Dear Friends and Supporters
Our Summer Camp program is in the books and we are moving on to the retreat season at New Life Bible Camp. I missed the first couple of retreat events due to taking some time off. I spent not quite a week in Nashville TN participating in the Tommy Emmanuel Guitar Camp at the Loew Motel. It was my 3rd time attending this event and I got to spend time learning guitar with some great players. A special thrill was not only attending a Doyle Dykes master class but also getting to spend some one on one time with him. He is a wonderful guitarist but more than that, what a godly and humble man. Thanks Doyle for all you taught me! The second leg on my southern journey was driving across the states of Tennessee and Arkansas to spend a week with high school pal Richard Peck. He has a beautiful cabin home in Mena Arkansas and had a great time playing guitars with some of his friends. He was able to work it out that I could sit in with his church’s praise band, which was a whole lot of fun. They let me go nuts a bit on a couple songs. I spent the last part of my journey with my sister in Knoxville, where I was able to spend time with my favorite cousin (Danny) and my favorite aunt (Danny’s Mom Anna Allen). I also got to talk some with elementary school pals Kemp Wynn and Lee Beeler. Kemp is a pastor in the Knoxville area and he has agreed to be our Men’s Retreat Speaker March 28-29 2025!
As much as I enjoyed seeing my friends and visiting with family, man, it was good to get that long trip behind me. I am not sure exactly but I think I drove almost 3000 miles during that time. It was such a blessing to make it home and to sleep in my own bed. I was able to get back in time to help with some worship leading for the Father Son Adventure Retreat and to serve in the kitchen for the Mother Daughter event the following weekend. We will start off October with a retreat group from Seneca Creek Community Church. I am looking forward to see old friends from this group. As to my upcoming retirement, it looks like I will be at the camp through the end of May 2025. I have decided not to move to Arkansas but to stay in the area, probably Cumberland MD so I can be a help to Memorial Baptist Church and also be close enough to help at camp if the need arises.
Thank you so much for your faithfulness in supporting me and encouraging me in my work here as one of the full time camp missionaries at New Life Bible Camp. God bless you all!
Ever Only Jesus
- Andy Maples
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