CAMPFIRE NEWS

Featured Story (pg. 3)

“I always wondered if there

was something more to this

life...”

Charlie, Student at

Wheeler Mission’s Training Center at

Camp Hunt

In This Issue

Providence: The History

of Camp Hunt

Director’s Corner:

Dwayne Shares His

Training Center

Updates!

God Changes Lives:

Charlie’s Story

The Story Continues…

How Can I Help?

A Reminder of The Cross of Christ, Wheeler’s Logo Greets Those Who Enter Camp Hunt!

A Window To Our Ministry! We are excited to share this and future monthly newsletters with

you about this ministry of Wheeler Mission. We hope you will take

a look inside this “window” and stay informed about what is going

on here at Wheeler Mission’s Training Center! Each month, we

will share stories from the people who are involved in this ministry

and keep you connected to what is going on here. We hope that

this newsletter will make you feel connected to our ministry and

inform you about how you can pray for us! Thank you for your

support of this ministry. God is saving lives here, and your sup-

port makes you a vital part of this ministry.

A Newsletter from the Wheeler Mission Training Center at Camp Hunt—Bloomington, Indiana July 2015 #1

Providence: The History of Camp Hunt By: Josh Callahan, Office Administrator at Camp Hunt

Evidence of God’s providence is all around us. One testimony of God’s providence

is with the land here at Wheeler Mission’s Camp Hunt. You see, back in 1955, a

group of doctors that were developing this land in Monroe County ran short on

capital. As a result, they had to sell—just to get back what they had in it. Howev-

er, God had big plans for this land.

One May morning in 1955, Leonard Hunt, superintendent of Wheeler Mission at

that time, saw the ad for the sale of this land and wanted to buy the 112 acres and

Lazy Lake. Leonard Hunt and the Mission board had plans to find a camp for

Wheeler Mission. This land was a great fit for that vision! The price for the land

was $35,000, and their counter-offer of $22,500 was accepted. However, Wheeler

did not have that money. Not yet anyway. God called Leonard Hunt and the Mis-

sion board to take a step of faith— and they did.

God honored that step of faith. No sooner did the doctors accept Wheeler Mis-

sion’s offer, a lawyer called to inform Wheeler’s leadership that an estate was left

for the Mission. Guess how much that estate was for? $23,000! Just enough to

cover the purchase of what is now referred to as Camp Hunt.

Since then, Wheeler Mission’s Camp Hunt has grown and has been a place God

has used in the lives of children, mothers for a retreat from the inner-city, and a

place where men can focus on their recovery from addictions. Today, Camp Hunt

and its near 300 acres, is home of Wheeler Mission’s Training Center. Men are

able to heal from addictions and become certified to help others in biblical disciple-

ship. Camp Hunt is also home to Wheeler’s ministry internship, Servant Leader-

ship Training, where men go deeper in their abilities to help others in preparation

to be leaders in their community and their church.

God is always in control. His providence is all around us! Camp Hunt is a testimo-

ny to that.

Director’s Corner: By: Dwayne Gordon,

Director of the Training Center at Camp

Hunt

It’s been an exciting summer so far at Camp

Hunt. We love seeing God transform lives

and restore families. Right now we have

seven men enrolled in our Family Counsel-

ing Program. These are men that are still

married and working through the restoration

process with their wives and families. Addic-

tion puts such a strain on the family, often

times the marriage is in shambles when a

man enters our program. He has to learn

how to take ownership of his past behavior

and ask for forgiveness. They are truly acts

of God when families are reconciled, they

often times need to be healed of bitterness,

unforgiveness, depression, and trauma. It is

a pleasure to see people overcome life and

marriage threatening sin.

This summer we also had a special guest

on camp. Luna is a 6 year old girl whose

father graduated the program and enrolled

in our Servant Leadership Training Pro-

gram. After he graduated he was granted

custody of Luna for the summer. It is spe-

cial when you see a man who was absent

and unavailable become a father. This par-

ticular guy went from manufacturing meth-

amphetamines and spending time in prison

to freedom in Christ and an abundant life.

