Music Monday – Tenth Avenue North Live DVD

by Matt Ralph on Feb 28, 2011 in Friends, Music | 0 comments

Tenth Avenue North’s Inside and In Between DVD/CD releases tomorrow. Order it from Christianbook.com using this link and a portion of the sale will benefit the ministry of Delanco Camp.

Chews UMC’s 200th

by Matt Ralph on Feb 25, 2011 in Friends | 0 comments

I was a middle school kid at Chews United Methodist Church when I first attended a junior high camp with my brother Mike at Delanco Camp so it’s safe to say that the church, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this month, holds a special place in my heart. The above video was on the Courier-Post‘s website this week as part of their coverage of the anniversary.

Check out the full article (which includes a quote from one of our weekly staff members last summer, Jim McDowell) HERE.

Happy anniversary, Chews!

Rev. Emanuel Burkman 1911-2011

by Matt Ralph on Feb 21, 2011 in Friends, News | 0 comments

Emanuel Burkman, a longtime pastor, friend and supporter of the camp, died last week at the age of 99.

Burkman served the Lord as a pastor of United Methodist churches in southern New Jersey for a remarkable 63 years, the longest of anyone in the conference when he retired from his last church in Cape May County at age 84.

Though I never had the privilege of meeting “Manny” or “Burky” as he was known, I understand he was quite the revivalist who made a lasting impact for the kingdom in every church he served and at our camp when it was in the town of Delanco and when it moved to its present location. He was a board member and led many a workday at camp, carpentry being one of his passionate hobbies.

If you have a recollection of Emanuel, please be sure to share it in the comments below.

A Memorial Service will take place at The Shores at Wesley Manor, 2201 Bay Avenue, in Ocean City, on Saturday, March 5, at 11 a.m.

If you would like to send condolences to the family you can write to:

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Burkman
P.O. Box 2666
El Cajon, CA 92021

Drs. Tom and Lani Burkman
800 Kirkwood Drive
Grand Island, NY 14072

Joshua Palumbo 1980-2011

by Matt Ralph on Feb 8, 2011 in Friends, News | 3 comments

The Delanco Camp family has lost a dear friend, former camper and former kitchen staff member in 30-year-old Joshua Palumbo, who died last week.

I was a camper with Josh growing up and was always well fed on the anything-but-typically-gross camp food his mom prepared in the kitchen as head cook all of my years as a camper.

The Palumbo family could really use your prayers as they mourn the tragic and untimely loss of Josh.

If you didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Josh as I and pretty much anyone who was a camper at Delanco in the ’90s had, I think this picture captures his personality well. Since hearing the horrible news, the memories that keep flooding back to me are of Josh at camp, lightening the mood and making everyone laugh in a way that only he could.

Below is the obituary with information about an opportunity to visit with the family:

Joshua W. Palumbo, 30, of Wildwood, NJ, formerly of Washington Twp., NJ, passed away on February 2, 2011. Josh was a graduate of Washington Twp. High School and formerly worked as a chef. Loving son of Rev. Joseph Palumbo, Sr. and Donna Palumbo (nee Sparks). Dear brother of Joseph Palumbo, Jr., Jeremy Palumbo (Danielle) and Jennifer Wood (John). Loving grandson of Elizabeth Sparks. Dear uncle of Spencer, Kiera, Ciara, Gavin, Dakota, Rashelle and Alexandria. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Farnelli Funeral Home, 504 N. Main Street, Williamstown, NJ, where a service will follow at 12:00 pm. Cremation will be held privately. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Friends of Josh Palumbo, Crest Savings Bank, 3301 Pacific Ave., Wildwood, NJ 08260.

Click HERE for the funeral home site, where you can post on the guestbook and send private condolences to the family.

Pray for Blue Mountain Christian Retreat

by Matt Ralph on Nov 23, 2010 in Friends, Other | 1 comment

Photo by Larry Neff from The Morning Call

We received word earlier this evening of a devastating fire that happened last week at a fellow Christian Camp and Conference Association camp in Pennsylvania (about 30 miles northwest of Allentown). The fire completely destroyed the camp’s main building (think our Retreat Center times three).

This is what CCCA section president Phil Herschberger wrote in an e-mail:

The biggest thing they need right now is lots of prayer she said. Pray for wisdom in decision making on a new facility. Pray for officials that they would speedily grant approvals for permits. Pray for creative ideas on how they can keep hosting some of the smaller groups and keep incoming coming in. They are working to get a mobile kitchen and feed people in the gym. Finances are of course a big concern too.

And this from the camp’s website:

Many have heard about the fire that destroyed our main building and we are all saddened, but at the same time we are rejoicing and praising our wonderful God. We are so encouraged by the outpouring of love, prayer, and support from all of you!! We are moving forward and have a temporary office set up and groups are still coming in and are very excited to be here! Our Bookstore is fine and open daily for business. We will have a kitchen set up within a week and our cafeteria will be housed in the Gym. We are believing God to have our new building in full operation ASAP! God is in control!

What a powerful testimony that even with something as tragic as a fire that our brothers and sisters in ministry are rejoicing and proclaiming the name of Jesus.

Vote for Hope

by Matt Ralph on Oct 18, 2010 in Friends | 0 comments

AG Financial recorded several ministry leaders talking about their vision and passion for ministry at the recent Catalyst Conference in Atlanta and one of those people happened to be a good friend of ours – Dave Falcone. Dave is the youth director at Hope UMC in Voorhees.

You can see his video by scrolling through and looking for Dave Falcone and Hope Church HERE. You can also cast your vote for his video by clicking on the green Vote button to the side. Or you can vote for one of the other videos too. The ministry garnering the most votes will end up getting $1,000 from AG Financial.

Though I don’t really know how I feel about pitting ministries against each other in a popularity contest like this, it is awesome to see South Jersey represented by a former camper, permanent staff member, speaker and longtime friend of the camp.