2013-02-26

Cook's Short Order Update

Just a Note:

I'd met this person only through emails and second hand accounts from Michelle from her interactions. During Camp David's recent Banquet For Hope we finally got to meet face to face. What struck me was not meeting, but a comment shared later in the night. This person has their own life, their own schedule, their own cares and concerns, yet, encouraged me by stating that they were regularly praying over one of our concerns. We are so glad to have partners in ministry who pray for us. This is what we need and desire. But don't let it stop there. How can we pray for you?

God provided! Even though God allowed a nasty storm the night of the Banquet For Hope, God provided in His way. Donations were up on several levels, including more campers sponsored than last year at this time! Praise the Lord for providing!


Not Fair

We are finding through experimentation and formal studies that continued interaction between incarcerated parents and their children is vital to the health of people on both sides of the prison bars. Imagine this scenario: "When I left for prison, my 5-year-old daughter didn't understand any of the legal aspects. All she knew was that one day I was there and the next day I disappeared from her life. She felt abandoned." (Pat Nolan, VP, Prison Fellowship

That's not fair.

Intervention is THE key to keeping children of prisoners out of prison themselves. Camp David of the Ozarks offers intervention to children of prisoners during a free week of camp in the summer. Can you help us help Camp David provide this intervention?


Please... pray

- as we seek churches to take up our support (currently 30% support)
- as we recruit volunteers for this summer (colleges and high schoolers)
- that God will provide for our needs
- that our dryer will be fixed under warranty
- that we will be faithful


Praise the Lord!

- for God's provision through the Banquet For Hope
- for safety for many who traveled that night
- for great volunteers to help make this event possible

Looking Ahead

- Lining up college and church presentations
- Presenting at a home school conference in April
- 3 months till Summer Camp!!!

2013-02-22

Praise the Lord!

- for a good attendance at the Banquet For Hope last night - approx 200 guests
- for good initial numbers from pledges and donations
- for safety for all on the roads

More coming on Monday

2013-02-18

Cook's Short Order Update


Just a Note
So thankful for warmer weather! We like winter, sort of, but we love spring!

What a busy week. Basketball tourney started Friday evening about 90 minutes away, and lasted all day Saturday. Caleb had some great time on the floor, gaining some points and rebounds for his team. It was a long day, but we were able to connect with a few of our summer staff and spend time with the camp's intern, Bekah Kessler. We finished off the weekend playing and singing some worship songs as a family. It's Monday now, and we are hard at it. Pray that we will always be a blessing to those we bump into and that Jesus will blaze through.


Not Fair
I read recently of a woman, mother to 8 children, who spent 3 weeks in a prison in New York because she couldn't post the necessary $75 bail money. We are too willing to cast judgement on this female, stating, "She should be more careful," both in reproduction and in life choices. Did you know that during her 21 days in prison she knew nothing of the status of her children? Did you know that during her 21 days in prison her children knew nothing of their mother's location? Just that she had been taken away.


That's not fair.
Please help us help these children by supporting us with prayer and gifts. We are currently at 30%.


Please... pray
- as we seek churches to take up our support (currently 30%)
- as we recruit volunteers for this summer (colleges and high schoolers)
- that God will provide for our needs (finances, wood for our furnace, rest, balance)
- that we will be faithful


Praise the Lord!
- for a fun weekend as family and a new friend - thanks for hanging with us Bekah!
- protection in travel and warmth and health
- windows that keep out the wind and rain, let in the sun's warmth
- hearts that still pump blood to our bodies
- all the volunteers we need as Door Greeters at the coming Banquet For Hope!


Looking Ahead
- Banquet for Hope – CDO’s annual fund raiser - this Thursday
- Presenting at a home school conference in April
- 3 months till Summer Camp!!!

2013-02-13

Cook's Short Order Update

A week late but...

Just a Note:
Busy. Not cliche or complaining, just reality.

Last week found us in Arkansas at the Ozarks Sectional 3CA camp conference. This is a refreshing time of networking with others in camp ministry, praying, learning, worshipping together, for the purpose of helping each other serve our camps better.

Our big "take-away" was when Ozark Sectional President, Scott Shaw, shared his testimony, ending with the charge, "Don't just try harder. Do something different!"

We are so proud of our kids while we were gone. Caleb and Nate stayed "home alone" and did quite well, fixing themselves a small banquet for one meal. So, Michelle is no longer cooking for them! Just kidding.

We are grateful that we can leave our children in the care of the Father and know they are well taken care of. We also appreciate a good friend for caring for Seth and Kaitie. Thank you!


Not Fair:
Did you know that some prison inmates, even those convicted of violent crime, are not all lifelong violent criminals? Many are very decent people who just made one choice that tipped the incarceration scales. Imagine what knowing that mom or dad is guilty of a violent crime may do in the mind of a child. Imagine what knowing that YOUR mom or dad is "that prisoner" could do in the mind of a child.

That's not fair! Please help us help these children by supporting us with prayer and gifts.


Please pray:
- as we seek churches to take up our support (currently 30%)
- as we recruit volunteers for this summer
- that God will provide for our needs (finances, wood, rest, balance)
- that we will be faithful

Praise the Lord!
- for new supporters last month
- protection in travel and over our children last week
- walls and a roof to keep us warm and dry
- breath in our lungs


Looking Ahead:
- Banquet for Hope - CDO's annual fund raiser
- Camp starting in 3 months!

