News From Big Sandy Camp

DIRECTOR’S CORNER 

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In the last newsletter, I shared about our Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) denomination and how there is much beauty in how we came to be and the mission that we accomplish together. Another piece of C&MA history is how Family Camp was an integral part of an annual rhythm for many people. Families would come together for days to hear from missionaries, pastors, and leaders about what God was doing around the world and the people groups that needed to be reached with the good news of Jesus.  

I LOVE that Family Camp had such a powerful place in our history and how Family Camps still make an impact today. I love the inspiration and togetherness of a multi-generational gathering of families and believers. It provides a unique opportunity for individuals and families to step away from the distractions of daily life and focus on their relationship with God, one another, and the church community..

One of the greatest strengths of Family Camp is its ability to foster spiritual growth. Through our worship services, Bible teaching, prayer, and fellowship, family campers are encouraged to deepen their faith and strengthen their commitment to Jesus Christ. The camp environment creates space for people to hear God's voice and experience renewal in their spiritual lives. 

Family Camp also strengthens family relationships. Parents, children, and grandparents can spend quality time together while participating in activities that promote unity, fun, and meaningful conversation. These shared experiences often create lasting memories and help build stronger faith in homes. 

Family Camp is more than a vacation or annual gathering. It is a powerful ministry that nurtures faith, strengthens families, builds community, and advances the mission of the church.  

Consider joining us this summer for one of our two Family Camps and join a movement of families who vacation on purpose FOR a purpose! 

Rhonda Wynegar

Camp Director

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Moving Big Sandy Camp Forward

We are so grateful to all of your support! We have raised the funds needed to replace the roof on Lakeview Chapel! The initial work has begun, and we hope to have it completed soon! 

Another big project that needs to be addressed is that we still have a great need for a generator that has the capacity to keep Lakeview powered. This generator, and the building to house it, will cost $175,000. We also need to upgrade the walk- in cooler compressor. It is really old! No walk-in cooler means no food. No food means sad and hungry campers. This project will cost about $22,500. Lastly, we have a few areas around Camp that are in desperate need of new carpet, starting with the Lakeview Chapel!

We know many of you have given faithfully to Camp. We also know that we have many more needs at Camp and we will keep making them known. It will take more time to keep moving camp forward. Project by project, Camp is getting better and more sustainable!  



If God lays it on your heart to help us get closer to funding these projects please CLICK THIS LINK. We truly believe that God is going to use a multitude of people to continue to build camp forward. As He blesses camp through people, those people are also blessed in their obedience.

- Scott Wynegar, Director of Development

Upcoming

• RIVERSIDE KIDS CAMP – June 15-19 
• EXPLORERS (Gr 3-5) and ADVENTURERS (Gr 6-8) Camps - June 23-27 
• ROOKIE (Gr 2-3), EXPLORERS (Gr 3-5) and CRAFT (Gr 4-5) CAMPS - June 29-July 2 
• FAMILY CAMP 1 - July 3-5 – Speaker Jonny Olson 
• ADVENTURERES & WAKEBOARD CAMPS (Gr 6-8) - July 7-11 
• PATHFINDERS (Gr 9-12) CAMP - July 14-18 
• NEXT GEN CAMP – July 20-24 
• FAMILY CAMP 2 – September 4-7 – Speaker John Stumbo 
• FALL FAMILY WORK WEEKEND - September 18-19
• MARRIAGE RETREAT!! - Oct 9-11
• MOTHER/DAUGHTER RETREAT - Oct 30-Nov 1 (Ages 7 and up)
• YOUNG ADULT RETREAT - Nov 20-21 (Graduated High School--30 years)

Staff Spotlight

Summer Staff Team 2026

We have begun Summer Staff training! We have been busy zipline certifying, rock wall certifying, first aid/CPR certifying, training on all the program areas, hours of cabin leader training, cleaning, decorating and prepping camp! It is a special and sacred time of year as we bring in the team that God has set apart to do ministry with hundreds of kids who come through Camp this summer. We are excited about this crew! They love Jesus and are excited to be used by Him to impact campers. Pray for them as the minister to campers – that they would have energy, wisdom, joy, patience, health, safety, and eyes fixed on Jesus all summer! Pray for them by name! Abby, Addy, Belle, Curt, Eli K., Eli R., Ella, Gretchen, Ike, Jazmyn, Jerusha, Kat, Molly, Nathan, Noah, Raedun, Travis, Trinity, Walter, Will. Keep the full-time staff and families in your prayers too! Summer is an exhilarating and exhausting time. We can’t wait to report what God will do this summer in the next newsletter

(Staff Team 2026 – taken at Zion Evangelical Fellowship as part of our cultural training preparing for our Next Gen camp) 

(Together again – 11 returners and 9 new staff – excited to see how God will use this group of leaders!) 

THANK YOU for FANTASTIC Work Weekends!

We were praying for 75 people for Workday this year – which was 68 people more than we had last year.  

We had 78 PEOPLE over two work weekends!!!! It was an amazing encouragement to our team and a HUGE blessing to all the people coming to camp who can enjoy a better, cleaned up, and fixed up camp! God answered our prayers through those of you who gave your time and talents to come help out!! That equates to over 450 man hours to help keep camp looking better and better! 

If this inspires you and you feel sad you missed out, never fear! Camp needs to be cleaned up and fixed up ALL THE TIME! We will have a Fall Family work weekend September 18-19. Join us for another inspiring weekend of getting things done at camp! Most agree that work at camp is the most fun work you will do! Mark your calendars now  

Praise & Prayer

• Praise God for His provision in ways that only He can get the glory! God continues to bless us through many of you! 
• Praise God for our full Summer Staff team! 
• Praise God for the volunteers who have helped make camp better! 
• Pray with us for growth in camper numbers – more campers = more lives changed! 
• Pray for our Next Gen camp as we navigate this new and exciting opportunity to ministry to our multi-ethnic churches! 
• Pray that God will prepare the hearts of campers as they come to Camp and that they will receive what God wants to say to them! 
• Pray for the provision of funds for the generator, kitchen walk-in cooler, and carpet! 
• Pray for us to have a full crew of LIT’s (Leaders In Training) this summer! We have a wonderful LIT leader and we need more LIT’s! 
• Pray for more guest cabin leaders. We have a couple waitlists, and we just need a few people who love Jesus and love campers to come for a week in order to make a HUGE impact in the lives of campers! 
• Pray for wisdom for decisions, finances, and future development of spaces and people!  

Thank YOU for being an integral part of the ministry of camp. We truly cannot do this without YOU! It takes a large village to make camp a reality!

We LOVE our Big Sandy Camp Family!!

GET IN TOUCH

Big Sandy Camp & Retreat Center

52511 185th Place

McGregor, MN 55760

218-426-3389