February Campfire Sparks

CAMPFIRE SPARKS LUTHERANS OUTDOORS APPEAL UPDATE

KEEP THE CAMPFIRES BURNING APPEAL IS A BIG SUCCESS THANK YOU!!!

The response from individuals and congregations was tremendous! Our goal has been reached, and even surpassed, with generous gifts from thousands. This is truly humbling, and truly promising, for the future of Lutherans Outdoors.

The Keep the Campfires Burning Appeal began at the end of 2020, and continued throughout the 2021 year. A goal of $1.2 million was created to help recover losses due to closure of our camps during this mentioned time period, and to stabilize the ministry for future service.

Meeting this goal would allow Lutherans Outdoors to begin 2022 debt-free from any financial losses due to the pandemic.

Campfires have been the galvanizing highlight for most everyone’s camp memories at Lutherans Outdoors. The campfire provides a time of inspiration, a time of joyous celebration, and a time of spiritual contemplation. These campfires needed to and will continue to keep burning at NeSoDak, Outlaw Ranch, and Klein Ranch.

THANK YOU

to the many individuals and volunteers who helped in surpassing our goal. Keep

the Campfires Burning Appeal Co-Chairs, Susan Leddy and Darcie Bien, along with Chair for Congregation Gifts, Rev. Dwight Stensgaard, need to be congratulated for moving the Appeal along for success.

The biggest

THANK YOU

goes to

YOU,

all of the individuals and congregations that

participated in a special event or responded to an ask.

YOUR support

makes it possible to

continue burning these important, life-giving campfires at Outlaw Ranch, Klein Ranch, and NeSoDak.

Lutherans Outdoors is excited to be a part of your life in 2022!

Lutherans Outdoors in SD 2001 S Summit Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57197 losd.org/campfires

Burning Campfires For Years Ahead!

The success of the

Keep the Campfires Burning Appeal

can be found in the following letter

written by an Outlaw Ranch youth camper.

"Sadly, the day to say goodbye has come. Oddly enough, I’m not sad about it. For the knowledge I gained this week will last me a lifetime. I was always skeptical about what we were praying in church. I thought of God as a man who was very forgiving and rocked a sweet beard. Then my views and connection with God grew this week at camp. During cabin time, I walked out of the cabin to see my counselor sitting in his hammock reading the Bible --- that really made me think. If someone as cool as my counselor is reading the Bible, I better see what the big deal is. And I did. I found myself scrolling through his Bible in my spare time, reading remarkable stories about God and his creation.

One verse I looked at that caught my eye was Psalm 23:4. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for your rod and your staff, they comfort me.' I will admit during the thunderstorm (during our campout) I was a little freaked out. So in the midst of the very loud thunder, I was lying in my tent repeating that verse I had read the day before, over and over.

And then it seemed as though my prayers were answered when within 20 minutes, we were hightailing it out of there. With that experience, I learned even if you wander, God is still your shepherd and will find you and protect you.

What I learned about God this week, and I’m sure everyone else learned too, is that God is right here, right now. And even if you wander off the path a little or wonder and question God, He still loves. And that is a great feeling.

I saw God this week as I hiked a mountain. Part of the hike I felt like quitting, but something was driving me to the top. And once I got to the top, I was speechless at the view ahead of me. I remember thinking, 'Something truly special must have made that.' And I realized that something special was God.

All in all, I learned at camp lessons that changed my view of life and God. To have someone that protects and cares for you is a great thing. An even greater thing is no matter what we do, God does not judge us. Because as we know, God is right here, right now."

This life-giving ministry has been happening at the camps of Lutherans Outdoors for over 50 years!

And

it

will

continue

for

many

years

into

the

future

providing

campers

of

all

ages

an

opportunity to feel God’s love through intentional, Christ-centered activities, and relationshipbuilding. This is a guarantee. A guarantee sealed by your generous response to LO’s need.

THANK YOU!