God is Moving

I love Birch Bay ranch!

That is where I really grew as a Christian, and have made life long friends. Birch bay helped me to quit smoking....lol No, I am not an angel.  Ron and I grew in our relationship. Ron was baptized at Birch Bay, and that is where we got married! When we go and visit, it feels like we are home.

I am thankful for how God moved, and is moving at Birch Bay!

Angela Woods

Blessed

I have been BLESSED by this ministry since I was a young child and I'm always thankful for the many friendships that I've met here. I PRAY, yes, PRAY that this life changing ministry will last for many more years and have my great newphews attend here and their children too.

Robert Soloview

 

Using the Tools

Lately I have been really analyzing the relationship between God’s will and the free will God has given us.  I have been asking people for support and prayer regarding the future of Birch Bay Ranch.  All have offered prayer but the common response has always been “I will pray that God’s will be done with this land and ministry.”  I appreciate their prayer, but I always felt like praying for what I wanted would be wrong because maybe it wasn’t praying for God’s will.

I just want to pray that God gives Birch Bay Ranch its land and assets so it can continue to run as a successful, life-changing ministry.

So, that was my prayer.  On August 27^th I had a meeting at the church with Pastor Bob.  I was going to ask if the land and assets that were donated to the church almost 50 years ago, could just remain in the possession of the Birch Bay Ranch Association.  I had the meeting and on behalf of hundreds of supporters, I asked that.

I must have asked thirty people to pray for that meeting.  All but one said they would pray for God’s will to be done, whatever that might be.

A person who serves in ministry in a leadership role surprised me with her response to my request for prayer support.  After meeting with Pastor Bob I saw an email from her that said, “I prayed for your meeting.  I was praying he was changing his mind and that the Spirit would speak to him while you were speaking.  Good for you to share your heart.”

As God’s children, are we not allowed to humbly bow before Him and pray for something we love?  To pray for something we believe in?  To pray for something we just want?

Sometimes I think we get so caught up in discerning God’s will that we completely forget that God gave us free will too.  It is a gift from Him.  People are shy to take action on things that matter to them because they want to hear from God, they need a sign, they want to make sure they are fulfilling God’s will.  I can’t help wonder why we are not taking this gift of choice, and the other gifts and talents He’s given us, and putting our faith to action.  James 2:14-26.

It is by their God given free will that the church is deciding to disassociate from Birch Bay Ranch.  It is by their God given free will, and their legal right, to do whatever they want with this land as it was given to them.  In the same way, we have the God given free will and the option to do what we can to help Birch Bay Ranch continue to thrive as a ministry.  We all have choices.

Sam McCaughey donated this land to be a summer camp where children can experience positive life change in a nurturing environment and learn about a relationship with Jesus Christ.  He made that choice, and I believe that he was fulfilling God’s will when he did that.  As a result of McCaughey’s decision, THOUSANDS of people have been positively impacted at Birch Bay Ranch.  

We came to this place as children.  We learned about Jesus and grew into men and women of God.  We learned how to share our faith, to be strong communicators, to work together, to support and lift each other up, to act with conviction and integrity, and to become leaders.  We developed a fiery passion for the ministry that was and is Birch Bay Ranch.  I can’t help but think that God’s will might have included giving us all of these skills, equipping us with these tools and with this passion so that one day when Birch Bay Ranch is faced with adversary, that we might PICK UP THE TOOLS AND USE THEM.

Remember that feeling you got when you climbed the wood wall for the first time.  When you smacked that cowbell and looked down at the staff member on the belay line, and the crowd of kids by the fence, to confirm your amazing accomplishment.  YOU DID IT!  For so many of us these obstacles taught us how to overcome challenges and to gain self confidence.  Birch Bay Ranch teaches us that when you slip on a climbing wall hold, the best thing you can do is stop, take a long look around, find better footing, and keep climbing to the top.  If we didn’t have ropes, harnesses, arms or legs, we would never be able to climb to the top.  Thankfully, God gave us all of those things.

Maybe we will never understand God's will, how it related to our own free will, and how we can or should put our faith to action.  I just wanted to put it out there and ask....what do you think?

Jin and Beak from South Korea!

It’s Jin and Beak from South Korea!  We worked at Birch Bay Ranch in the summer 2007. 

We can’t ever forget our leaving day.  Every staff (especially Jaz and Boots!) were hugging us and saying to please come back when we were done our army service in Korea!  When we were praying in some area (was it the gym?) well, that was the first time we felt that God is always around us.  All the time.

Every day at Birch Bay Ranch was soooooo awesome!  That is why we still want to go back to BBR.  We will visit.

Hope to see you guys soon,

Jin and Beak 

To BBR, With Love

I first attended a week of camp when I was 13 years old. My brother and I went together and our Mom was Camp Nurse, and the family tradition began!! 

I remember thinking all the girl counselors were so gorgeous, (and soooo much older and grown up than me – 17 whole years old!), the visiting staff from California were so glamorous, and the skits featuring Tyler and Tanis Neilsen, Crystal Sheren and Jason Pilot were HILARIOUS! The food was delicious, summer outfits took some thought to pack – fabulous AND functional - and Garrett Fraess was the cutest little boy I had ever seen. He picked all the female staff clover bouquets with the roots still attached.

Everything that met the eye was a delight! There were beautiful grounds, cozy cabins, horses and ziplines, and green space galore to have a frolic or two. But more importantly, the heart and soul of Birch Bay Ranch was just as wonderful and appealing as the activities, rodeos and cinnamon buns.

It was in the gym I recall giving my life to Christ officially. I grew up in a wonderful Christian home, knowing and loving God, however it was here I learned how to cultivate my relationship with Him. I learned how simple it is to let the Lord love you and work in your life, and that it was ok to pray casually, opening with ‘Hi, God!’ My husband still thinks this is a bit of a hoot! 

Birch Bay gave me the mentors who guided me when I was a camper, and the staff who were partners in crime during our summer adventures. From helping to lead day camp with the little ones, to worship and chapel, I learned so much from fellow staff and campers alike, young people who love God and were open to sharing their hearts and stories.

Birch Bay Ranch is a cornerstone and staple in so many lives like mine. Even after you’re no longer there for the summers, it’s another home to come to. It has been and still is a gift to me and my family. I’m grateful to this place for so many things – it was there my brother met his beautiful wife, and I have some incredible sister-in-laws to show for it!  My sister got some amazing tans and even more amazing experiences. I met dear friends like Clare McQuitty and her wonderful mother, Vanessa, who taught me a thing or two about Grace whilst dishwashing – a lesson I still recall and try my best to live by. 

God’s work is done every minute of every day at BBR – whether you’re enjoying some time alone with Him, tucking in your youngest campers and making sure they don’t get homesick, discovering what will be a lifelong passion through the countless opportunities they have to share, or just breathing in that country air, 

Birch Bay deserves to be called home by many more for many summers to come.

Carolyn Just (Barker)