Ponderosa, not just a camp!

The car is packed, the kids are bouncing with excitement and already asking, "How much longer til we get there?" I'm texting Ann letting her know we are on our way. This is the normal routine of making our weekend trips to the Ponderosa. Then someone who hears us talking about it so much asks, "So what is the Ponderosa, exactly?" Wow, in all my excitement and preparation, I have failed to really tell everyone about this wonderful place and all the ministries involved. So here it is...

Ponderosa Bible Camp is nestled in the mountains of Mentone, Alabama on 82 acres of God's glorious creation. The camp is affiliated with Children's Bible Ministries (CBM) of North America which has just celebrated 75 years of ministering to students! Ponderosa Bible Camp holds camp throughout the summer for students of all ages. Spring and fall retreats are held for both elementary and teen aged students. A week of camp in the summer is packed with swimming in the pool, canoeing at the river, arts & crafts, chapel time, God and I time, gym games, water games, the huge slip n slide, field games, archery, obstacle courses, God Smugglers, riflery, horse back riding, the screaming sky swing, zip line, and so much more! You bond as a group with your counselor, SALT member, TEAM member, and all your cabin mates. Your cabin prays together, has devotionals together, and works to win honor table in the dining hall. Speakers come each week of camp to lead the devotions during chapel and there is also a missionary focus throughout the week. Ponderosa Bible Camp's goal is to provide students with the opportunity to learn first hand about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is incredibly affordable so that all students will have the chance to spend a week or a weekend at camp.

When camp is not in session and it is not a retreat weekend, Ponderosa Retreat Center is available to serve others with the gift of hospitality. The facilities can be rented so groups can hold their own retreats while enjoying the beautiful creation and delicious food prepared by the talented cooks of the Ponderosa. Another ministry of Ponderosa Student Ministires (PSM) is the Mailbox Club. This is the coorespondance ministry that allows students of all ages to complete Bible lessons through the mail at no cost to them. After each lesson is completed, students mail the completed questions back to receive the next lesson. This is a great way to stay connected throughout the year. Students can earn discounts towards camp for completing mailbox club lessons.

Released Time is another facet of this ministry. 2nd - 6th graders at each of the DeKalb County Schools can participate in the Bible Classes held through Ponderosa's Release Time. Students are invited to miss one PE time each week in exchange for learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With parental permission, students are checked out to walk across the street from the school to a church or community center where Bible lessons are taught. Students are then checked back into school for the remainder of the school day. What an exciting opportunity to teach students about Christ during their school day! Students earn discounts for camp through attending and participating in Release Time Classes.

Ponderosa is so much more than lessons in the mail, classes during school, and a camp. It is the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out to impact students in a very real way. This ministry is all about impacting students so that they can experience the love of Jesus Christ and learn to boldly live as He instructs us in the Bible. It's an amazing ministry and we can't wait to be there full-time!