Our story began in 1993, when Pastor Kenny Robinson envisioned a place where short-term missions could be used as a vehicle for discipleship and service. In the early days, he shared that vision with friends and supporters—board member Carolyn Snider still remembers sitting on her front porch, listening to Kenny dream about what could be. Many of our long-time mission teams also fondly recall Kenny’s dog and goat stories, which became part of the fabric of our early years.

 

From the very beginning, we operated in partnership with Mission to the World (MTW), the Presbyterian Church in America’s mission arm. That partnership shaped our foundation and gave us a framework for connecting local ministry with broader church involvement. In 2008, we moved into our own home at Dayspring Camp & Conference Center. The cabins that still house teams today were built with the hands and hearts of many of our volunteers, who gave their time and labor to establish a permanent base for ministry. Nearly a decade later, in 2016, MTW scaled back its North American projects, and we ventured out on our own. This new chapter allowed us to carry forward the same mission and vision, while charting our own path forward in service and discipleship.

 

Over the years, God has blessed us with dedicated leaders and staff who have helped shape our ministry. David Hamilton served faithfully as our Project Director until 2016, followed by Bob Conrad, who carried the role until his retirement in 2024. In 2025, Mike Keith stepped in to begin his leadership as Project Director. Our camp has also been guided by strong leadership at the director level—most recently, Doug Mallow, who retired as Camp Director in 2025, passing the role to our current Camp Director, Lydia Kuehnert. For decades, the kitchen has been at the heart of camp life under the faithful care of Myra Hamilton, who recently began passing the torch to Tara Pendleton and Katie Eades to carry on her legacy of hospitality and care.

 

Looking back, we see more than three decades of God’s provision, the investment of faithful leaders, and the sacrificial work of volunteers and mission teams. Looking ahead, we remain committed to creating a place where discipleship, service, and community can flourish for generations to come.