Testimonials

WE ARE STANDING ON HOLY GROUND... Like the ground around the burning bush in Moses day, to me and many thousands across the years Bambi Lake is "Holy Ground". Since that day in 1958 when Fred and Shirley Hubbs held hand across the hood of their car on the shores of Sinkhole Lake (renamed Bambi Lake) and prayed and ask God to give this lovely placed to Baptists it has been "Holy Ground". When Fred prayed for 100 people to join him in prayer at the camp at the end of the prayer meeting they counted of, 98,99,100! It was on "Holy Ground" When our first camp manager Leon Fuller and his lovely wife Janice came to plant their lives for the next forty years at Bambi it was "Holy Ground". From the 50's to the 90's, we would thrill to the "Picture Preaching" of Leon as he would give his famous Chalk Talks, we were on "Holy Ground". When, W. B. Oakley, Fred Hubbs, Ray Babb, Max Cadenhead, Hubert Keefer, Billy Whitt, H.T. Starkey, Willard Martin, or Robert Blann, our own pastors now with the Lord, would preach we were on "Holy Ground". When we would see servants like JB working in the kitchen cleaning dishes or in the snack shop running the cash register we were on Holy Ground'. When Maw Oakley would bring a big bowl of "Red Eye Gravy" for her hand made biskets, we were on "Holy Ground". When we would meet Edger Roberts retired pastor of Fairview repairing and building at Bambi we knew we were on Holy Ground". All of there and many hundreds of others have passed from here to the Holy City now made with hands and today stand on "Holy Ground". But today we are still blessed. The night Mike Speck surrendered to ministry, and today sings the gospel literally around the world we were on "Holy Ground". The Sunday Wayne Vann, surrendered his life to God's will, while Bob Wilson was preaching at the Men's Retreat, and become the longest serving Mission Service Corp member in the history of our state we were on "Holy Ground". The night Margaret Freidman a Jewish girl from Trenton, gave her life to Christ and had to leave her home, we were on Holy Ground" Yesterday during our Men's Retreat, Ralph Pruitt's grandson was saved in the Friday night service we were on Holy Ground". Since 1960, when with two weeks of pastoral experience, I served as camp pastor for RA,s till yesterday when I served as director of the Men's Retreat I have never left Bambi Lake without believing I was on Holy Ground". Whether is was as a pastor bringing 125 teenagers to a Winter Retreat, or preaching at a Baptist Student retreat, or at the Senior Citizens retreat, or the Philippine Retreat, or at the Pastor's and wives retreat or the Pastor's Winter retreat, or leading Men's retreats for over 20 winters or just attending the many retreats, conferences, staff meetings dedications, and even funerals I always felt like I did yesterday when we held hands and sang, "We are standing on Holy Ground and we know that there are angels all around, let us praise Jesus now, we are standing in His presence on Holy Ground" And as I always say as we leave Bambi, men where ever you are and Jesus is there that is also Holy Ground". -Jimmy Jones, (I have been to Bambi Lake over 300 times and have not missed a year since 1960) What Bambi Lake Means To Me The person and the ministry that I have today have a lot to do with what I experienced at Bambi Lake. One of most remembered is the RA father son camp outs that the Monroe Missionary Baptist Church RAs had each spring; we would have 40-50 boys and fathers there. On Saturday evening the boys and fathers would cook their own dinner together. At one campout one of the boys was watching my son and myself make a foil dinner. I asked what he was having, and he said hot dogs. I had enough hamburg and vegetables to make another one and asked if he would like one. I showed him how to cut the vegetables and fold the foil so that it would cook and not burn up. When he got home he made foil dinners for his family, not long ago I talked to his dad and his son still makes them for his wife and kids. These are some of the good memories that I have. At these campouts I got to know Leon who was the Manger at Bambi. At one of the men's retreats he asked if I would come and help at the women's retreats parking cars and carrying in their luggage. This is how I started volunteering at Bambi. Since then I had the opportunity to serve as Asst. Centrifuge Director for 6 or 7 years. It was great to see how youth's lives were changed. I also worked with MMBC building teams on construction projects over the years.But what most impacted my life were the men's retreats. I started coming in the early 80s. They would have layman come and share slides of mission trips that they had been on. I thought that to be a missionary you needed to have a special education or be a pastor to go. One year the Ohio Disaster Relief team came and showed us their feeding unit and talked how they feed in disasters. This started me on the disaster relief ministry that I still