GivingTuesday is coming this Tuesday, December 2nd. This is a global day that encourages people to give generously and support the causes that matter to them. For us, it is a chance to highlight the heart of our ministry and to reflect on why places like Camp Mishewah and Stayner Camp continue to make a difference year after year. Our camps only run because of the generosity of people who believe in this mission and choose to invest in it.

As we look toward GivingTuesday in just a few days, we wanted to share a message from Mishewah’s managing directors, Steve and Jeanette Balzer.

Why Give To ECM Camps?

For 28 years, we’ve had the joy and privilege of serving with Evergreen Christian Ministries at Stayner Camp and Camp Mishewah. When you’re involved in a ministry for that long, you meet so many people—and you have the incredible opportunity to see lives grow and transform over time.

We’ve watched campers become counsellors, then staff members, then adults faithfully serving in their churches. Some of them now have children of their own coming to camp—first as campers, then as counsellors, and eventually joining the staff team. (We know, we don’t look old enough for that, right?)

What a gift it has been to witness God at work through this camp. We’ve seen firsthand how a week or a summer at Mishewah can be a turning point in someone’s life.

One of our friends came to Sr. Teen week in the 1970s, gave his heart to Jesus, and has now been serving as a pastor for over 40 years.

Another person came to family camp and was deeply impacted by some of the ministry team members who spoke encouragement and life into her. That connection led to a job opportunity that she’s incredibly grateful for to this day.

We know young families who are following Jesus together—parents who first met at Camp Mishewah and committed their lives not only to one another but to serving God side by side.

Another young couple we know met here while serving on staff, eventually got married, and now he leads a youth ministry in the local high school in their community. His time at Mishewah was instrumental in his decision to pursue this calling.

We’ve seen so many others whose time at Mishewah shaped them into strong leaders and mentors in both their careers and ministries. It was here that God spoke to them, challenged them, and transformed their lives.

There are countless stories that remind us that Camp Mishewah is more than a place. It’s a community where lives are transformed, callings are discovered, and faith is ignited.

But without the faithful support of generations of donors, we wouldn’t be here today to tell these stories. Camp Mishewah needs your support—now more than ever with the aging infrastructure and the skyrocketing costs of maintaining a camp like this.

Yes, we are always working to improve our facilities and keep up with necessary maintenance, but more importantly, our deepest desire is for Mishewah to continue to be a safe, welcoming, and healing place where people can meet Jesus and have their lives changed.

Please consider partnering with us financially to ensure that this ministry continues for generations to come—so that long after we are gone, Mishewah will still be a place God uses to transform lives and make a lasting difference in the world.

Steve & Jeanette Balzer

As we step into the giving season, we invite you to help us keep this life-changing work going. Every gift, of any size, helps support programs, facilities, staff, and the ongoing ministry that impacts hundreds of people each year at our camps.

Thank you for helping Mishewah and Stayner remain places where lives will be changed for generations to come!