Silcott Ministries

June 27 through July 1, 2022, I spoke at Camp Manitoumi in Lowpoint, Illinois.  Parents that attended camp years ago now send their children to camp to enjoy the stories from my friends and hear the gospel preached.  This week counselors and the Camp Dean attended Vacation Bible Schools and camps that I have preached at in the past.  I enjoyed working with those I have seen grow up in the Lord and keep serving the Lord today.  During the week I preached an evangelistic message in the evening and presented my seminar on what every camper should know about the Bible, Creation, Christ, and Suffering. 

During the week campers enjoyed the swimming pool, recreation room, game time, the all famous zip-line back in the woods behind the camp, and last of all, the hay rack ride pulled by the camp tractor through the corn fields.  During the week I rejoice in the 8 campers who trusted Christ as their Savior, 3 that came forward for assurance, 1 that decided to get baptized and 3 that made the decision to live their lives for Christ.   Please pray for the camp and the remaining weeks for this busy summer.  Also pray for the boys and girls as they go back home to their families. 

This year we were invited to return to Camp Manitoumi in Lowpoint, Illinois.  Several parents of campers came to me and told me that I was the speaker at their camp years ago.  One counselor told me that I was the speaker one year and informed me that he was the one I called up to help me with one of my object lessons.  Fond memories of days gone by in the ministry of evangelism.  Pray for the 13 campers who trusted in Christ as Savior, 7 who sought assurance, and 7 children who made other decisions in their walk with the Lord.  Some of them dedicated their lives to full time Christian service. 

The campers also enjoyed the camp missionary from Peru, Heidi Robbins who challenged them to think about missions as a full-time career.  And of course, they also enjoyed the swimming pool, zipline, the hike to Victory Mountain and gaga ball.  Thanks for praying for the Silcott Ministries.

July 8 – 12, 2019, we enjoyed ministering at Whispering Cedars Baptist Camp in Genoa, Nebraska.  The camp had a Renaissance theme and decorated with drawbridge at the entrance and knights, castles.   For the morning service I presented my seminar on ”What Every Camper Should Know”: challenging the campers to stand upon the truth found in Scripture when it comes to 1. Inspiration of the Bible, 2. Deity of Christ, and 3. Truths of Creation.  In the evening service I focused on conquering the world of sin through the lives of David, Gideon, Moses, Ruth, and Daniel.  The campers shared at the campfire on Friday night about their decisions to stand against the lies of this world and take a stand for the Savior.  Through the week we rejoice that three campers trusted in Christ as their Savior.

It was good to see the camp director and his wife again during the week of Junior Camp.  Phil Tilson and his wife Joyce attended Faith with me in Ankeny, Iowa.  The camp through their leadership is equipped with a water slide, paintball battlefield, zipline, and an archery range.  They have lots of land for a baseball field or nets set up for soccer.  Because of all the flooding this year, they were not able to go to a local lake for canoeing and fun boat rides.  Using local swimming pools also was difficult this year as the severe weather has made balancing their chemicals in the pool difficult.  Please pray for Whispering Cedars Baptist Camp as they reach out to local churches in the state of Nebraska to minister to the children and families. 

From June 16 – 28 I spoke at Raccoon River Bible Camp for two weeks of Junior Bible Camp. Raccoon River Bible Camp is located off of Highway 30,  15 miles east of Carroll, Iowa.  Over the last 30 years, I have spoken at this camp for first under Director Dennis Lafleur and then under Director Jan Kolar.  This year the Board of Directors are leading the camp alongside an Interim director Pastor Mike Parkin from Kansas City, Missouri. 

The kids had lots of fun together with the games, in the pool, at the mini golf course, the beebee gun range and archery range and with carpetball games.  RRBC emphasizes memory work and it was thrilling to hear campers repeat their verses throughout the weeks. During the week the campers let me know that they enjoyed the ventriloquism and object lessons that presented the gospel each evening service. 

During the first week of camp we rejoice that two campers trusted in Christ as their Savior.  Another camper that week responded to pray with a counselor to help them respond in obedience to family and friends.  During the second week we saw three camper trust Christ as Savior and others respond with questions about God and the plan of Salvation.  Please pray for Raccoon River Bible Camp as they look for a new director and for the decisions that are made in the lives of these young children.

Junior II Bible camp in Moreno Valley, California was held on August 5 – 10, 2018.  The Camp Dad & Mom was Pastor Russ Boone and his wife Tammy from Santa Monica.  The theme for the week was again Mission: Possible from Matthew 19: 26.  Each evening I preached a message using ventriloquism to introduce the message and three object lessons with a surprise ending to illustrate each point in the message.  The Agents eagerly kept notes for extra points to add to their scores for their cabins.  For morning chapel, I again presented the seminar What Every Agent Should Know to Complete Their Mission.  Jane spoke again for the Discovery Hour using different songs, character monologues and stories [some of the Junior 1 campers returned for Junior 2].

