A Camp Story for the Ages!

Retold by Kelsey Standafer

since 2001, Camp has been a second home to me. I deeply treasure the friendships, skills learned, and Truth gleaned. As a part of the Camp band, I learned from far better musicians than myself. Phil Gerth taught me how to use a drill and swing an axe. I even met my husband at Camp! So many treasured blessings. But none are more special than the story of when I gave my life to the Lord.

Kelsey (right) as a camper at Camp Lebanon.

The 2001 summer theme was “Soldiers of the King.” I remember singing “I’m in the Lord’s Army” a lot. The staff was all-in, making my first week a very fun, immersive experience as I learned what it meant to be a soldier for Christ. In fact, I gave my life to Jesus that week. Whatever the speaker said, the Holy Spirit used the words to pierce my ten-year-old heart, showing me my need for forgiveness and a Savior.

Over the years I would enjoy looking back at the pictures developed from the disposable camera I carried to Camp that week. Admittedly, most of them were of chipmunks, but I did get one of the speaker in the middle of chapel...at least of his hand! It was accidentally illuminated by the camera’s flash. I was so embarrassed when he lightheartedly called me out. Over the years, I would look at that photo wishing I could thank him both for not shaming me for interrupting his message and for allowing the Holy Spirit to use his words to lead me to Jesus. But alas, a hand is not a good indicator of identity. I resigned to thank him in Heaven.

Fast forward to 2019. I’m back sitting in the same chapel while my husband, Jackson, stands on stage and lifts his hand to the sky in front of 200 Super Kid campers. Instantly I’m back in that moment when I was the camper taking that picture with the flash. I watched as he led the kids in a prayer for salvation, just as had been done for me 18 years before. Jackson (or “Mr. Ketchup” as the kids have come to know him) was becoming part of their lives and stories just as the man with the illuminated hand had been part of mine.

Then it hit me. I was at Camp and there must be records of past years somewhere. So I marched up to the Director’s office. As I suspected, Bobber Bill had shelves of historical binders, one for every year. Together we located the records from 2001. And there it was! The program schedule for Super Kids 1, June 24-28, 2001. Theme: “Soldiers of the King!” Speaker: Greg Standafer.

When I saw the name my heart nearly burst out of my chest. My own father-in-law led me to Christ! The hand in the photo I stared at all these years was the same hand that gave his only son to me on my wedding day. The hand that held mine and said, “I’m so thankful to call you ‘daughter’ now.” The hand that now hugs and tickles my two infant sons!

Wanting to immediately call him, I stepped out lakeside onto the very Chalet deck that his hand helped to build and then dialed his number. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for the chance to thank the person who led me to Christ,” I said as my father-in-law and I wept together. “Greg, thank you for hearing the Lord and speaking His Truth. I’ll be grateful forever.”

We don’t always get to see the fruit of our ministries. As followers of Christ, sometimes He leads us to love people without us ever knowing the good that comes from it. Miraculously, this wasn’t one of those times. Now we glorify the Lord even more for what He orchestrated both in my life and in the lives of the Standafer family. Our Camp legacy goes back far. Now we can only wonder how far into the future it will continue!