SUMMER 2018 VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1

The Wilds Christian Association, Inc. publishes

The Wilds NewsLetter. Change of address information
and comments should be sent to:
The Wilds Christian Association, Inc
PO Box 509
Taylors, SC 29687-0009
Phone: (864) 268-4760
Fax: (864) 292-0743
E-mail: newsletter@wilds.org
Visit our website at www.wilds.org or visit
The Wilds Online Store at www.wilds.org/store.
Editor: Ken Collier
Graphic Designer: Craig Stouffer
Publications Coordinator: Maylin Seiter
Summer 2018 • Volume 37 • Number 1
© 2018 The Wilds Christian Association, Inc.
All rights reserved.
The Wilds and CampsAbroad are registered
trademarks of The Wilds Christian Association, Inc.
North Carolina Campsite:
The Wilds
1000 Wilds Ridge Road
Brevard, NC 28712-7273
Phone: (828) 884-7811
Fax: (828) 862-4813
New England Campsite:
The Wilds of New England

TWNE:
1181 Deering Center Road
Deering, NH 03244-6529
Phone/Fax: (603) 529-0001
The Wilds Christian Association, Inc. is an
independent, nondenominational, nonprofit, 501(c)
(3) organization created for the purpose of operating
Christian camps and conference centers. We are
fundamental in our beliefs, Bible-centered in our
philosophy, and evangelistic in our outreach.
The Wilds Christian Association, Inc. presently
operates a Christian camp and conference center in
the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina
that is open year-round. The camp has a carefully
selected and trained staff and averages nearly

A WONDERFUL JOURNEY
20,000 campers per year. In 2009 The Wilds of New
England began ministry at our campsite in Deering,
New Hampshire. In this peaceful, rural setting we
are experiencing steady growth in attendance at our
summer camps as well as in our fall programs.
Rand Hummel
In addition to providing a God-honoring music
publication service as an integral part of our
Director • The Wilds of New England
ministry, The Wilds Christian Association, Inc. has Deering, New Hampshire
also established the CampsAbroad program to assist
others in the formation and operation of Christian
camp ministries around the world.

2 newsletter summer 2018

 After
Bef ore

After
Bef ore

1978. The Wilds was in its 10 th

year of existence when Amber and I,

only 21 years of age, began one of the most
wonderful ministry journeys anyone could
imagine. Who would have thought that 40
years later we would be celebrating another 10th
year anniversary—this time at The Wilds of New
England in Deering, New Hampshire?

www.wilds.org 3
 After
Bef ore
Ten years. It has been amazing and wonderful to see
God change lives, build relationships, supply needs,
send campers, challenge hearts, rebuild buildings, make
friends, and establish a ministry that has impacted more
than 9,700 summer campers and 5,800 fall campers in 10
short years. That’s over 15,000 campers! Only God could
do that—and it is wonderful!
What we call “miracles” in the Bible, Jesus referred to
as “signs and wonders.” Now to Jesus, they were simply
“signs” of His infinite power and unconditional love. Jesus
never “wondered” how He calmed the sea or healed the
blind man. But to us, such displays of God’s magnificent
power and love are wonderfully “full-of-wonder” to
behold!

BLESSINGS
• The existence of The Wilds of New England after 10
years is a wonderful work of God.
• The hundreds of churches that call TWNE their camp is a
wonderful joy and responsibility.
• The thousands of campers whose lives have been
impacted is a wonderful expression of God’s power.
• The beautifully revived 110-acre property is a wonderful
tool God has given us to use for His glory.
• The team of year-round staff (and volunteer staff) that
God has assembled to serve at TWNE is a wonderful joy to
serve with.
• The start of our 10th year of ministry with absolutely no
debt is a wonderful picture of God’s provision.
• The 50 talented and faithful summer staff members
who come each summer are a wonderful bundle of joy,
youthful craziness, and they desire to love and serve God.
• The trust factor the camp has seen with hundreds of
local churches in New England and the Northeast is a
wonderful privilege and responsibility.
• The number of camper scholarships given each summer
is a wonderful expression of people’s generous hearts and
strong desire to see campers’ lives change for God’s glory.

4 newsletter summer 2018

 Before

After
Again, the existence of The Wilds of New England after
10 years is a wonderful work of God.
Although these blessings are wonderful and miraculous
in our eyes, they are definitely “signs” of God’s love,
God’s provision, and God’s compassion to us all.
“Thank you Lord, for being so wonderful!”

