This spring, the UMCRM Association had the joy of distributing $2.5 million in Ministry Impact Grants, funding 86 different United Methodist camp/retreat ministry projects with a focus on future sustainability.
Learn more about the 2022 Ministry Impact Grants
Recently, Sea Islands Camp (SC) and Wesley Woods Camp (IA) shared about how their Ministry Impact Grants have come to life in tangible ways.
The Barnum Equestrian Center at Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat Center in Iowa is a trauma-informed, connected community of staff and professionals who work alongside participants in a deeply connectional horse program. Staff training provided by the Natural Lifemanship Institute is rocking the barn to its core, bringing immensely positive outcomes for people and opportunities for ministry growth. Ministry Impact Grant funding has enabled five staff persons to access training and advanced courses in Natural Lifemanship principles.
Through this trained leadership, six middle and high school students have already participated in the 6-week Relational-MESH program in partnership with the Indianola School District. Teachers and parents are reporting positive impacts on their students in the program. As word spreads about R-MESH, waiting lists are filling for programs to be offered in the fall. The greatest challenge is scheduling enough programs to meet demand! Healthy relationship principles facilitated by the trained Lifemanship leaders are also enriching Wesley Woods’ summer camp horse programs. Continued future growth is ahead for equestrian-based ministry in this special setting.
When the South Carolina Annual Conference acquired the property that would become Sea Islands Camp & Retreat Center in 2019, its capacity was small, and as the ministry vision for the site took shape, it became clear that more lodging would be needed to host the guests and campers who would come to experience God’s love in this unique coastal setting.
This 2019 blog post tells the origin story of Sea Islands
The 2022 Ministry Impact Grant is enabling the site to double its capacity with 32 new bunks. It is a joy to open the gates to a whole new population of campers!
