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Forever God is Faithful

By Ben Cheek | September 15, 2024

Forever God is Faithful: The Story of Camp Deerpark is an anthology-style History book published in 2019 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Camp Deerpark.

Forever God is Faithful 1

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Table of Contents

Forever God is Faithful Cover
FGF Inside Cover
FGF Publishers Page
FGF Acknowledgments
No Other Foundation

Chapter 1: The Early Years

  • First Camp Director Dale Stoltzfus
  • Buying the Land Dan Glick and Don Gunden 8
  • We Loved it Since Day One Ray and Annie Pacheco 10
  • Served on the First Board John Buckwalter 13
  • It Had Become our Nest Richard Pannell 14
  • In the Kitchen Doris Stoltzfus, Dale Stoltzfus, and Miriam Buckwalter 17
  • A Whole Lot of Faith John I. Smucker 21
  • Starlit Nights Richard Frey 23
  • Sign Up for Camp Deerpark Wes Newswanger 25
  • God’s Presence in Nature Eugene Shelly 28
  • A Beautiful Scene Monroe Yoder 31

Chapter 2: Children’s Camp

  • Beloved Camp Deerpark Tiffany Powell, Ph.D. 37
  • The Cost of a Sacrifice Moriah 39
  • Being a Counselor Lorna Blake-Weaver 41
  • A Special Creation of God Hyacinth Stevens and James 43
  • His Entire Stipend Carson Washington 45
  • A Conscious Decision Devonne Lila McMorris 47
  • Fruits of the Spirit Emanie Colon 49
  • A Place on the Hill Hyacinth Stevens 52
  • Camper Quotes 54

Chapter 3: Retreats

  • Camp is About Family Coming Together Nancy Lopez 61
  • Baked Oatmeal Natica Apau 63
  • Labor Day Weekend at Camp Deerpark Annabelle Perri 65
  • Garifuna Baptism Celmali Jaime Okonji 69
  • We Go Up That Mountain Expecting Miracles to Happen Raymond Ramos 70
  • Retreat Quotes 72

Chapter 4: Events

  • Auctions Alvin Horning, Ruth and Lowell Jantzi, Annie and Ray Pacheco, Donald Stoltzfus, Ken Bontrager, and Dale Stoltzfus 78
  • Banquets Melody Pannell and Dan Glick 84
  • Romance and Weddings Lowell and Ruth Villanueva Jantzi, Orville and Marian Sauder Egli, Elvin “Bo” and Connie Inesta Bowman, Ken and Deborah Sharp Bontrager, William and Delma Escobar Ramos, Joshua and Sara Santiago Martinez 87
  • The Barn Raising Jim Baer, Jesus Cruz, Miriam Cruz, Frank Freeman, Chris Kennel III, Dale Stoltzfus, Doris Stoltzfus, Rebecca Stoltzfus 94
  • Reflections on First Mennonite Gathering at Camp after 9/11 Michael Banks and Ruth Wenger 98
  • Future Richie Bernardez, Jackie Fernandez, Nixon Fernandez, Celmali Jaime, Hanna Misir, Devonne McMorris, Ashley Smith, Kirsten Wenger, and Marin Wenger 100
  • Flood Jackie Fernandez 110

Chapter 5: Local Community

  • Acknowledging the Lenni-Lenape Native Americans 116
  • Remembering George and Lillian Brandt 119
  • Remembering Otto Skinner 123
  • Our Close Neighbor Walter and Jacqueline Russ Mehr 125
  • In Memory of Jacqueline Mehr 129
  • At Freedom Farm Community 131

Chapter 6: Land and Buildings

  • The Old Flow-Through Pool Jesus Cruz, Frank and Barb Freeman, Lowell Jantzi, Dale Stoltzfus, and Duane Stoltzfus 138
  • Fun in the Sun—Playground Nicolas Angustia and Joshua Stevens 141
  • The Even Arm Settle A Favorite Spot for Aquilina and Angelo Torres
  • Hopes and Dreams Ken Bontrager, Richard Frey, Eugene Shelly, and Dale Stoltzfus 146
  • Forestry Stewardship Dr. Chuck Peters 152
  • The Beginnings of Promise Woods Kenton Baer 154
  • Restoring the Small Graveyard Kenton Baer, Thomas Neufeld, Dale and Doris Stoltzfus 159
  • 50 Years of Camp Deerpark Buildings 164

Chapter 7: Staff and Volunteers

  • 50 Years of Camp Deerpark Directors 173
  • Board Service—Three Perspectives over 50 Years Gene Shelly, Jesus Cruz, and Krista LaRuffa 179
  • How Do We Love Thee? Let us Count the Ways . . .Jerry and Leonor Kennell 183
  • Camp Deerpark Will Always Be My Safe Place Talibah Aquil 185
  • Breaking Down Barriers Lanny Millette 187
  • What Can I Say About Camp Deerpark John Brock Jr. 190
  • One Family’s Memories Jesus, Miriam, and Christina Cruz 192
  • We Had a Special Program Melody Pannell 196
  • Cross-Cultural Appreciation Maynard Shirk 198
  • We Came Through Mennonite Voluntary Service Ken and Jan Kurtz 200
  • How Could You Not Like It? Jim Baer 202
  • The Impact of Camp Barbara Freeman 205
  • Forest Hills Mennonite Church Work Groups Dan Glick, Toby Leaman, Zac Hummel, and Terri Glick
  • Tomatoes and Sweet Corn Reuben and Dorothy Stoltzfus 212
  • Camp Deerpark and I Marian Sauder Egli 214
  • Volunteering at Camp Charlie and Joyce Martin 219
  • Reflecting on the Past and Vision for the Future Ken Bontrager 222

Appendices

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