It began with the seed of an idea in the minds of two members of Northside United Methodist Church in Atlanta. This couple drove past the entrance to the old Cherokee Camps for Girls and Boys every time they visited their cabin on Lake Burton fo r a number of years. For this family, Lake Burton was “holy ground,” a very special place for experiencing the beauty and peace of God’s creation as well as for re-connecting to family. It occurred to them that access to a camp on this beautiful mountain lake would be a wonderful opportunity for an outreach ministry. In February of 1999 a news story about the closing of the Boys’ Camp prompted the Northside members to begin inquiring about the camp property. They learned from the camp owner that the facilities at the Boys’ Camp were unusable, but that the Girls’ Camp was available. A comment made by Mrs. Alexander—that the camp had twelve cabins for seventy campers—took on particular significance.With numerous obstacles and considerable skepticism from church staff, the Northside couple began to pray about the camp, uncertain whether this was God’s leading or simply their own idea. The answer came in an unmistakable word from a morning quiet time. The scripture reading for the day was Exodus 15:27: “Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.” It was clear that God had given the vision for a place set apart to refresh and encourage the growth of his children who are “like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” The camp was leased for the summer of 1999 with donations from several church members, and Camp Evergreen became a reality. Northside United Methodist Church quickly and enthusiastically embraced the ministry, providing both staff and financial support. Northside members have not only sent their own children to Camp Evergreen but have generously provided camperships for hundreds of disadvantaged children.In the fall of 2003 after five successful camping seasons, God planted a new dream for Camp Evergreen in the minds of the couple who received the original vision. The new vision expressed in Isaiah 55:11-13 involved an expansion of the ministry in a different, more isolated setting where “the mountains and hills” would “burst into song” and “all the trees of the field” would “clap their hands.” There would no longer be thorns and briers, but pine trees and myrtles—the evergreens! The message heard was to watch and wait until God’s Word would accomplish what He desired. Camp Evergreen considered other potential sites for several years as their ministry continued to grow and prosper at the old Camp Cherokee facilities. At the same time, God was planting another seed of a vision for camp ministry at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church. A small dedicated group worked for almost two years to obtain a suitable facility. This group, which included a couple whose own camping experience had led them to the Lord years earlier, made a commitment of financial and other resources and stepped out in faith to lease Camp Winfield only a few miles from Camp Cherokee. In the fall of 2008 the Camp Evergreen director learned by chance that Mt. Bethel had recently leased the Camp Winfield property to begin their own camping and retreat ministry. Discussions began on the possibility of partnering. When it seemed that there might be too many obstacles to move a thriving camp to a new location, the Camp Evergreen representatives engaged in a period of fervent prayer, seeking peace over a decision. The answer came once again from God’s Word spoken to the same couple who had the original Camp Evergreen vision. During the night, the words that awakened one were, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” It was not until the light of morning that she realized that this directive was from Isaiah 55:12, in the middle of the passage which five years previously had expressed a new vision for expanding the Camp Evergreen ministry. The morning quiet time for her husband, who was seeking the Lord’s wisdom, yielded the second confirmation from Proverbs 8:1. “Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand.” Indeed, the paths have met. Mt. Bethel’s vision for initiating a camping ministry and their access to the beautiful Camp Winfield property have met the successfully established Camp Evergreen and the dream of expansion. The Lord has great plans for the newly combined Evergreen ministry. 
The Camp Evergreen Story