2013-01-23

Cook's Short Order Update


** Just a Note
------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday we had the honor, not only of presenting our ministry at our home church, New Harmony, but also of sharing the time with our ministry founder, Ben Smith. Ben spoke on things that have happened in the last year, like the new office building at camp and the blessing that the body of Christ is. Michelle and I recounted things from this past summer that impacted us. We want to thank our Pastor, David Gidcumb, for allowing us this time.

It was encouraging to get feedback both during the presentation and at our display table. We appreciate those of you who have chosen to be involved in our ministry through prayer and donations.
http://www.campdavidozarks.org/about-us/that-aint-right


** Not Fair
------------------------------------------------------------
Children whose parents are incarcerated have many questions and many things they don't really understand. Just because Mom or Dad got arrested for doing something wrong does not mean the child understands. Often, when a parent is arrested in view of a child, the child is not told where the parent is going. The officers may not know at that point. These children are left wondering and confused.

That's not fair.

Please help us help these children by supporting us with prayer and gifts.


** Please... pray
------------------------------------------------------------
- for strength and discernment: we feel stretched in many directions
- that we will be able to schedule presentation and recruiting visits in churches
- that we will always be a ministry to our children
- for wood for our furnace


** Praise the Lord!
------------------------------------------------------------
- that Bryan is with us for a few more days
- for encouraging friends and times at our church
- for time to present our ministry in our home church
- fun time in basketball for Kaitie and Caleb this weekend
- a new regular supporter joined our team - THANK YOU!


** Looking Ahead
------------------------------------------------------------
Our latest update letter should be in the mail this week!
Banquet for Hope - CDO's annual scholarship fund raiser
Time

2013-01-16

Cook's Short Order Update

Just a Note

This past week evangelist Ken Freeman shared several nights and Sunday with out church. Challenging words. Friday, he met the students in an assembly at the high school, and challenged them to make wise choices. As I picked up the students from the high school, I asked them what they thought of Mr. Freeman. Responses were positive, so I invited them to be my personal guests at church the rest of the week. Several showed up on Saturday night! Get that? Teens showing up at a church on a Saturday night! During the invitation many people made the decision to give their lives to Jesus. One young man, from clear in the back, left his friend, and made the decision to become a Christian! He was one of the teens I invited. Praise the Lord for the opportunity to invest in these lives, for a few minutes a day during January.

That Ain't Right

There are, on average, 9000+ children of prisoners within 50 miles in any direction from your current location.
There are more than 1.7 million children of prisoners within the United States.
Few have ever had a personal visit with their incarcerated parent.
Almost 1/2 of all prisoners are parents of children under the age of 10.

That ain't right.

Please help us help these children by supporting us with prayer and gifts.

Please... pray

- for our support, so that soon we will be able to give our full attention to CDO
- that we will be able to schedule presentation and recruiting visits in churches
- that we will find a place closer to camp
Praise the Lord!

- that Bryan is with us for a while
- for a beautiful place to call home
- for smoke in the chimney - HEAT!
- for a great week with our church family!
- another family who has joined our team of supporters!

Looking Ahead

Finishing update letter and mailing list update
Banquet for Hope - CDO's annual scholarship fund raiser

2012-12-24 Short Order Update

Cook's Short Order Update

Notice anything different? The format? It's because we are using a new email format. If you want to try it out just email us at

bruce@campdavidozarks.org and let Bruce know. You can unsubscribe at any time.

** Just a Note
God has interesting timing. In the last couple days He generously supplied extra donations in our mail box and we were breathing thanks to Him. Then, He decided it should be spent on vehicle repair as our van has asked for a gasket replacement and new alternator. Several hundred dollars later, our horse is ready to carry us places again. We thank God for providing what was needed in advance of the need.

We have been blessed with several new supporters. A few individuals have contacted us this month saying they will be helping with our support beginning in January. One is a story of God's providence through the years. In short, someone we supported years ago is now on our support team, both through prayer and finances.

** That Ain't Right
Names changed for safety.

One day this summer, Michelle watched and listened as Grange told a much younger boy, Ty, that he should be with his counselor. Ty didn't see the need. After some conversation Grange insisted because it would be safer that way. Ty still didn't understand. Grange, not knowing who Michelle was, told Ty that, "You don't know what this lady might do." Ty laughed because he knew Michelle. With concern in his voice, Grange said that Ty might not be safe if Grange's dad, or someone like him, came up the driveway at camp. Grange is just a teen.

That ain't right.

** Please... pray
- for our campers - Christmas and New Years Day are tough times for them and their single parent moms/dads
- that we will soon be at full support so our attention won't be so spread out
- that we will find quality staff for this summer
- that we will find a place closer to camp

** Praise the Lord!
- that Bryan is with us for a few weeks!
- for time to refresh as a family last week
- for a beautiful place to call home - THANKS friends!
- for wind in the trees around our home
- several new supporters

** Looking Ahead
New Update Letter coming to your box this month - if you have moved please let us know your new address asap.
Banquet for Hope - CDO's annual scholarship fund raiser