Shoal Creek Camp, a small, very rural camp in Arkansas, changes lives with the help of lots of volunteers and prayer, stretching its bare-bones budget as far as it can go. Many of the campers who come don’t have a lot of opportunities for enriching summer programs. Director Renée Henson says some of them have never roasted a s’more over a campfire until they get to camp. What a gift for them to experience play, the love of Jesus, and the joy of Christian community on the sacred grounds of camp. 

When Shoal Creek received a Ministry impact Grant through UMCRM in 2022, Renée says it was “the biggest gift our little camp has ever received!” The grant funds supported the replacement of ancient rusty army cots with “fancy-like” new bunk beds that increased the camp’s capacity, enabling them to welcome 20% more campers. Because of UMCRM, Shoal Creek has been able to widen its welcome and impact more lives. 

The original 65-year-old cabins are the kind with screened windows and shutters that get propped open with a stick. The dream is to convert all eight of the cabins for year-round use, making camp experiences available not just for 6 weeks in the summer but all year long. Renée says it generally takes three or four years to raise the funds for each cabin renovation, but a Ministry Impact Grant in 2023 was a game-changer. The capacity for ministry was launched a decade into the future. Shoal Creek was able to host the Bishop’s confirmation retreat for the first time ever last year. It is a blessing now to be able to say “yes” to new guest groups in the non-summer months. Renée has noticed that even non-Christian guests notice that it is a special place with a peaceful, spiritual feeling about it.