Before

Before

After
After

www.wilds.org 5

Building Update
Matt Herbster We have been preparing to
Director • The Wilds complete our expansion of the
Brevard, North Carolina
Junior Boot Camp program by the
summer of 2019. This expansion
will accommodate 100 more
juniors each week for 10 weeks.
The following pictures show the
progress with that project.  adult sponsors in the summer.
New Junior Boot Camp
Boys' Cabins – We look forward
to using the new Junior boys
cabins and bathhouse during
Summer 2018. Through the efforts
of many amazing volunteers, these
well-built cabins are ready for this
coming summer, though we will
complete the whole expansion
project by the 50th Anniversary
summer of The Wilds in 2019!
Old Meeting Hall/New
Sponsor Dining Hall (not
pictured) – In the early days of
camp, this was used as a venue for
services, Christian Life Seminars,
team meetings, and Funtime. It
6 newsletter summer 2018
JBC
Cabins
morphed into a storage room for
the last 20 years or so and was the
home for a multitude of necessities
around camp. This room will be
receiving a major overhaul during
the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019
to become the new Dining Hall for
New Storage Building – This
climate-controlled building houses
all that was in the Meeting Hall
and much more. This part of the
expansion project has already been
completed and is fully operational.
Dormitory (not pictured) –
This building has been a mainstay
on the campsite for years, but
it was time for an upgrade! The
outside has been given new
“skin.” Inside, you will find a new
sprinkler system. By the summer of
2019, the rooms will be remodeled
and more spacious restrooms will
be ready for our Junior Boot Camp
girls and female summer staff.
 New use New Storage
a t hho Building
B
WHO KNEW?
I will never forget the first day
that The Wilds camp began. Prior
to starting any of our planned
activities, I was told that one of
our staff members had already
led a teenage camper to the Lord.
What a wonderful way to start!
My wife, Diane, and I realized
that it was not only the property
and programs we had planned,
but God showed us it was His
love and power in “putting His
stamp of approval upon the
Ken Hay
Founder • The Wilds ministry.”
Taylors, South Carolina During that time, 50 years
www.wilds.org 7
never entered our minds. If we
had known that we would have
approximately 40 full-time staff
and need to recruit 300 summer
staff members each year, I may
have had a heart attack years
ago (not seriously). But from the
beginning, God provided several
godly servants to minister with
us. The “us” includes the other
2 founders, Dr. Joe Henson and
Carl Blyth (who is with the Lord).
Keep looking for more
information about our 50th year
celebration!
 The
What is

Needs
Corner Dick Reid
Director of Development • The Wilds
Taylors, South Carolina

In every issue of The Wilds NewsLetter

since 1973 there has been a small column
that has come to be known as “The Needs
Corner.” This small column has been used
by God, working through friends of the
ministry, to help our campsites/ministry
over the years in great ways.
WHAT is it?
“The Needs Corner” is a listing of
items that would greatly assist different
departments of this ministry but are not
presently budgeted for purchase.
WHY is it there?
Over the years, many former summer
staff members and campers have
indicated a desire to help with specific
items “needed” to help the ministry
function better.
WHO participates?
Various departments (kitchen, health
services, landscaping, maintenance,
program, etc.) submit “needs,” and then
NewsLetter readers designate what they
want their tax-deductible donation to
purchase.
WHEN does this
happen?
A new list is published in each
NewsLetter. When designated donations
are received, the item is purchased and
the department head sends a thank you
note to the donor letting them know
that they have assisted us in meeting a
“need.”

