 Hello Friends, Family & Partners, As we approach the end of another incredible year, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for the dedication and support that each of you has contributed to Shiloh Bible Camp. Your passion and involvement have made a tangible difference, and for that, we are truly thankful. Looking ahead, we recognize that the spirit of giving is what keeps Shiloh thriving and reaching the lost. This holiday season, we invite you to prayerfully consider making an impact in the future of the camp. Whether it’s helping rebuild our beloved fort- an iconic structure that has been around for many years and holds a special place in many hearts or by contributing towards a new and improved zip line. If monetary support isn’t possible, every act of generosity makes a meaningful difference whether it’s through prayer or your time here volunteering. We recognize that your time is precious and we are always thankful for those who come and help. The Fort it is not just a structure; it’s a cornerstone to all campers who have come to Shiloh. Our plans are to enhance its charm while ensuring it remains a safe and welcoming space for everyone. We envision improved facilities, better accessibility, and perhaps even some new features that will allow for more activities and gatherings. As for the zip line we are hoping to rebuild and relocate the new one. Our previous one sadly had to be taken down and is greatly missed. It is one of the attractions that so many campers look forward to experiencing and we are excited to bring it back. The blueprint above provides a visualization of what the completed fort will look like. The construction will be carried out in four phases, with each phase costing $75,000. Additionally, the zip line reconstruction will require a total budget of $25,000. Your involvement, no matter how big or small, enriches our collective experience and strengthens the bonds that tie us together. Thank you once again for being such an integral part of Shiloh. Here’s to a blessed and impactful year ahead!
CLICK the button below to make a year end gift to help us reach our goal before the end of the year. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! All Our Love, The Shiloh Staff
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Making Lasting Memories Jill’s House Weekend Adventure offers a sense of belonging and independence to children, adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities. The two sleepover nights were offered by Jill’s House, a Virginia-based Christian nonprofit organization that serves families with children, adolescents and young adults who have intellectual disabilities. Kim and Marc de Grandpré of Old Tappan brought their daughter to the camp. Jill’s House has given Julia a sense of belonging, independence and self-confidence to try new things, Kim said. The weekend was Julia’s fourth time at the camp. “The weekend activities keep Julia engaged and the friendships she has made have given her lasting memories,” her mother said. “The highlight of her weekend is always the volunteers and how they make her feel. “Whenever she mentions them, she lights up and can’t wait to go back and see them. They have created a unique bond with her as well as all the campers.” In addition to engaging with staff and each other, campers experience the pristine facilities and bucolic surroundings of Shiloh Bible Camp. There is supervised indoor swimming, a gym with a rock-climbing wall, arts and crafts, a game room, a movie night, and music and dance parties. Outdoor activities include low rope climbing, zipline runs, archery and hikes. Full-time medical services are on hand. Meals, snacks and refreshments are provided to campers, who also enjoy downtime, individual and group interactions, new activities and advancing skills, and making new friends. Local program leader Overseeing the initiative is Jill’s House New Jersey program manager Luisa Mora who with her husband, Felippe, are 22-year West Milford residents with three children. Along with Mora, the weekend team of 25 has five staff members, including a nurse, and 10 volunteers. Among the latter is her college-age daughter, Leah. Mora, who has been with Jill’s House for more than two years, points out that the New Jersey arm of the organization provides year-round programs, with up to six weekend sleepover camps annually - each held at Shiloh Bible Camp. “We serve families and children with different abilities and similar attributes, putting groups together that can get the most out of a Jill’s House experience,” she said. “We have 19 families registered in the Garden State, mostly from northern New Jersey. Our reach also extends to families nearby in New York state and Pennsylvania. “Our activities are tailored to the kids and their abilities. We seek to give them a terrific experience, a greater sense of independence and importance, an opportunity to engage with other young people with whom they can relate and make friends.” “Each camper gets a volunteer buddy for the weekend. We want to create a strong, safe and nourishing environment for everyone - a community feel. The kids really connect with our volunteers, who also value the program and keep coming back. In all, the weekends are positive for our campers, volunteers and staff.” Boy Scouts from in Hewitt - Dylan Becker, Joah Diodonet, Steven Igielski and Griffin Kleinfelder - supported the weekend program, including setup and hauling luggage when campers arrived and departed. “We’ve helped with Jill’s House since its first program at Shiloh. The boys love to help and be part of the program,” Troop 159 leader Richard Rodek said. 14 years and growing Founded in 2010 in Vienna, Va., Jill’s House operates a 42,000-square-foot respite resort that serves children with intellectual disabilities. Its Weekend Adventures initiative has expanded nationally with