CLP Newsletter Sept. - Dec. 2018

What Has God Done?

2018 In Review God has done some amazing things at Camp Lost Pines in 2018. We hosted the Church of God of Prophecy Texas Youth Ministries (TYM)  Joyfest  on January 11-14. TYM director Loretta Thompson conducted an awesome weekend of spiritual refreshing and renewal for  youth from  all across the state.
The next weekend, 01/19 - 01/21 Camp Lost Pines welcomed, for the first time, the Maronite Youth Organization’s (MYO) regional youth retreat with 110 attendees. MYO is a Lebanese Catholic group headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio which wanted to hold an event for their youth from the central Texas area.
The day after MYO left Camp Lost Pines another “first” happened. The Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) group, who were in the area to help restore lives and homes damaged by the flooding of the Colorado River in LaGrange, checked in for an extended stay (three months) at our campgrounds.
TYM held their Connect retreat on 02/15 - 02/18. This was a great time for the older youth of COGOP in Texas to come together for the weekend at Camp Lost Pines.
The first four months of 2018 closed out with the Texas Men’s Retreat (English) being directed by Pastor Willie Miller on April 6 - 8. This was a great time for the men from across Texas to come together and fellowship one with another.
The first of May we saw Team Hope from KSBJ Radio Station in the Houston area,  arrive at Camp Lost Pines. For the past three years Team Hope has been staying overnight at the camp while riding in the BP MS150 bike-a-thon from Houston to Austin.
 On the 18th - 20th  of May our friends from Ministerio Cristo Para Todos in Manor, TX returned to Camp Lost Pines for their Men’s Retreat. Then on June 1 - 3 they came for their annual women’s retreat. This church has been retreating with us for three years now and Camp Lost Pines has become their “Favorite Camp.”
Beginning on June 8, we had a wonderful season of COGOP Summer Camp this year and many young people were ministered to as the Holy Spirit moved in all three camps. We truly saw the working of the Spirit in the transforming of young hearts. The COGOP Summer Camps ended on June 30, but the ministry of Camp Lost Pines continued on.
July 4th -8th we welcomed to our campgrounds The Church of God / Texas  for their Family Camp and Texas State Convention. The Church of God had a wonderful time over the 5 days they were with us. Their people were so impressed with our facilities and with the wonderful Spirit of the Lord that they have already booked their State Convention for next July at Camp Lost Pines. But God was not done with Camp Lost Pines and the month of July yet. Before the month was over we served two more groups including Iglasia da Dios MI from Houston and Amistad Cristiana Cristian Church from Garfield.
Pastor Maharai Medina brought 18 men from his church in Dayton to Camp Lost Pines for a retreat on August 3rd -5th. The next weekend our friends from Cristo Para Todos brought 50 folks from their church in Manor for a short one-night retreat on August 10th. The Vasquez Family Reunion, organized by Bishop Willie Vasquez pastor of the Oak Glen COGOP in Houston, Texas, was held on August 17th & 18th.
As we moved into the final third of the year we saw our friends from Amested Cristiana return to Camp Lost Pines on September 7 - 9.
On October 4 - 7 “The Junkers” (a group of 15 women who go antique shopping in the area each year, returned to Camp Lost Pines for the fourth year in a row.
God truly blessed during the COGOP Texas Spanish Men’s Retreat held on October 19 -21. There were 120 men in attendance as the Spirit of the Lord moved mightily in every session.
The Lord Jesus Christ proved His faithfulness once again when, on November 1 the Mennonite Disaster Service folks returned to Camp Lost Pines for another season of serving in the LaGrange area. MDS has had their headquarters officials come out from Pennsylvania. They have conducted training classes for their volunteers and have truly enjoyed our facilities. They plan on being with us until April or May of 2019.
We are extremely  blessed to have these folks rent Camp Lost Pines for their groups of volunteers while they build new homes for the flood victims in LaGrange. They help out around the campgrounds as well with their many different skills and talents. They just enjoy serving!
CAMP LOST PINES 30th ANNIVERSARY
On November 17, 2018 we hosted our 30 year anniversary service and camp reunion celebration. Oh what a wonderful time it was! Our “Guest of Honor” was Bishop Clive Jared. He flew in from his home in Oklahoma to join us. Bishop Jared was the State Overseer of East Texas when the Church of God of Prophecy purchased Camp Lost Pines in 1988. He is now 90 years old and still going strong for God. It was wonderful to have him come and tell a little about those early years of this ministry.
Our former State Overseer of Texas, Dr. Hector Ortiz and his faithful wife Sister Dolly, were able to attend and share some of their experiences about the ministries of CLP over the many years they served. It was a blessing to have Dr. Ortiz tell about the beginning of the educational explosion taking place in COGOP and how it got its start under his leadership and vision, right here in Texas at Camp Lost Pines.
Bishop Daniel Felipe, State Overseer of Texas, was our guest speaker. He shared with us that not only does Camp Lost Pines have “potential” but that we are in the mist of reaping the “reality” of its potential. It was great to hear from Bishop Felipe.
Other special guest included Carl Dubie from Mennonite Disaster Service and Bishop Allen Mack and his wife Twana. Bro. Mack is the Texas State Overseer for The Church of God.
I want to thank ALL those who were on our program, in attendance, and working in the background to make our celebration such a success. I am sending out a very special “THANK YOU” to Herb & Linda Atzbach and Wilma Tunis, for their faithful dedication and labor of love in preparing our wonderful lunch, which was tremendously enjoyed by everyone. Thanks guys, you are the BEST!
The ministry of Camp Lost Pines never closes. We are here to serve and to provide all our guest with a safe, clean environment in which they can rest, relax and rejuvenate. If you would like to book an event please contact us on the web at www.camplostpines.com or phone 832-830-5337.
In January we set a lofty goal of $40,000 in rental revenue for 2018. I am overwhelmed to tell you that we have far exceeded our goal. As of December 31,  our gross income for the year of 2018 is $55,815.00. To God be the glory!
 I tell you the Lord  is still doing great things at Camp Lost Pines as we strive to become “His Favorite Camp.”