The UMCRM Association continues to celebrate completed Ministry Impact Grants this week on the blog. Last year, we were blessed to distribute $1.7 million in grants, funding 68 United Methodist camp/retreat ministry projects across the country. The common theme of this week’s projects is that they are the kinds of needs that can be hard to fund. However, it is indisputable that a good night’s sleep on a nice mattress can make or break one’s quality of life! Yet replacing mattresses at camp is a costly and time-consuming undertaking so it’s a project that sometimes gets deferred. This twelfth installment of Ministry Impact reports features five projects, completed at Camp Innabah (PA), Grand Mesa (CO), Hinton Center (NC), Mingus Mountain (AZ), and Wesley Woods (PA). Read the stories and join with us in giving thanks for these completed projects that will greatly enhance the guest experience these ministries provide.
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. View previous project reports
Camp Innabah (Eastern PA) - Health Care Upgrades
The Ministry Impact Grant enabled Camp Innabah to improve the living quarters and bathroom for summer camp volunteer nurses housed in the 90-year-old Farmhouse building. The renovated bathroom, new flooring, and fresh paint have made the health care space more welcoming and sanitary. Goodbye to the 30+ year-old carpet!
Grand Mesa Camp (Mountain Sky, CO) - Mattress Match and Chapel Ramp
The grant award has increased the vitality of Grand Mesa Camp and renewed hope in the future of the ministry. The chapel ramp project provided an opportunity to develop relationships with several local contractors and to learn how to address the challenge of building and renovation in the camp’s remote region.
The second part of the grant-funded project was a fundraising and Adopt-A-Building campaign. The marketing team created an email, mailing, and social media campaign to reach churches, congregation members, campers and families, current and former camp staff, and alumni. Supporting churches received single-slide ads to be shown before or after service and a 5-slide presentation for use in worship. Altogether, this marketing blitz enabled the Camping Association to raise 73% of its funding goal by the end of the year; well underway to complete their goal in 2024. The Mattress Match initiative helped the camp to develop donor relationships and create momentum for a more sustainable ministry into the future.
Hinton Rural Life Center (NC) - Mattress Replacement
The grant allowed Hinton Center to purchase 97 new mattresses and mattress covers in the guest quarters that house Summer Mission volunteers, retreat guests, and confirmands in Hinton's Confirmation Retreat program. These badly needed improvements have been enthusiastically received by guests. We give thanks for the significant improvement in the comfort, cleanliness, and retreat renewal experience for Hinton's guests.
Mingus Mountain Camp (Desert Southwest, AZ) - Kitchen Equipment
Grant funding has enabled the food services ministry at Mingus Mountain to provide higher quality food, save money, and serve guests with increased hospitality. The new slicer helps in preparing fresh meats, cheeses and produce. The tilt skillet/brazier enhances cooking French toast, grilled cheese, soups, chili, hot dogs, scrambled eggs and more for larger groups. The staff has already been receiving great feedback: "Wow-the food is excellent and filling!" "The food was absolutely fantastic!” With care and maintenance, this investment will serve Mingus’s guests and campers for the next generation.
Wesley Woods Camp (PA) - Bunks and Mattresses
Now the nicest beds in camp, new bunks and mattresses replaced the ones that had outlived their usefulness at Wesley Woods. Guests are able to experience greater hospitality and good night’s rest. The new bunks also gave the space a needed facelift.