programs and partners in Middleburg, Va.; the Seattle area; the Nashville area; and southern Wisconsin as well as West Milford. Jill’s House serves families raising children with intellectual disabilities through regular overnight respite care and holistic family support services, said Joel Dillon, its president and chief executive. “Since 2010, we have been privileged to expand our reach through partnerships with local camps and churches around the country. You could throw a dart at a map of the United States and hit a community that could benefit from the services Jill’s House offers. Most of our families don’t have any other care options for their children with IDs (intellectual disabilities). “In northern New Jersey, we wouldn’t be able to offer these services without the partnership of our friends at Shiloh Bible Camp and the Chapel of Lincoln Park. It’s community partnerships like these that enable us to make a holistic impact.” A place of peace Mora is grateful to Shiloh Bible Camp for its ongoing partnership and support of Jill’s House. “Our partnership is outstanding, and Shiloh offers resources and an environment that really benefits the kids,” she said. “They love coming out to the open spaces of West Milford.” A Christian retreat center, Shiloh serve large and small groups year-round for overnight stays or day trips. It has meeting rooms, a chapel and more. The word shiloh means place of peace and the camp’s beautiful landscape of ponds, streams and mountains provides a peaceful get-away. “For a long time, Julia would ask us if she could go to sleepaway camp like her brother,” Kim de Grandpré said. “We heard about Jill’s House through a friend whose daughter also participates in the camp. We felt that this would be a good opportunity for Julia. “From the moment we met Luisa, we knew that this was a special place. The time and support she provided gave us the courage to sign Julia up. We were nervous to let her go, but that all changed once we dropped her off and Julia met all the wonderful staff and volunteers at Jill’s House at Camp Shiloh.” Our activities are tailored to the kids and their abilities. We seek to give them a terrific experience, a greater sense of independence and importance, an opportunity to engage with other young people with whom they can relate and make friends.” - Luisa Mora, New Jersey program manager, Jill’s House  Dear Friends, Family & Partners, “I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.” Psalms 89 As I write this news letter and reflect on the summer, there is one word that continues to come to mind and that is “Faithful”. Throughout the summer we truly witnessed Gods faithfulness and as a staff we are so thankful for how God provided, even though many times it seemed challenging and sometimes even impossible. However, we know that with God all things are possible and we saw that firsthand this summer! Many of you know the summer is our busy season and with a small staff it can sometimes feel daunting with all that needs to get accomplished. We realize that no matter what, there will always be challenges throughout life and in ministry. Some challenges are more difficult than others but it’s always reassuring that God is on our side. He always seems to work things out and maybe not how we thought, but in the end He is always in the midst. This summer may have come with some unexpected challenges but in the end it produced some of the most amazing testimonies and some of the greatest memories. We are also incredibly thankful for all the volunteers, friends, families and contractors like Servants Hearts that came alongside us to make it all happen. We can not do it without you! ONTO THE SUMMER As we head into the slower season, we are finally able to take a moment after what felt like running all summer and really reflect on all that was accomplished. At the end, of the day we give all the credit to the Lord and are thankful that so many people were able to come through our doors and hear the Gospel. It was great getting to know each group of campers, especially those that we had the opportunity to work with through our team building activities, high ropes and low ropes course. It’s always a blast to see campers come out of their comfort zones and work together as a team. It has also been a joy being able to share the Gospel at the end of each activity. Our hope and goal for the foreseeable future is that our staff can be more and more involved in sharing the Good News. That is why Shiloh exists because one man had a vision from God to build a facility, so that others could hear all that God has done for them. As a staff we are so thankful that we can be apart of carrying out that vision and seeing campers come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. PERSONAL TESTIMONIES FROM THE SUMMER One memorable testimony from this summer is that of a girl who wanted to be baptized. There was no baptisms scheduled so during their swim time they cleared the pool and baptized her right there. It was such a beautiful moment to witness as they all the kids prayed and cheered her on. “Shiloh Bible Camp & Christian Retreat Center is an incredible place. We as Reasons for Hope* put on multiple retreats throughout the United States during the summer. Shiloh is special because the facilities are wonderful, and beautiful. The staff go above and beyond to make sure you have everything you could possibly want, or need. The food is so spectacular you feel, like you’re dining at a restaurant instead of being at a camp. God is using the people at Shiloh, and the facilities to do amazing things for His kingdom, and we are thankful to be a part of it.” “It has been such a blessing to be able to be back at Shiloh! Though we have outgrown the capacity during our weeks of camp, we love being able to be back where it all started for trainings! It’s amazing to reflect and realize