The Sirbaugh's - May Update & Prayer

Dear Prayer Partners,

I appreciate the prayers and support that many of you have shared with my family over the past month. Though I was able to get updates out to a couple of churches and on social media, I realize some of you may not have received the news. My father, Roger Sirbaugh, passed away on April 19 at the age of 79. We received a message on the 15th that Dad had been sick with something going around and was really down and not himself. We traveled down on Thursday the 16th to visit him, and I decided to stay there with him. His health deteriorated quickly over the next few days, and he passed away on Sunday the 19th. I am thankful that our family was able to be with him during those final moments. I am truly blessed to have had a dad who raised me the way he did and instilled so many important things into my life. I am also thankful for the encouragement he showed toward me in the ministry at New Life and for the faith that he showed in his Savior. If you would like to read more, the link to his obituary is here:  https://www.mckeefuneralhome.com/obituary/roger-sirbaugh-sr .  Please continue to pray for me and my sisters as we work through finalizing his accounts and belongings with the busyness of camp season beginning in just a few weeks.

Over the past several months, we have had a full schedule of retreat groups along with several New Life Bible Camp-hosted retreats. In March, we hosted our Men’s Retreat, themed “The Task at Hand,” which challenged men to remain faithful and active in the work of the local church. It was a refreshing weekend of fellowship and encouragement as men from various churches gathered together to hear God’s Word and strengthen one another.

In April, we welcomed fathers and daughters for our Dad/Daughter Retreat. The theme was “Rooted,” focusing on having a firm foundation in Christ. It is always a joy to watch fathers take intentional time to invest in their daughters while also having fun and being “silly” together at camp. This past weekend, we held our annual Family Retreat, where entire families are able to experience camp together. We are thankful for how God continues to use these retreats to encourage, strengthen, and draw people closer to Himself.

As we head into May, we are in the final weeks of preparation for the summer season here at New Life Bible Camp, and we would truly appreciate your prayers. Summer camp is always an exciting and important time of ministry here at New Life, but it also comes with a lot of preparation, long hours, and many "To Do" projects. One of those "To Do" projects is to complete a house on the property for one of our full-time staff to move in by the start of summer camp.

This year’s theme is “Battle Ready” from 1 Corinthians 16:13, focusing on preparing young people to stand for truth and faithfully live for Christ in a world that is constantly pulling them in the opposite direction. Since this is America’s 250th anniversary, and because the Bible is full of imagery involving battles and weaponry, the theme should leave a strong and memorable impression on campers throughout the week. Campers will be challenged through daily lessons centered around:

• Enlisting — Being part of God’s family

• Preparing — Putting on the armor of God

• Training — Being disciplined and grounded in God’s Word

• Defending — Learning how to stand against spiritual attack

• Standing — Remaining faithful and strong in the daily battle

This topic is especially relevant for many young people today who are constantly being influenced by a culture that pushes ideas contrary to God’s Word.

Please especially pray for our summer staff as they arrive for training in the coming weeks. Many of these young people are giving up a large part of their summer to serve the Lord and invest in the lives of campers. Pray that they would grow spiritually themselves, work together well, have strength and endurance for the busy weeks ahead, and most importantly, that God would use them in a powerful way to point campers to Christ.

Our family is doing well.  Eran turned 10 earlier in April, and Joses turns 12 this month. They are finishing up 4th and 6th grades and are excited to help work at camp this summer in the snack shop and with mowing grass.

Financial Support: We would also appreciate prayer for our financial support. Over the past couple years, we have lost several individual supporters who have gone home to be with the Lord, and in a time when prices are continuing to rise for everyone, we feel the need to share with you the opportunity that you can have to meet those needs.   If you would be interested in supporting us either through regular monthly support or even a one-time gift, please use the QR code here or go to https://www.newlifebiblecamp.com/donate.

Prayer Items for the Summer

Please pray with us for the following needs as we head into summer:

• Chris and his sisters as they work through court approval, insurance matters, and closing out their dad’s accounts

• Johanna and the boys as they finish out the school year (Grades 4 & 6)

• The coming weeks of preparation for camp• Chris as he handles the administrative side of camp this summer, speaks during weeks of camp, and helps lead the staff

• Johanna and the boys as Chris’s hours become especially long during the summer season

• Our financial support needs

Thank you again for your continued prayers, encouragement, and faithful support of our family and the ministry here at New Life Bible Camp. We are grateful for each one of you.

In Christ,

Chris, Johanna, Joses & Eran Sirbaugh