The work team gathers in front of the foundation for the main lodge of the camp. (photo courtesy of Julia Jones)

"We United Methodists know that church camp is important for education, spiritual growth, and Christian community. Building a church camp—it's in our Methodist DNA!"

Julia Jones wrote these words in an article for her church newsletter at First United Methodist Church in Pierre, South Dakota. Her excitement was palpable as she shared the story of a new mission opportunity God had called her to and as she invited others to join her in making a dream a reality. 

That dream was for a new church camp in the Dominican Republic. 

"A group primarily of women have dreamed of having a church camp on the eastern side of the country," shared Julia. There is currently a camp on the western side. However, the distance limits accessibility. "It would be like us having only Lake Poinsett but not anything in North Dakota or the Black Hills," said Julia.

This dream of a new church camp resonated with Julia as someone passionate about camping ministries and their impact on someone's faith journey. However, being a part of making this dream a reality was just another chapter in the story of Julia's call to mission ministry.

"For many years, I had gone on a medical [mission trip] team to Honduras, and Gloria [Borgman] kept saying, 'Julia, you know you really could start your own team,' and I'm like, 'no, no!'" recalled Jones. "I told her I would do whatever she wanted me to – lead devotions, run everything in the pharmacy. And she would say, 'You know, I really think you can lead.'" 

But the Holy Spirit's invitation would not end with that encouragement from her team leader. It would continue to come—this time during a meeting with her pastor.

Kevin Hipple and Dale Anderson, members of First UMC in Pierre, S.D., were a part of the mission team in June 2024. (photo courtesy of Julia Jones)

"One day, during a meeting, [Pastor] Dan Bader said to me, 'I'm just wondering, would you ever consider leading a medical mission team? He asked me not to answer right away but to think about it, and I said, 'No, I won't think about it. I'll do it!" said Julia.

That "yes" led to several years of taking medical teams to the Dominican Republic. Relationships built through these trips led to the next invitation. 

"One of our translators, Norma Forchue, asked, 'Have you ever thought about doing a construction trip? and I said, 'Yes! I've offered because I have people in my church and people around the conference who would be interested in coming on a construction trip," replied Julia. 

Mission sites and settings are by invitation from the host. In the Dominican Republic, Jones works with the Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana (IED) Church, the country's Protestant Church, which was born from the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Moravian denominations. She shared with Norma that her offer to do a construction trip hadn't yet been accepted. "Well, my church wants you to go!" Norma replied. 

As Julia learned the story of this dream of a new church camp, she became increasingly passionate about being a part of what God was doing in and through these churches. 

As this group of women began to share the dream that God had planted in them, they found resistance. "Their male leaders told them, 'I don't think anybody's going to get behind you on building a church camp,'" shared Julia. 

The women kept running into this type of resistance for several years, to the point that Norma began to think maybe they couldn't do it. But, as Julia shared, one of the other women offered words of encouragement. "We will do this," she said. "This is God's dream that he placed on our hearts, and he would just love it."

And so they persevered. Over the past six years, they raised enough money among themselves to buy a little rebar and gravel, sand, and cement powder. They received a piece of farmland donated by a church member, created plans with the help of another church member's relative who is an architect, and found a construction manager who would work for them at cost.

A water basin was constructed from extra materials to catch rain water for mixing concrete.

They broke ground in January 2024. In June, Julia's team was the first mission team to arrive, bringing funds to purchase additional materials. "The main thing that we bring is not expertise," said Jones. The main thing we bring is dollars and enthusiasm."

"While they needed the money badly, they also needed to show all the members in all the churches in that area that there's enthusiasm, backing, and support," added Jones.

During the trip, the local leaders lined up different churches each day that would send volunteer crews to work alongside the team. Since then, members of local churches have continued to work on the main lodge, using up the materials that were left from June.  

Jones is now planning another trip to provide continued financial support and encouragement to keep making this vision a reality. 

"I'm looking for folks who want to go with us April 4-12, 2025," said Julia.  "I can't tell you for sure what you'll be doing—whether it will be mixing concrete like before or whatever. But the enthusiasm that comes from not just spending money but having people meet face to face is most important." 

"The mission is always, always, always relationships, and there is an enthusiasm that comes out of that," added Julia.

*****

The cost of the trip for participants will be around $2800 per person, covering flight, lodging, food, and everything else needed other than souvenirs or extra snacks. Those interested or who would like more information can contact Julia Jones by phone or email.

If individuals would like to financially support the building of this church camp, they can send their donations to Pierre First UMC who manages the finances for the trip. Below is a list of needed items that require funding and the approximate cost in U.S. Dollars.

2,000 cement blocks ($0.71/each)
500 bags of cement ( $8.40/each)
One cubic meter of mixed sand ($28.84/cubic meter)
One cubic meter of cement powder ($28.84/cubic meter)
One box of special nails ($59.84/box)
One box of ordinary nails ($59.84/box)
One box of octagonal plastic ($5.43/ ½ box)
8 conduflex ($8.48/ ½ roll)
6,600 lbs 2/4" rebar ($61.07/100 pounds)
2,200 lbs 3/8" rebar ($57.68/100 pounds
6,600 lbs of ½ rebar ($57.68/100 pounds)