The UMCRM Association had the joy of distributing $1.7 million in Ministry Impact Grants last year, funding 68 United Methodist camp/retreat ministry projects across the U.S. with a focus on future sustainability.
Learn more about the 2023 Ministry Impact Grants
UMCRM will be celebrating completed projects in this ongoing series until all of the 2023 grant recipients have been featured. Join us in giving thanks for the vision, hope, and expanded ministry reach represented in these stories. The projects featured this week all involved lodging spaces and residences. These buildings are central to the effective ministry of these centers. It is a great blessing to be able to devote resources to build and maintain these mission-critical spaces.
Camp Aldersgate (OH) - Retreat House Renovation
An old, unusable Director’s residence is in a prime location to be renovated into a new Retreat House. The 1,446 square foot building will be modernized and its floor plan reworked in order to facilitate growth into the future, for a fraction of the cost of a new build. The proposed work will add 26 heated beds to the ministry (increasing heated capacity from 46 to 72, “right sized” for the ministry’s current heated dining and meeting space). Warm weather capacity will increase from 120 to 146, blessing Aldersgate’s summer programs with needed support staff housing and improving camper experience.
The Ministry Impact Grant funding, combined with generous donor base giving to the project, enabled Camp Aldersgate to secure the completion of this massive project with lots of labor from staff and volunteers. The work is progressing slowly. So far the building has been stripped down to its bones, with old carpeting, wall boards, ceiling, and insulation ripped out. At the time of the report this spring, repair work to secure the building’s structural integrity was in progress. The entire floor plan has been reworked to meet future needs of this space. All needed material for the project is purchased, staged, and ready to go for the renovation and rebuilding work this summer and fall. The intent is for the refurbished building to be operational for Spring groups in 2025. 2024 guest groups who got a preview of the project lit up with excitement about the expanded capacity and new possibilities.
Epworth Forest (IN) - Lodge Renovations
Whitefield Lodge had succumbed to water damage and moisture issues that prevented it from being occupied. Water damage was removed and the entire interior was treated for mold. All the concrete floors were professionally ground down and sealed. All the walls were painted with volunteer help. All the lights were taken down and replaced with donated LED lights by a local church. The entire roof was replaced. Both furnaces were replaced and included air conditioning. These renovations will now allow more bed space, access to more handicap-accessible restrooms, and new options for future groups. Whitefield will be newly in-demand for guests preferring an air conditioned space. Next steps will include upgrades to electrical outlets in the dorm rooms and replacement of outdated windows. The improved space will be better maintained by managing the inside humidity through the humid summer season.
Mount Eagle (AR) - Intern Housing
The vision of establishing an intern program was limited by the lack of appropriate on-site housing. Through the grant, Mount Eagle was able to purchase a 12’ x 32’ shed that was then converted into a tiny house with a full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living room with a dinette area. The space may be small, but it is truly cozy. Electric and plumbing was run throughout the building. It was insulated and drywalled and an HVAC system added. The tiny house was situated in Mount Eagle’s RV park to allow for direct access to water and electricity. The new space will make a significant impact on the future of this ministry. The internship program is made possible because of the generosity, investment, and commitment of the Ministry Impact grant. Leadership is excited to provide a new learning experience that invests in young adults as they are exploring their calling within the world of camp and retreat ministries. When not occupied by an intern, the tiny house can house volunteers and solitude retreats, as well. A win-win solution!
Lake Poinsett (SD) - Director Residence Repairs
The Director's residence is a key component to the life and health of camp and retreat ministries. When maintenance, upkeep, and upgrades to the Director's residence are deferred and funneled into other worthy projects around camp it can have a negative impact on the morale and health of those called to lead the camp. The grant blessed us by helping to catch up with that deferred maintenance and make the residence more usable, attractive, and comfortable for current and future leaders. This funding allowed an update of the flooring throughout the Director's house and replacement of the appliances. The flooring hadn't been replaced for over two decades and had seen its fair share of foot traffic, pets, and family life. The appliances were being held together by tape and rarely used by previous occupants because of their poor condition. The new vinyl plank flooring is economical, durable, and easy to maintain. New appliances allow for the current and future directors to be able to cook, host, and store meals with ease. Our homes contribute positively to our overall mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health, and this project makes an important contribution to the wellbeing of Lake Poinsett’s Director.
Pocono Plateau (PA) - Building Renovations
Grant funding, along with 400 hours of volunteer labor, made this amazing transformation possible. The project started with the much-needed roof replacement. Next, the shag carpet that was installed back in the 1970s was removed from the walls! This was replaced with sheet rock and painted gray with white wainscoating along the bottom half. All the windows in the Lake Room, lobby, and game room were replaced. An old wood burning stove was replaced with an HVAC split unit to provide both heat and air conditioning. The cracked, old floor was replaced with new vinyl wood plank flooring. More electrical outlets were added to make the space more functional. Concrete was poured to create a handicap accessible walkway and entry way into Lake Room, and the bathroom was refurbished to be handicap accessible as well. The Pocono Plateau community is astounded at the difference of the before and after experience in this space. It is bright, welcoming, comfortable, and professional.
Learn about other Ministry Impact Grant projects here
