Camp Willow Run

Dave’s story goes back many years and he has seen the way the Lord has used camp all over the world!

My camp story starts the summer after my freshman year in college. I had no idea that the decision to come to work as a counselor in the summer of 1972 would set a course that confirmed God’s career calling in my life. After working as a counselor in the summer of 72 and 74, I was applying to medical school in the fall of 1974. Mr. Mangum contacted me and asked if I would consider working at camp the next summer as he was having some health problems and was looking for experienced staff to be there the next summer. I initially told him that I would be too…

“There are many memories at CWR that standout to me as pivotal moments in my life. As a camper, I vividly remember sitting on the front steps of my Southern line boxcar one night with my counselor, praying together as I re-dedicated my life to Christ. As a staffer, being surrounded by so many strong Christians all summer was very encouraging and challenging, at the same time. Encouraging in the sense that we were all working together towards the same mission – sharing and living out the Gospel message to the campers each week. Challenging in that, seeing my fellow staffers walking in their faith, pushed me to seek the…

We pulled this one out from 1974! The article originally appeared in We The People of North Carolina/ January 1974 and shares a part of the story of Camp Willow Run’s early years.

We found some old picture slides and digitized them! You can check them out at the YCFC Facebook page. We hope you enjoy seeing how camp has changed (and hasn’t) over the years as we have!

Note: Brenda worked on summer staff in 1975.  I worked at Camp Willow Run the summer that Mr. Mangum [co-founder & director] died. I didn’t know how ill he was or even had an inkling that he would be gone so soon after my interview. I just felt privileged to have been given the opportunity to work there, the summer following my freshman year at UNC, as I had then only recently committed my life to God. The first job given me at camp was working as a cook under Mary Sue in the kitchen, a job that I embraced and loved and which sparked a life-long passion for serving…