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How Camping Ministry Builds Community

For 29 years, hundreds of people have gathered together around the game of golf to raise important funds to make camp more accessible for kids. This year was no different. On September 25, over 100 participants took to the course in honor of Antwan Williams. Antwan was not only a GOLF for kids scholarship fund recipient but grew up to be a well loved member of the summer staff. Sadly, Antwan passed away in college and since then we have spent every year remembering his legacy by looking forward to bringing more campers to Covenant Harbor.  

Antwan was one of the most requested counselors by campers every summer he served. He made deep, meaningful connections, making every camper feel seen and heard. Relationships are at the core of our ministry, and though this fundraiser is about funding camper experiences, it is also about the relationships that are formed and strengthened over 18 holes.

We had a guest who played a full game of golf for the very first time this year. They came in Monday morning excited and eager to swing a club and over the course of the day their team coached them on how to improve their game. They finished the day saying just how much the supportive attitudes of their team made them feel comfortable and allowed them to enjoy the event. 

A church pastor was out on the course with a few members from their congregation. At the end of the day they were so thankful for this undistracted time to be present. They said that the tournament created space for everyone to open up and share what has been on their hearts recently. The day provided the perfect opportunity to go deeper into their friendships. 

That is just the beginning of the relationships and connections that happened over the day.  Our youngest golfer, at just 12 years old, played side by side with their uncle and a group of brothers came together again this year to have fun and be together. By stepping away from their daily routines, our golfers were able to support our campers and each other.

We are so thankful for another successful year of raising over $75,000 for camp. Because of the generosity of these golfers and others like them, hundreds of kids have the ability to make meaningful and new relationships at camp. We are grateful for the many ways that the Lord used this day to bless camp ministry while deepening connections that centered around his goodness.