Welcome to the new way that I will be sharing and sending out updates, this website is something that I have been working on over the past few weeks to share and convey the things that I am doing in my ministry work! I have struggled to get consistent updates sent out (apologies), but I will now be regularly posting updates on here! I will also be sending these out via email, so join the email list here! I am not a naturally gifted writer (so these written updates will be a stretch) and much prefer talking so I please give me a call if you want to hear more in-depth stories! 620-755-9383!

I have spent so much of this past year learning about what being a Senior Camp Manager really means! Now that I have experienced the full cycle I am so excited to get work on growing and developing our ministry opportunities! I have officially been in the role for just over a year, and it definitely has had its highs and lows, but overall I am so excited for another go around! Summer camp offically ended over 2 months ago, and yet it feels like it was only a few short days ago! Everything has been really busy and we are already in the depths of next summer. But before diving into my excitement about summer 2025, I wanted to take a bit to share about this last summer!

Reflecting on Summer ‘24

All of our summer staff and full-time staff!

We welcomed over 100 summer staff this year, and we had the joy of hosting just over 2,000 campers in the valley to experience the gospel in action. It was truly remarkable to witness the transformation in the hearts of both the campers and staff throughout the summer. One of the most rewarding aspects was observing staff members grow from the start of the summer to the end. So many of them grew in maturity and leadership and I am excited to have many of them back next summer!

The biblical theme for the summer was "Mosaic: Piecing together the truth of who Jesus is." During the summer, we guided campers through John 14:6, where Jesus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This foundational message resonated deeply with so many campers and staff as our world tries to muddy the view of who Jesus is.

Nicole (my co) and our Summer Activity Leaders (SALs) this past summer, Michael, Tristan, Emily, Kirsten

This summer was by no means easy, but was so life giving. It was so satisfying to put to action the thing that I had spent 9 months planning for. Stewarding my role came with unexpected challenges (I have plenty of stories if you give me a call I would be glad to share), but I left the summer feeling inspired and rejuvenated about how we can continue to improve and grow our ability to proclaim and equip! I was blessed to be able to call so many young men into leadership, despite some of their poor decision making this summer!

This is by far the most people that I have been in leadership over, and that was a stretching experience because my words have lots of weight during the summer. The Lord did a work on my heart and I saw lots of fruit that was made possible by just relying on the Lord!

This is our Friday night testimony service where campers share the things they learned during their week at the ranch!

Life since the summer:

The weeks following the summer can only be described as crazy! Post summer I was tired, but I was so excited to start thinking about how we can attack next summer. Life was immediately filled by so many things, so here is a list of all the things that have been happening at the Ranch and beyond!

Personal Life!

4 day, 130 mile bike packing (biking and camping) and fishing trip in Colorado with a good friend Josh Hunt!
2 week Starburg family trip to Norway to travel and visit my sister at her mission base! (my girlfriend Alli got to come as well!)
Joined a community group of other young adults through my church!
Traveling to weddings of amazing friends!
Lots of running (trying to do a marathon before the end of the year!)

New Life Ranch Life!

Had 2 weeks of rushed refection on this last summer… (something we are going to try to do differently next year)
Mid August started planning, prepping and rethinking for next summer!
Summer staff applications opened Sept 1
Started traveling on recruiting trip to recruit summer staff for next summer at University of Arkansas, Oklahoma State University, John Brown University and Ouachita Baptist University! (we spend 2-4 days at each campus)
Helped lead activities at the valley for a school group! (got to teach canoeing and fishing)

So needless to say, it is a busy season of life!

Looking Forward:

The next weeks and months will be just about as busy as the last. Here are a few of the things that I am really excited about between now and the end of the year!

A few more recruiting trips
Going with some college guys on a trip to the mountains of Washington!
Existing new changes and additions to the summer 2025 camp schedule!
We are developing a new Leadership Staff structure for this next summer and that has got me really excited about the opportunities that it will provide for our summer staff and campers
Traveling to the CCCA (Christian Camp and Conference Association) National Conference in Seattle in December!

Prayers:

We are in the middle of hiring summer staff, so prayers for willing hearts to come to camp for the summer and serve like Christ.
Continued peace as I continue raising financial support!
We will soon be starting to develop the theme for next summer, so prayers to guide our hearts towards what the Lord wants to say through our study next summer!

I have so many things to say, so I will leave it at that! I am so thankful for all of your continued prayers and support! The prayers through the summer were heard loud and clear, and I am so excited about what the Lord is doing in this season!

much love, Jaden

Reflecting on Summer ‘24; Prepping for Summer ‘25!