ponderosa_biblecamp

The Ponderosa Bible Camp

Ponderosa Student Ministries exists to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to students by giving them opportunities to experience God's power, presence and peace; through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We seek to accomplish this by providing camp facilities and programs, Bible classes, and correspondence lessons that promote the spiritual, moral, social, and educational condition of students.

Interview:

When did you first begin your work with the Ponderosa Bible Camp? What led you to this choice?

Jeff & Ann Nelson, along with their 11 children are resident staff at Ponderosa. Jeff serves as Director of Ponderosa Student Ministries and Ponderosa Bible Camp. He oversees all areas of ministry here at Ponderosa. Ann serves as Camp Photographer, Webmaster, and publications designer. The Nelson family along with the other resident staff also serve through our Ministry of Hospitality as they play host to the numerous Rental Groups that use our facilities throughout the year. Jeff grew up coming to Ponderosa as a camper. In High School and College, Jeff served as a Camp Counselor, Lifeguard, and Program Director. Jeff is a 1983 graduate of Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham. Jeff also has a BS degree in Business Management from UAB. After spending 12 years managing a landscaping company in Birmingham, the Lord called Jeff and Ann into full-time ministry, and brought Jeff back to the place he loved so much growing up! The Nelsons joined the staff in May of 1998.

What are some of the obstacles you have come up against?

Our toughest obstacle is fundraising. We are faith-supported missionaries which means we are personally responsible to raise 100% of our income. We do not receive a salary from the camp. Faith-supported missionaries look to God in faith for the provision of financial, spiritual and other needs. These needs are then communicated to individuals and churches so that others can embrace their vision and support the missionary prayerfully and financially. Our monthly "pay-check" is written based on donations received on our behalf in the previous month. Such support enables us to follow God's call on our life to be a part of reaching students with the Gospel of Christ, and to provide for our family. (It keeps us totally dependent on Him!)

What makes you continue your work, even through the toughest obstacles?

God's undeniable call to be a part of this ministry and His continued faithfulness to touch the hearts of those who can meet our needs.

How has this life choice affected you and your family?

We are a family on a Mission! Living at camp is very different from being a camper. Instead of riding horses, our kids are making sure trails are open, the horses are saddled, the pool is clean, and the grass is cut. Instead of the carefree life of a camper, our family is part of a team serving campers. Being a family in Christian camping is also worlds apart from being a family attending a week of family camp. We are not just part of the experience; we are responsible for delivering the camp experience to the groups we host. For our family, Christian camping is choosing to be on a kingdom mission together. This is not just "Dad's/Mom's ministry/job." We are all giving ourselves away for Jesus Christ by sharing our lives with the world through Ponderosa Student Ministries. We are doing this together, as a family. Raising kids at camp allows our children to be part of our family mission. Our children learn what it means to "give it up for Christ" and to live attempting to bring more of the kingdom of heaven into the kingdom of earth. At the core of what we do as a camp family is show hospitality to groups throughout the year. We live our lives out in a "fish bowl". We constantly have people in and out of "our world" and "our space". It is vulnerable, but that is OK!

Please give a brief statement of encouragement to others who are thinking about, or who are in the process of making a major life decision to help make a difference to others.

In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul describes a community of Christ that makes a transformational difference in the world; and our relationships look different because of Christ. "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." This is great inspiration for being a family on a kingdom mission, living in a unique community and pursuing a bigger life together as we serve Christ and bless those we come in contact with through this ministry!