am part of. There was man, I do not remember his name, came and showed his slides about what he did in Upper Volta. He was building retaining ponds to catch rain run off. He was driving a dump truck and other construction machinery. I kept thinking I can do that. Having grown up in the country and worked on farms and doing some farming myself I can drive most anything. The Lord started working on me, the next Sunday when I returned home, I went to the altar and told the Lord that I would go where ever he sent and do where ever he had for me to do. Three months later I was on a plane to Russia. A year later I went to Japan for a building project. The next year I received a call to go back to Japan for another building project. I was able to retire when I was 52 after 30 years at Fords, when I retired I told the Lord the next 20 years were his, that I would go and do what ever he had for me to do, he has kept me busy. I still have 4 more years to go, and then maybe I will retire, most likely not. A men's retreat at Bambi Lake and a man that went to Upper Volta changed my life. This man will never know how he affected my life. I now know what a missionary is, my wife and I have been missionaries for 8 years in the Mission Service Corps program. Our area of service is Disaster Relief. All I can say is if you tell the Lord you will go anywhere he sends you; pack your bags!! -Submitted by Fred Kinsey A LIFE TOUCHED Mike Durbin's testimony about Bambi It looked like about a foot of snow had fallen as we drove away from Bambi a few weeks ago. Shar and I spent the day leading breakout sessions for our associational youth retreat. The students, enthusiasm, devotion, and hunger for Jesus inspired me and reminded me of my first time at Bambi as a student more than 30 years earlier. Like many of the students this year, I left the associational youth retreat three decades ago telling stories of tubing, fun with friends, and pulling one over on the counselors. Like them I also left knowing that I had been in the awesome presence of God. To tell the story of Bambi in my life is to tell the story of a life touched. Touched as a student. My life was radically changed as a senior in high school when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord. I was making life shaping decisions as I went to Bambi the first time. While I do not remember much about the lessons taught during those days, I do remember struggling with God's plan for my life. I was seeking direction for the future. Deep in my heart, I sensed that God was calling me into ministry. Bambi was one of those places where I could get focused on God and listen to Him. Those days touched my heart and helped me move closer to committing my life to ministry. Touched as a pastor. Our son Christian was only a few weeks old when Shar and I took him to Bambi the first time. They gave us permission to bring our nursing son to the pastors and wives retreat. I had just graduated from seminary, moved to a new church in Michigan, and had my first child in a matter of weeks. Life was changing faster than it ever had. The retreat at Bambi gave us a few days to relax as a new family, reflect on what God was doing in our lives, and connect with pastors across the great state of Michigan. God encouraged us as the pastors and their wives loved on us and our son. We were inspired by men and women serving in our state. Touched as a family. One of our earliest vacations as a family was at Bambi. Like many young families, we did not have money to get away. Through a special discount for pastors, Bambi made it possible for us to take a vacation as a family. We stayed in one of the manufactured homes. We had all the comforts of home plus the beautiful, family friendly setting of Bambi. Touched as a hunter. I use the word "hunter" loosely. When my youngest son, Jon, wanted to take up hunting, we headed up north to Bambi. I had little interest in hunting, but I was very interested in my son. We stayed in the camp ground at Bambi cooking together, watching videos together, and talking together. I cherish those moments spent "hunting" with my son at Bambi. Touched as a man. Bambi is the place where I have been trained time and time again. It is also the place where I have been inspired in my faith. One of those moments took place at a men's retreat. A group of men from our church spent the weekend together. Part of our time was spent learning how to share our faith. After the training they sent us to "Tip-up-town" to practice what we learned. The men from our church led several people to faith in Jesus in the warming tent. For some, it was the first time they ever led someone to faith in Christ. It brought us together as men and as a church. Touched as a missionary. Bambi was also the place where my calling to serve as the associational missionary for Oakland County was affirmed by our state convention. A life touched. This is my testimony about Bambi. Of course, the real testimony of Bambi is lives touched. I