how God has grown our ministry and what an integral role Shiloh played in making ISC go from a vision to a reality. (Not to mention made it possible to keep reaching kids with the gospel in the midst of the pandemic. Shiloh hosted our Camp Days, getting our campers out of the cities for a day and hearing the Gospel despite being in lockdown for months.) This partnership is one that is truly cherished. I realized this weekend that the amount of Leadership Team Members as part of this training outnumbers the amount of campers and staff during our first week of camp in 2012! Being able to look back and see what God has done is so humbling and exciting.” SAVE THE FORT 2025 We are excited for the plans to expand the fort! There is so much potential and we can’t wait to improve the accommodations and build upon the existing structure.Be on the look out for ways to get involved with “Save The Fort 2025.” VOLUNTEERS WANTED We are always looking for individuals with a heart to serve. Volunteering is more than just coming and helping out. While yes, you are helping, but you are using the gifts God has given you to be a blessing to others and at the end of the day you walk away feeling blessed. I always think of the verse Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive” and how true it is. The joy that you receive by giving is far better than that when you recieve. To learn more about volunteering at Camp Shiloh, please give us a call 973-728-7845 or visit: www.campshiloh.com/volunteer I would like to wrap up this letter up by encouraging you. As I stated above, this summer came with its challenges, but I don’t want you to finish reading and for that to be your only takeaway. I only share it because it's through those challenges that we become stronger and once we are on the other side we are able to see all that He has done. I want you to know that no matter the circumstance that may be staring you in the face today, know that God is bigger and there is absolutely NOTHING that is impossible for Him. I was reminded of that again today as I sat in church.We listened to a missionary who was stationed in Sudan and his testimony was a powerful example of Gods abilities to do what we think is impossible. Throughout his sermon, he quoted Psalms 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Let your your trust be in God because He is your strong tower (Proverbs 18:10-13) and He makes the impossible possible! All Our Love, The Shiloh Staff  Dear Friends, Family, & Partners, What a year it has been as we quickly approach summer season. Many changes have developed here at Shiloh and we are excited to see where God takes us. For starters we are eager to introduce two new little ones to the Shiloh family Becca DuMont and Caden Johnson. What a blessing children are and we are excited to see our staff families grow in size as do our hearts. As winter slowly comes to an end and the warmth starts teasing our hopes of spring, the busyness here at camp Shiloh continues. Since the start of the year we have seen over 500 campers walk through our doors and every week we look forward to seeing new faces lit with anticipation and excitement for what is to come. It is even sweeter to be able to facilitate a place and peaceful atmosphere where lives are changed forever. So many campers come from different walks of life and for some this is thier first time at camp and hearing about God. As staff we have the privilege and I would go as far as saying the honor to be the hands and feet behind the scenes, for campers to have a personal experience with God. How amazing is that??! Ministry though it may be work is all about seeing the one come know God as their personal Lord and Savior! PROJECTS IN THE WORK Here at Shiloh we have the ability to house some of our full time staff and have recently began giving the facilities a fresh coat of paint and new appliances. What a blessing it is that we are able to make this happen and give our staff a beautiful and peaceful place to live while they serve here at Shiloh. We are also working on making our camp laundry room user friendly. With an updated room, new appliances and shelving the staff and volunteers will able to stay organized and keep on top of all the laundry that comes from running a year round camp. We are so thankful for all those have come to help make this happen! STAFF & VOLUNTEERS WANTED! We are currently looking for part time summer staff and volunteers. There are many opportunities from working in the kitchen, helping maintain the grounds, ropes course, lifeguarding and much more. We would love to have you a part of our team! You can apply through our website at http://www.campshiloh.com/jobs.html. If you have any questions please feel free to call the camp at 973.728.7845. UPCOMING EVENTS We are looking forward to seeing many of you at our Annual Golf Outing on June the 14th. It is because of you that kids who otherwise would not have a chance to come to camp can. You make a difference in their life and give them the opportunity to draw closer to the Lord and sometimes their first tome hearing about God. If you want to be apart of sponsor a future camper and show off your skills then come golf with us at the Black Bear Golf Club. Registration starts at 7:15am and there will be a shotgun start at 8:15am. We can’t wait to see you there! VOLUNTEER DAY! Come out and help us on May 18th. It’ll be a day of fellowship as you help further the camp. We will also be providing lunch! As always we are incredibly thankful for you! Whether it’s through prayer, volunteering or financial support we would not be where we where are today without you! Thank you for all that you do and your continual support of Shiloh Bible Camp! “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:1 All Our Love, Shiloh Staff Joy Christian Fellowship
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