This week went very fast and the campers are back home getting ready for the school year ahead.  Please pray for these young people as some are going back to very hard situations.  Pray for the eight who trusted in Christ as their Savior and the one who responded to the Lord to become a missionary.  Others asked for prayer that they would witness more to their unsaved friends at home.  Please pray for Victory Ranch as they prepare for fall and winter activities.  Thanks for praying for the Silcott Ministries.

Please pray for Bill the Ranch Foremen who lost his wife to cancer the first day of Junior 1.  Her funeral took place in central Wisconsin on Saturday right after Teen camp.

Our second week from July 29 – August 4 at Victory Ranch in Moreno Valley, California was Teen camp.  The new Dean of Men from Faith Baptist Bible College Charlie Carter was the evening speaker for the whole camp.  The theme for the year was “Mission: Possible – Your mission should you accept it is to . . . ” found in Matthew 19: 26.  Each morning while Charlie spoke to the Seniors, I spoke to the Junior High campers and presented my seminar “What Every Agent Should Know to Complete His Mission.”  The goal was to challenge the Agents to leave camp knowing what they believed about the Bible, Christ, Creation and Why the Just Suffer.  For the Discovery Hour in the afternoon for the Junior High campers, Jane used character monologues and missionary and personal stories to encourage the Agents in their faith and walk with the Lord.

Pray for campers who made life changing decisions at camp this year.  We had 6 trusted in Christ as their personal Savior and 7 responded for assurance.  Each year we are at Victory Ranch it is always fun to see the games that Francine Morales the program director invents to keep the campers active and motivated to get involved.  It is always bittersweet to say goodbye to all of our new and past friends as we move on to our next place of service. Thanks for praying for the Silcott Ministries.

Our first Bible Camp for this summer was at Victory Ranch, a Baptist camp in Moreno Valley, California near Riverside. Francine Morales the recreation director organized fun and games and the kids had great fun despite temperatures in the 100s. Each morning just before lunch I presented my seminar “What Every Camper Needs to Know.”  This seminar presents the basic truths about the Bible, Creation, Jesus and Suffering.  The goal is to challenge the campers to take a stand on the truth of God’s Word.  Each afternoon Jane then taught Discovery Hour. She used costumes to act out monologues to give truth in a different manner and her personal stories of faith from the past to encourage the campers that they can do all things through Christ.  Each evening I spoke for the evening chapel and used ventriloquism and object lessons to teach the gospel.

Please pray for our car as we had to replace the fuel pump this week with help of the camp maintenance staff.  Our car has many miles on it and in need of being replaced.  Also pray for the 9 children who trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior along with the two who responded for assurance of salvation.  This is our third year at Victory Ranch over the last 26 years of ministry.  It was good to fellowship with friends from the past and meet new friends all through the state of California.  Thanks for praying for the Silcott Ministries.

On July 2, we started our week at Oakland Baptist Church in Oakland, Minnesota and presented our ministry and preached for each of the Sunday Services.  Then Monday July 3 through Friday July 7, we served the Lord as camp evangelist at Camp Shiloh held at Camp Patterson.  Each morning at 10:00 I presented my seminar on “What every Camper Should Know” including subjects such as: Creation over Evolution, the Inspiration of God’s Word, and the Deity of Christ.  Each evening at 7:00 I presented the gospel through ventriloquism and object lessons with a surprise ending.  We had a great group of kids during the week with joyful singing and hearts open to the Word of God.

During the week, they had lots of games of kick ball, gogga ball, baseball and capture the flag.  The lake provided swimming, fishing and boat rides for all.  We praise the Lord for the decisions that were made during the week.  We saw two respond for salvation, two for assurance and 2 more for dedication to serve the Lord.  Please pray for those who heard the gospel, but have not responded.

Junior Boys’ camp at Lake Blaine Baptist Camp was July 11 – 15, 2016.  On Sunday morning, July 10, I preached in Swan Valley at Swan Valley Baptist Church.  Then on Sunday night, I preached in Kalispell at Bethel Baptist Church for Pastor David Pestel.  I was the evangelist for the week of Bible Camp and the missionary was Colin Ovenell home on his third furlough from Africa.  During the week the campers worked hard on their verses and workbooks for points and awards for their teams. We rejoice in the five campers who trusted in Christ as their Savior and for one who responded for assurance.  Two others responded for prayer to help them in their walk with the Lord.

At the end of camp Colin and I were able to take some time to go out on lake Blaine and do some fishing.