Timber Wolf Lake

TIMBER WOLF LAKE — 1999

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4).

Sometimes God’s generous portions come Lake City, Michigan through a cry that awakes a vision in an individual but requires the help of a benefactor and a community. Such is the story of Nehemiah, and such is the story of the gift of Timber Wolf Lake. In 1994, while visiting Castaway Club as adult guests, Rick Poll and his wife were made aware of a geographical problem that Young Life faced in the Midwest. The upper Midwest faced a critical need for a camp, because of the many rural areas in Michigan and neighboring states, not to mention the many city kids living in places like Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit and Cleveland — “a void with a 700-mile diameter.” During their week at camp, a Young Life area director impacted Rick when he said, “Rick, more kids could come if we had a camp close to home.” This “cry” ignited a vision in Poll and began a five-year search, covering three states and more than 70 site visits. Enter the benefactor. In 1998, God generously provided a benefactor who not only put Poll on his payroll so he could be freed up to continue the search, but he also found an ad in “The Wall Street Journal” advertising the land that would eventually become Timber Wolf Lake, and purchased the 876-acre property for $1.6 million dollars and gave it to Young Life! In 2001, campers began arriving at Timber Wolf Lake. (MFT, p. 139)

A cry for help, a vision caught, a generous benefactor, a generous God, a new camp for kids! Which part of this story are you drawn to today? Perhaps you have a cry on your heart? Take some time to offer it up to God. Perhaps there is a vision He intends for you to catch? Take some time to listen. Perhaps you are being called to provide in some way, shape or form.