8 newsletter summer 2018

 WHAT have been
the results?
Many friends have met many “needs”
over the last 45 years. Occasionally a
friend has added up the total for all
of the needed items at both campsites
and sent a check for everything! The
more normal response is that someone
who has an interest in a certain area
(i.e. a former cook, nurse, construction
assistant) donates for an item in that
department. Additionally, many campers
who have been blessed by/enjoyed
something in particular (i.e. music,
program, food) have donated toward a
specific item in that department, or they
just send a check and allow us to use the
funds where most needed.
Although I can’t report to you the total
that has been given through “The Needs
Corner” since 1973 (donation records
are archived), I do know that since
November 1989, $146,700 has been
A N
Items received:
Dura Rakes • Extendable Tree Pruning Saw
Groundskeeper Rakes • Oily Rag Disposal Can
Random Orbital Sander • Rubber Boots
Soil Probes
Needs:
Air Filter/Regulator - $80
Air Hose Reel - $135
Cant Hook- $85
DeWalt 20v Li-ion Sawzall - $100
DeWalt 20v Li-ion Battery (4) - $90 each
DeWalt Tile Saw - $650
Glucose meter (for ERT) - $60
Leaf Blower for Blob/Swim Area - $300
Pneumatic Trim Nailer - $190
Pulse Oximeter (for ERT) - $25
Shovel (5) - $40 each
Toilet Master Jack - $180
Wheelbarrow (4) - $100 each
Items received:
Aqua-Volley Volleyball Net
Bosch Hammer Drill • Chainsaw
Outdoor Inflatable Soccer Dart Board
Speaker’s Suite Bedding Sets
Speaker’s Suite Comforter
Welding Helmet
Needs:
12 Gauge Ext. Cord (4) - $27 each
Digital Pool Testing Kit - $150
Dish Room Stool - $30
Kitchen Computer Monitor - $100
Kitchen Mat (4) - $36
Lifeguard Chair - $50
Mattress Protector (10) - $43 each
Pool Basketball Goal - $150
RV-Hookup - $600
Trash Can Dolly Wheel (4) - $30 each
Wired Microphone (2) - $125 each
Zipline Carabiner (6) - $25 each

I want to help
generously provided for these special
“needs.” God has been abundantly
good to us, and His people have been
amazingly generous in helping with
The
our special “needs.” I TRUST that if
you have participated in this support
Needs A or N
Enclosed is a gift toward the cost of the indicated need.

Corner
program, you will continue. If you have
not participated, I TRUST that you will
consider supporting God’s work through
The Wilds with a gift toward some item
on “The Needs Corner.”
Rev./Dr.
Mr./Mrs./Miss______________________________________
Address___________________________________________
City______________________ State ________Zip__________
Mail to: The Wilds • PO Box 509 • Taylors, SC 29687-0009

www.wilds.org 9

CAREERS:
Chris Pleasants (’90,’91,’93,’13-
’14,’15,’16) lives in Dublin, New
Hampshire, where he is the Dean
of Students at Dublin Christian
Academy.
Staff
Stephen (’03-’04,’07,’08,’09) and
Melissa [McAdams] Endres
(’06,’07,’08,’09), Evan Christopher,
10/2/17.
Micah (’06,’07,’08,’09,’10,’11,’12-
News:
’13,’14) and Naomi [Harvey]
Gorsline (’14), Josey Douglas,

WEDDINGS: 10/28/17.
Andy (’06) and Nikita [Railing]
Jessica Carlin and Chip Channell Sutton (’07), Elizabeth Grace,
Chris Anastos is now serving as
(’12,’13,’14-’15), 4/29/17. 11/16/17.
The Wilds Program Director in North
Chelsea Kern (’13,’14,’15,’16,’17)
Carolina. Chris and his wife, Tara,
and Joel Crews, 8/19/17.
Bethany Davis (’13,’14,’15,’16,’17)
Former Staff, have served several years at the North
help keep us updated on your Carolina campsite and were once
and Kris Wilder (’13,’14-’17),
career moves, marriage, and brother/sister counselors on summer
8/12/17.
children! staff. Tara is an administrative
BIRTHS: Send announcements to: assistant with our C.A.M.P. Program.
Wes and Kami [Wickensimer] The Wilds Andy and Carrie Anglea are
Carr (’99,’00,’02,’03,’04), Mary Where Are They Now? happy to announce the arrival of their
Davisson, 5/25/17. PO Box 509 son, Titus Christopher. He was born
Taylors, SC 29687-0009 on November 27, 2017, weighed 9
or e-mail formerstaff@wilds.org. pounds 12 ounces, and was 22 inches
long. He is welcomed home by big
brothers Mark and Ezra.
Catherine Franklin joined the
Greenville Office staff in August
ansion at
The Mystery M 2017, and is serving as the Marketing
The Wilds Specialist. Catherine served on our
of New E ngland summer staff in North Carolina for 4
summers.
Michelle Whaley and Steve
Leatherwood were married on
September 16, 2017. Steve is the CFO
of The Wilds, where he has served for
more than 10 years. Michelle works
part-time outside the home in addition
to being a busy wife and mom. Their
combined family includes 4 children
living at home.
Erica Olsen joined the Greenville
Office staff in May 2017, as one of our
The Camp
bell House
at Summer Registrations secretaries.
The Wild
s Erica served on our summer staff in
of New E North Carolina for 3 summers.
ngland

