As Anne Horton looks forward to retirement, we asked her to share a little about her experiences and insights from her journey in Camp & Retreat Ministries.

How were you called into C&R ministry?

I started going to camp in junior high. Loved my experiences so much that when I was of the age to be a counselor, I did. During this time I felt called to work in the area of Christian Education. I worked in several churches, always taking kids to summer camp, weekend retreats, or festivals. It was during my time in South Carolina, planning, training, and leading sessions of summer camp and day camp, that I felt God's direction moving me more into camping ministry. God's word gave me direction and guidance for this, as did several mentors I had at that time. I'm grateful for the folks who, in different ways, have served as mentors for me: Peggy Mauldin, Nina Reeves, Bert Goodwin, and Jack Porter, to name a few. 

Where have you served?

In my forty plus years of ministry I've served at:

• Mulberry Street UMC, Macon, GA - 2 years as Director of Youth
• Central UMC, Decatur, AL - 3 years as Director of Christian Education
• Gardendale-Mt. Vernon UMC, Gardendale, AL - 3 years as Director of Christian Education
• Buncombe Street UMC, Greenville, SC - 11 years as Director of Christian Education & Program

Camping sites that I've served are:

• Sumatanga Camp & Conference Center, Gallant, AL (North Alabama) - 10 years - Director of Program(4), Executive Director(6).
• Susquehanna Conference (formerly the Central Pennsylvania Conference) - 10 years as Executive Director for 4 sites (Camp Penn, Greene Hills, Mount Asbury & Wesley Forest).
• North Georgia Camp and Retreat Ministries, Dahlonega, GA (North Georgia) for 2 1/2 years as Director of Business Operations.

Describe your greatest blessings in this work?

Of the many blessings I've seen:

* Seeing how God works in the lives of the children, youth, and adults in large and small ways has been impactful.

* Helping folks step out of their comfort zones to enrich their lives. Sometimes this is through challenge course experiences. Or seeing a camper have the opportunity to share their gifts, like singing or playing an instrument for the first time in front of other campers. Seeing young people letting go and letting God give guidance through struggles and helping them know they were not alone.

* Seeing a young woman feel loved and accepted by Christ and her peers and ten years later seeing how she is encouraging others to share their gifts in similar ways. She's paying it forward as God provides those many opportunities.

What's one important thing you've learned that you would like to pass along to other camp & retreat leaders?

Stay focused on God and His direction. Keep the big picture the big picture. There will be many who will want to keep you in the weeds or the small things. God calls us to keep focused on the mission of making, training, and being disciples. Try to stay balanced between work and family.

What's something you're looking forward to doing in your retirement?

* Spending more time with family and friends.

* Traveling.

* Doing some volunteer work.

* Working on projects around the house that need to be completed.

Anne, you're an inspiration. Thank you for serving so well. We hope you won't be a stranger to the UMCRM community even once you're not employed full-time in this ministry!