He now wants to work on his certifications

to become a drug and alcohol counselor…

Giving back through a repentant life!

Lazy Lake at Camp Hunt!

Just a few of the men whose lives were changed at Camp Hunt!

God Changes

Lives!

One of the programs at the

Training Center is our Ad-

diction Recovery Program.

Here, men are considered

students studying a new

way of life through following

Jesus. We know God is the

one who changes lives!

We believe that the Chris-

tian approach to recovery

involves applying God’s

truth to our lives (John

17:17). In other words, true

recovery hinges on individ-

uals applying what they are

taught (Matthew 7:24-27).

Most issues started well

before the onset of the ad-

diction, and abstinence

from the addiction is only a

small part of being set free.

The issue of sin and a life-

style set in opposition to

God, which is common to

everyone, is the greater

problem (Romans 3:23).

We believe that by being

reconciled to God, through

a relationship with Jesus

Christ, people can begin

the process of growth and

maturity in Christ (John

3:16, Romans 6:23, 8:29).

Meet Charlie, Student at Wheeler Mission’s Training Center

Charlie’s Story: By: Ryan Bobbett, Servant Leader in Training

Prior to coming to Wheeler Mission’s Training Center at Camp Hunt, Charlie admit-

ted his life was very hopeless. In and out of prison for the last 15 years, he said “I

always wondered if there was something more to this life…” At the end of his rope

he found himself in violation of his parole and on a possible return trip to prison. He

was told about Wheeler Mission. Before coming, he said that he never knew about

God. In fact, he had never even opened up his Bible. It was a big step for him to

open up to his peers about his doubts and struggles, but Charlie says that today he

can finally see there is something more to life.

Charlie says that the things he has been taught here have had a major impact on

him. He is quick to give God all of the glory for saving him out of the lifestyle he was

lost in. Charlie has already made a commitment to stay for Servant Leadership

Training, our nine month ministry internship. He says his decision is based on a

desire to continue his walk with the Lord and to show gratitude for the second

chance he has been given. Charlie wants to do his internship where the intake and

orientation phases of the addiction recovery program is located. He says, “I want to

share the same hope I have today with the new guys coming in.” Please pray for

Charlie and his family as well as the rest of the men here at the Wheeler Mission

Training Center at Camp Hunt!

“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved

him out of all his troubles.” Psalm 34:6

Contact Us

We would love to hear from you! If you,

or someone you know is in need of help

with addictions or other life dominating

issues, or if you would like to volunteer,

or partner with us financially, please

contact us!

Wheeler Mission Training Center at

Camp Hunt

7790 N. Fish Rd.

Bloomington, IN 47408

(812) 332-2452

(Camp Hunt Office)

(317) 636-2720

(Program Intake Office, Jed Baker)

DwayneGordon@wmm.org

Visit us on the web at www.wmm.org

The Story Continues… Over the past two months, we have had four men graduate our Addiction

Recovery Program and two men complete their ministry internship in Serv-

ant Leadership Training. We are excited for what God has in store for these

men! To date, this brings the total number of people who have completed

our program at the Training Center to 274! Thank you for being a part of the

work that God is doing here through your prayers and financial support!

God’s story of redemption that He is writing in these men’s lives continue…

How Can I Help? We have plans made to build a new multi-purpose building that will house

our counseling offices, dining facilities, and recreational areas. Exercise is

an important part of recovery and unfortunately our residents are limited

during the winter months. We are excited about this much needed facility

and how it will impact the program. We need your help! We are in the pro-

cess of raising $800,000. If God puts it on your heart, would you consider

helping us by donating to and praying for this cause? Please mark your do-

nations by writing “Multi-Purpose Building” in the memo line of your check.

We would also welcome any help with finding potential donors, developing

fund raising ideas, and expanding our network. Thank you!

Wheeler Mission Training Center at Camp Hunt

7790 N. Fish Rd.

Bloomington, IN 47408

PLACE STAMP HERE