COVIID 20-21

Dear Friends of Brethren Woods,

                Has 2020 only been one year?  It certainly has been like nothing I have ever experienced.  The year has been one of difficult decisions and daily challenges, but our faith in God, who is always with us, is sustaining.   I am excited to share that when the state of Virginia told us that we could not have summer camp, it gave us pause, for about five minutes.  Then, we decided to focus on what we could do, and Linetta Ballew, our gifted Assistant Director, revised Brethren Woods summer program.

                The result was a three-prong approach.  There was a ‘Watz in the Woods’ online connection, Family Camp, and a Sabbath summer for the facility.  Staff worked hard to make the experiences the best they could be, and it was!  There was a lot of positive feedback about the new program options.  Our young adult summer staff were amazing as they took on the challenge of both programs, as well as many projects to renew the facility for Sabbath summer.  There was bridge building, deck staining, trail maintenance, wood stacking and more.  The staff were committed to camp, each other and their faith.  It was a summer of growth for everyone involved.

                As we enter a new season, we remember all of the generous support that individuals and congregations have given camp this year.  People thought outside of the box in many ways, and our Remote Spring Festival, Adopt-a-Staff/Helping Hands, and Golf Blast fundraisers were tremendously successful.  Many churches still contributed their budgeted camper support, and the list goes on.   We could not have made it this far without that support, and we are grateful and encouraged by it.

                This fall we have had to make staff cutbacks and layoffs.  Maintenance Director Andy got married in September and moved on to other employment.  We have not filled that position.   We are trying to be the best stewards we can be of the resources entrusted to us.  About now, in different times, we would be planning our ‘Renewing Our Faith Outdoors’ banquet held in December.  For the safety of our faithful supporters and to comply with state executive orders, that event is not happening this year.  Instead, we are reaching out once again to our friends and congregations to fill the widening gap in funding that will only increase over the winter.

                In place of our Renewing Our Faith Outdoors Banquet and Annual Fund campaigns, we are naming our year-end fund raising effort COVIID 20-21.  It stands for Care of Vital Infrastructure, Individuals, and Direction.  Without summer camp and rentals, our income has been drastically reduced.  We need your help to continue to care for facility and staff until we can open up fully again.  We do not know the details of the exact direction that we will go in 2021.  We do know that we want to be about the mission of sharing the Good News.  We will join in where God is working.  We were able to do that in October as we hosted Open Doors Thermal Shelter for a month.  A cup of cold water or a warm bed in the name of Christ humbles my heart.

                As we end 2020 and look forward to 2021, we are asking you to support the ministry of Brethren Woods however you can.  If you would like to make a monthly contribution, please let us know, and we will be in touch.  A one-time financial gift or recurring donation would be a huge blessing.  Pray with us that God will use your gift to touch lives as only God can, and that we may humbly be the hearts and hands that share the Good News.

  In Faith,

Doug Phillips, Director