10 newsletter summer 2018

LEE H. ANGLE JOYCE LOVE CERELLE SHULTZ TOLLESON
Given by: Mrs. Sally Feeser Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Sprout Given by: Mrs. Jeanette Annand • Mr. & Mrs. John Burtner
ROBERT ANNAND PAT MCKENDREE Ms. Shirley Canaday • Mr. & Mrs. Dave Cleary
Given by: Ms. Anna Marie Carmean Given by: Mr. & Mrs. TJ Langford Dr. & Mrs. Ken Collier • Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Craven
Mr. & Mrs. Tim Farr • Mrs. Trudy Fremont
JOHNNY BILLINGSLEY MACKIE MCSWAIN Mrs. Myra Gorsline • Ms. Delores Hogsed
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Yarborough Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Sprout Mr. & Mrs. Willy Hudelson • Mr. & Mrs. Donald Huizinga
CARL BLAIR LARRY MULLINAX Dr. Sonia Johnson • Ms. Rhoda Klopfenstein
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Sprout Given by: Mrs. Jeanette Annand • Mr. & Mrs. Donald Bartron Mr. & Mrs. TJ Langford • Ms. Gwendolyn Lopez
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Bingel Mr. & Mrs. Cal Mair • Mr. & Mrs. Scott Murphy
FRANKLIN BLAKE Mr. & Mrs. Mark Panosian • Mr. & Mrs. Rick Stoner
Given by: Mrs. Becky Spragins Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC
Mr. & Mrs. Cal Mair Mr. & Mrs. George Thornton • Dr. & Mrs. Jeremy Watts
RON BROOKS Seasoned Saints, Faith Baptist Church, Taylors, SC BOB THOMAS
Given by: Ms. Carole Blyth • Rev. & Mrs. J. David Hine Mr. & Mrs. Richard Sherman • Dr. & Mrs. Norris Whitlock Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Ed Waldron
BOBBY CLEMENTS Mr. & Mrs. Tom Williams
BOB VANCE
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Cal Mair • Mr. & Mrs. Jim McAdams DR. DAVID NELSON Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Tim Simpson • Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Sprout
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Wickensimer Given by: Mr. & Mrs. George Thornton
JACKIE WAHL
MATTHEW CLEMONS PEGGY OLDHAM Given by: Ms. Carol Kierstead
Given by: Dr. & Mrs. Bill Hall • Dr. Sonia Johnson Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Ed Waldron
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Matthews DEBRA WARD
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Matthews WINDELL PAIT Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Matthews
Given by: Mrs. Becky Spragins
DR. CHARLES COWAN JOHN WARD
Given by: Dr. & Mrs. Ken Collier CHARLES & FRANCES RICE Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Johnny Yarborough
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Rice
DR. STEWART CUSTER VIRGINIA WELDON
Given by: Mr. Steve Custer • Mr. & Mrs. Peter Fistere JUSTIN RIDLEY Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Doug Gorsline
Given by: Mr. Carl Boone
Mr. & Mrs. George Thornton LYLE & EVELYN WELDY
JOHN R. “JACK” DEEDRICK BEN SAMUEL Given by: Dr. & Mrs. George Baugham
Given by: Mrs. Jeanette Annand
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. TJ Langford
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Baker & family JEAN WILLIAMS
SGT. BRIAN DONNELLY Mr. Bill Bozwell & family • Mr. Ron Bozwell & family Given by: Dr. & Mrs. Ken Collier • Mr. & Mrs. TJ Langford
Given by: Mrs. Christine Donnelly Ms. Anna Marie Carmean DR. BOB WOOD
BARBARA EVANS Mrs. Ruth Christison & family Given by: Dr. & Mrs. Ken Collier • Mrs. Myra Gorsline
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Morgan Mrs. Mary Ellen Flora • Mr. & Mrs. Frank Godbey Dr. & Mrs. Bill Hall
Mr. & Mrs. Allen Gugeler & family • Mr. Ralph Gugeler Morningside Baptist Church Senior Adults,
JOANN GARRETT Mr. & Mrs. Roger Gugeler & family • Mr. Robert Kough Greenville, SC
Given by: Ms. Rose Arblaster • Ms. Shirley Bayne Mr. & Mrs. Scott Rottman • Mr. & Mrs. Joel Russell Dr. Jean Saito • Mr. & Mrs. Tim Simpson
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Currington Mr. & Mrs. DC Samuel • Samuel Farms, Clinton, KY Mrs. Becky Spragins • Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Sprout
Mr. & Mrs. Joe Franks • Mr. & Mrs. Doug Gorsline Mr. & Mrs. Tom Trimble & family Mr. & Mrs. Rick Stoner • Mr. & Mrs. George Thornton
Graceview Church, Anderson, SC Mr. & Mrs. Paul Wickensimer
Mr. & Mrs. Darrin Huffman • Mr. Ronald McCullah JOHN SLICE
Mr. Joseph Phillips • Mr. & Mrs. Craig Reynolds Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Johnny Yarborough BOBBIE YEARICK
Mr. & Mrs. Walt Rumminger • Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Sprout REV. JOHN STEPHENSON Given by: Dr. & Mrs. Roy Barton • Dr. & Mrs. Ken Collier
Ms. Anne Steinhage • Mr. Bo Wilson • Ms. Esther Wilson Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Johnny Yarborough Ms. Miriam Dupuy • Mr. & Mrs. Cal Mair
Mr. & Mrs. Jim McAdams • Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Neal
APRIL GIBBLE REV. BUFORD STOCKARD Mr. & Mrs. Paul Wickensimer
Given by: Dr. & Mrs. Ken Collier • Mr. & Mrs. Doug Gorsline Given by: Mrs. Becky Spragins
DR. GEORGE P. GRAF BOB STONER
Given by: Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC Given by: Rev. & Mrs. J. David Hine GIFTS GIVEN IN HONOR OF:
Miss Betty Fagge • Mrs. Lucille Fisher
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Fisher • Mrs. Shelia Potts JOE SWAIN
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Bill Hall ELIZABETH BROOKS
BONNIE SPROUT GRAHAM Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Kirk
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Sprout ANDY TAYLOR
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Michael Allen • Ms. Kay Chin MICHAEL EVANS & VERIDA MARCHETTE
JUDY HANKERSON Dr. & Mrs. Ken Collier • Mr. & Mrs. Pat DalPorto Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Johnny Yarborough

