Know Jesus
John and Emily had friends, the Gillette family, who are regular attendees at Bay Shore Family Camp and had been telling them about it for a couple of years. And their son, J.P. had experienced major disappointments in his junior year of high school, regarding his aspirations to be a firefighter. That door closed for him. Being pressured by John’s employer to schedule their vacation time, they decided to take a chance on Bay Shore’s Family Camp and make it about J.P.
That year, the evangelist challenged people with the words from Isaiah 6:8, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I: send me.” When J.P. heard those words he said, “I’ll go.” And from there, J.P. began his journey into mission work. J.P. began by working on Summer Staff at Bay Shore and then took a missionary journey all over the world, partially supported by the Bay Shore’s Charitable Gifts Committee.
Before attending Bay Shore, summers always included various destinations but this one was different.
They give thanks for so many of the sermons they’ve heard and are most thankful for how the speakers have impacted their lives.
Besides J.P., John and Emily have three other kids, two girls and another boy. They are especially thankful for how their kids comfortably connected with other kids and they look forward to coming back each year and reconnecting with the friends they’ve made here. The kids choosing with joy to attend all of the age appropriate bible teaching affirms their decision to take a week each summer to attend Bay Shore. Last year, their middle school son invited three friends to attend with his family. (They even gave up a week of soccer to attend.)
For themselves, they come praying that the Holy Spirit might speak something new into their lives and affirm and encourage them in their parenting and their marriage. They come to be strengthened as a family, spending time together.
Emily says, “We come because we love Jesus and we want our kids to experience that.”
They love seeing their kids growing deeper in their faith. They come back because they want their kids to know Jesus and know that can happen at camp!
