story: By: Ryan Bobbett, Servant Leader in Training
Prior to coming to Wheeler Mission’s Training Center at Camp Hunt, Charlie admit-
ted his life was very hopeless. In and out of prison for the last 15 years, he said “I
always wondered if there was something more to this life…” At the end of his rope
he found himself in violation of his parole and on a possible return trip to prison. He
was told about Wheeler Mission. Before coming, he said that he never knew about
God. In fact, he had never even opened up his Bible. It was a big step for him to
open up to his peers about his doubts and struggles, but Charlie says that today he
can finally see there is something more to life.
Charlie says that the things he has been taught here have had a major impact on
him. He is quick to give God all of the glory for saving him out of the lifestyle he was
lost in. Charlie has already made a commitment to stay for Servant Leadership
Training, our nine month ministry internship. He says his decision is based on a
desire to continue his walk with the Lord and to show gratitude for the second
chance he has been given. Charlie wants to do his internship where the intake and
orientation phases of the addiction recovery program is located. He says, “I want to
share the same hope I have today with the new guys coming in.” Please pray for
Charlie and his family as well as the rest of the men here at the Wheeler Mission
Training Center at Camp Hunt!
“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved
him out of all his troubles.” Psalm 34:6
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you! If you,
or someone you know is in need of help
with addictions or other life dominating
issues, or if you would like to volunteer,
or partner with us financially, please
contact us!
Wheeler Mission Training Center at
Camp Hunt
7790 N. Fish Rd.
Bloomington, IN 47408
(812) 332-2452
(Camp Hunt Office)
(317) 636-2720
(Program Intake Office, Jed Baker)
Visit us on the web at www.wmm.org
The Story Continues… Over the past two months, we have had four men graduate our Addiction
Recovery Program and two men complete their ministry internship in Serv-
ant Leadership Training. We are excited for what God has in store for these
men! To date, this brings the total number of people who have completed
our program at the Training Center to 274! Thank you for being a part of the
work that God is doing here through your prayers and financial support!
God’s story of redemption that He is writing in these men’s lives continue…
How Can I Help? We have plans made to build a new multi-purpose building that will house
our counseling offices, dining facilities, and recreational areas. Exercise is
an important part of recovery and unfortunately our residents are limited
during the winter months. We are excited about this much needed facility
and how it will impact the program. We need your help! We are in the pro-
cess of raising $800,000. If God puts it on your heart, would you consider
helping us by donating to and praying for this cause? Please mark your do-
nations by writing “Multi-Purpose Building” in the memo line of your check.
We would also welcome any help with finding potential donors, developing
fund raising ideas, and expanding our network. Thank you!
Wheeler Mission Training Center at Camp Hunt
7790 N. Fish Rd.
Bloomington, IN 47408
PLACE STAMP HERE