Tornado Strikes Redberry Bible Camp

God’s people respond to save camp ministry

It seemed to come out of nowhere, witnesses said, hurdling toward Redberry Bible Camp. It struck the camp during the day – Friday, July 10th – never touching the ground but hanging over it, snapping tree tops and thrusting others to the ground, their roots pulled up! On Redberry Lake, it picked up the floating dock, canoes, kayaks and a storage shed, destroying some and blowing others a long distance away. It cut power lines and destroyed a rope-climbing activity area. Branches and tree tops cluttered the entire camp. The trails and walkways were impassable. Hail the size of baseballs struck at the same time. Miraculously, no one was hurt, and the camp buildings – cabins, dining hall, office and gym – were virtually unscathed.

The immediate challenge for Dave Carey, Redberry’s Executive Director, was to keep the upcoming ministry week on track. The campers would register on Sunday, two days away. An urgent appeal for help went out to Redberry supporters; the Saskatchewan MB Conference (SKMB) sent a similar appeal to the family of MB churches in the province. God’s people showed up, more than 100 of them! Many brought chainsaws, skid steers, tractors, trucks, and other equipment to clear broken branches and toppled trees. SKMB covered the cost of feeding the volunteers during the recovery. After more than eight hours of non-stop labour by volunteers, the camp was cleared enough to allow the upcoming ministry week to proceed.

The Facilities Director, Myrd Harder, stated that the devil may have sought to stop the camp's upcoming ministry week, but God used the tornado to bear witness to the incredible response and support from God’s people. We had people show up who had never been to camp but wanted to support its ministry. The camp’s work will prevail and even flourish because of this tornado. The gospel will be shared, and young people will come to know Jesus. The storm will not stop any of this from unfolding during this ministry week. The Director of Ministry, Phil Gunther, was at the camp with Myrd Harder several days after the tornado. He shared that while they were touring the camp, Myrd received a call from a supporter who said he wanted to donate a brand-new chainsaw! Amazing! During and after the storm, God’s blessings keep coming!

Donations to help restore the camp to full operating capacity are welcome. Please go to redberrybiblecamp.com.

SKMB Communications