LIVING
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Doug Gorsline Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Dixon • Mr. & Mrs. Ron Gorsline
JACKIE L. HODGES Ms. Delores Hogsed • Mr. & Mrs. TJ Langford
Given by: Mr. Edgar Gamble Mr. & Mrs. Cal Mair
New Covenant Bible Church, Saint Charles, IL
CARROLL HOWE
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Ron Gorsline • Mr. & Mrs. Cal Mair
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Sprout
J. DAVID HUGHES
Given by: Mr. Ismael Gullon
MEMORIALS
Memorial gifts received as of April 30, 2018
JAMES H. HUGHES
Given by: Mr. Ismael Gullon
BETTY HUMMEL Honor a loved one or friend with a Living Memorial gift to The Wilds.
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. John Coates • Mr. & Mrs. Rick Stoner
PAT KELTNER In Memory Of:
Given by: Brookside Baptist Church, Brookfield, WI
Rev./Dr./Mr./Mrs./Miss_________________________________________________________
MELODY KEONKE
Given by: Ms. Carol Kierstead Please send card to:
SARAH KOPP Rev./Dr./Mr./Mrs./Miss________________________________________________________
Given by: Mr. Daniel Kopp Address_____________________________________________________________________
ROBERT KREIN City_____________________________________________State________Zip_______________
Given by: Mrs. Pat Krein
BARBARA HAY LEATHERWOOD Given by:
Given by: Ms. Carole Blyth • Rev. & Mrs. J. David Hine Rev./Dr./Mr./Mrs./Miss_________________________________________________________
Rev. & Mrs. Lawrence Kaneshiro
Mr. & Mrs. Tim Larkins Address______________________________________________________________________
CLAUDIA MAE LESLIE City_____________________________________________State_______ Zip_______________
Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Rick Stoner
Phone________________________________________________________________________
The Wilds Living Memorials • PO Box 509 • Taylors, SC 29687-0009
S p r i n g 2 018 NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
GREENVILLE, SC
PO Box 509 PERMIT NO. 687
Taylors, SC 29687-0009
Address Service Requested

To register go to www.wilds.org/register
For availability at The Wilds, call: (864) 331-3286 • For availability at The Wilds of New England, call: (603) 529-0001