I want to spend a majority of my 2012 report writing to you about the ministry possibilities and challenges we will face as a Camp Corporation in 2013 and beyond. As many of you may know, the Mutual Ministry Arrangement with Luther Park Bible Camp is concluding as of December 31, 2012. As I have envisioned the coming year, I am looking forward to the fact that I will have 50% of all of my work time coming back to Luther Point. Fifty percent is a lot of time coming back to this Ministry. I am convinced that I will be able to commit significant time to several key objectives in the coming year. Those areas are:
1) OMDT Phase 2: I am especially excited about the redesign of the Storm Shelter and proposed renovation of existing buildings around the Storm Shelter. The camp currently has about $291,000 in funding plus an additional $100,000+ in pledges committed with the likelihood of $80,000 being honored. The tentative cost for the redesign and renovation work is $700,000-$750,000. This equates to a projected need of about $330,000-$370,000. I am looking forward to going back to our faithful, gracious donors to seek this additional funding that will be needed to complete these projects.
2) New Retreat Groups: The staff at Luther Point is currently working on some strategic ideas to implement that will generate some new retreat groups. We are setting a goal of having at least 10 new retreat groups in 2013.
3) Increase Family Camp: Luther Point has two Family Camp offerings, Weekend and Week-long Family Camp. Targeting younger families in our congregations and especially targeting former summer staff who have established families seems to be a natural fit when promoting this part of our ministry offerings.
4) Additional Emphasis upon Annual Fund: With the projected shortfall in funding due to the discontinuance of the Mutual Ministry Agreement, all of the proposed increased measures will be necessary. Building the Annual Fund and encouraging donors to consider increasing their support to the camp will be a key part of this Annual Development Strategy.
5) Estate Gift Planning: The Luther Point Foundation Board is scheduling and making plans to bring added awareness to Estate Planning. They are proposing three to four meetings in January with financial advisors, accountants, and attorneys to give a brief synopsis of Federal gifting rules/ guidelines for 2103. We will also be providing information about Luther Point for them to share with their clients when working on estate plans. There will also be an Estate Planning Event during the month of April for folks to attend as an information sharing session.
6) Promote Summer Camp: This is nothing new but we want to see the trend back on the positive side as we did this past summer. More one on one visits from staff throughout the late winter and early spring along with Impact 365 involvement in churches will continue to keep summer Bible Camp at the forefront, with a continued emphasis upon the Campership Fund and the outreach ministry that it provides.
Once again as always, a special thank you to our congregations who have continued to support the camp faithfully with your benevolent support. One of the encouraging aspects of the work and ministry each year is that congregations are still keeping Luther Point as a priority in their mission support.
As a reminder to us all, our primary mission remains the same, “Forming Faith, Pointing to Christ”. People’s lives and faith continue to be nurtured, molded, and shaped by their experiences here at Luther Point. We faithfully continue in that tradition and that mission of sharing the good news of Jesus. Reaching out with hospitality, grace and acceptance, in order that people might come to know Jesus as Lord of their life.
Thank you for your partnership and ownership in this vital ministry of the church.
Rev. Craig M. Corbin, Executive Director