have had the privilege of coming up to Bambi Lake a couple times a year since 1980. As I look back over those times, because I have been a youth pastor, my mind goes to shaving cream fights in the cabins, cold showers, sleepless nights, and there was even the time when someone actually built a snowman in the middle of Chalet #2! Of course I also remember the singing, preaching, Bro. Fuller's chalk-talks on Saturday nights, and the amazing feeling that you get when you watch how God seems to pull everything together. I have to say that one time in particular sticks out in my mind. It was one year when I took a group of teenagers to Centrifuge. It had been a busy, fun filled week with a lot of activities. I had two boys in my group who were probably 15 or so at the time. To say that they were a little mischievous would probably be an understatement. To say that they were a bit rough would also be kind. I found myself praying for one of the boys in particular during the week, hoping that God would in some way soften his heart to be open to the Gospel. It was late in the evening one night as I was about to go into Cottage 4 when I heard someone behind me asking if he could talk. Sean, the boy who I had been praying for, was standing there looking at me. Even in the darkness of the night I could tell that his eyes were filled with tears. I went over and put my arm around him and began to walk with him down into a wooded area, away from the rest of the teenagers so that we could discuss whatever was on his heart and mind. I still remember how he trembled as he began to cry. I was wondering if you could show me how I could be saved? He asked. What a neat experience it was for me to pray with that young man as he accepted Christ into his heart. Things have changed a lot since that night at camp. The old Cottage 4 is now a pavilion. That wooded area has since been cleared and new cabins have been built. There is a new worship center and cafeteria. Time has a way of changing things but the Bible tells us that God never changes. I attended our youth retreat a couple of weekends ago and Bambi Lake. It made me feel good to see Janice Fuller still at the desk doing registration. It was even better to watch how God still softens hearts. He still saves! Fondly Submitted, Randy Weaks First Baptist Church of South Lyon "Bambi Lake" when I hear those words memories return. It seems strange to say that being only 29, but I think young or old, Bambi has a huge place in many of our hearts. From the first time I was ever there at RA camp, to the time my brother and I tipped over in a canoe in November, to the times I was able to minister with my wife to teens, to last week when God moved and changed hearts in our youth. I could tell you all day about what Bambi means to me but I'll just focus on one time. It was July 1997, the summer before my senior year of High school. I had been raised in church my whole life, knowing all the right answers and trying to do the right stuff. Now I was standing there at summer camp and feeling that Pull. Standing on the left side of the old Chapel not wanting to move, I mean I was a pastors kid I couldn't go forward I was supposed to be perfect. However If I had to describe my life at that point it would be full of doubt, fear, no purpose, no focus. You see I had prayed the prayer and been baptized, but I never really got it. It was not my faith it is what I was raised in and had knowledge of, but I was so unsure of. God was working despite me though he was pulling on my heart and I moved, I went forward and gave my life to Him. My life has never been the same. Bambi is not the reason for God moving, but it was the place he moved. I am so thankful for a place like Bambi that is dedicated to letting God Move in the lives of People. Both my wife and I were saved at Bambi -that's why we love it. Thank you Lord for Bambi Lake. -Rick Marcus, Youth Pastor First Baptist Flushing I have many special memories of Bambi Lake Retreat Center from Men's Retreats in the 70's and 80's, chalk talks with Brother Leon, conference opportunities and retreats in the 90's and 2000's. However, the Winter Pastor's Retreat holds the most special place in my heart at Bambi Lake. I enjoyed the many great speakers and spiritual leaders, playing boot hockey with Tom (Angie too) and Wayne, and eating some really great food. But for me, the most special place at Bambi is in the last conference room in the lower hallway of the Lodge. It is there, year after year since 1993 (having missed only once), that the Lord and I meet to plan my preaching schedule for the upcoming year. The quiet coolness of the room becomes a refreshing for my heart, and a place to plan and prepare. I am ever grateful to God for those who 50 years ago, had a vision to bring Southern Baptist to the woods of the northern lower peninsula for physical and spiritual refreshment. -Ron Libey, Pastor, First Baptist of Gwinn
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