For Diane, Karen, and Kim, CAMP-of-the-WOODS has never just been a place—it’s been part of their story.

“Our moms were sisters and first came to camp 76 years ago,” they shared. “They were driving on Route 30 and my grandpa saw the sign and said, ‘CAMP-of-the-WOODS—what is that? Let’s go see.’ And the rest, as they say, is history.”

That one spontaneous turn became a legacy. They grew up here, and their children did, too. And now, decades later, that same legacy is still shaping their faith, just in a new way.

Camp in their DNA

All three cousins, Diane, Karen, and Kim, have been coming to CAMP-of-the-WOODS since they were infants.

“I was one month old the first time I came,” Kim said. “My family had been coming every July since 1950… It’s basically in our DNA at this point.”

Faith was always present. Church, Sunday School, and Chapel at Camp. But Scripture itself? That felt different.

Diane shared, “I had taken some Bible classes back in college, and while I always had tremendous faith, my understanding of the scriptures and their history always felt lacking.”

“I knew it,” Kim added, “but I didn’t know it.”

A Simple Idea in the Trading Post

It started like many things at camp do: casually, almost unexpectedly.

“We were at Camp, and Kim was saying we should join the Bible study,” Karen remembered. “It would be fun, and we would definitely see each other every week.”

For Kim, the reason was simple and deeply personal. “My cousins had retired and moved 1,100 miles away. I miss them,” she said. “When I heard about this online Bible study, I thought it would be a great way for us to stay connected… and grow closer to Jesus and each other.”

So, standing in the Trading Post, they signed up. “We always did things together here at Camp… Kids’ Klub, Teens, Chapel,” Kim said. “This seemed like the logical next step.”

Approaching Scripture Differently

What began as a way to stay connected quickly became something deeper.

“I now see how everything in the Bible points to Jesus,” Kim shared. “The Bible is 66 different books, but it is really just one story. I am amazed at all the connections this study shows.”

For Diane, it changed how she approached Scripture altogether. “Previously I would have felt unsure about opening and selecting passages… now I feel more connected to the scriptures and what I may be looking to understand.”

And for Karen, it slowed everything down. “Sometimes you get carried away with the business of getting by every day,” she said. “Bible study helped me to slow down… take time for the Lord and me.”

A Weekly Rhythm of Connection

Every week, they log on to read, discuss, and pray.

“After each Bible study, all participants pray together in a group,” Kim said. “During the week, I pray for my fellow participants… it is exciting to check in each week and see how God has answered prayers.”

But what stands out most isn’t just what they’ve learned, but the friendships they’ve formed.

“We started as strangers,” they shared, “and over the course of this study have become friends. We care about each other.”

Diane added, “People have shared pain and hardship as well as joy… and in many instances, things have turned around for the positive. It has helped me as I am dealing with illness in family members.”

Being a Witness to Others

However, what started as a weekly rhythm didn’t stay there. It began to show up in conversations, relationships, and in the way they carried their faith into everyday life.

“The study has changed how I engage with my local community,” Diane shared. “I feel more open and willing to discuss that I am attending Bible study and share the impact that it has had on me.”

That openness became real in a moment of loss.

“Just this past week, we held a prayer vigil for a person in our community,” she said. “After the vigil… I found myself mentioning how God has us in His hands and will carry us through difficult times.”

Their friend passed away shortly after. “And while it is a loss, we know that because of our friend’s faith in Jesus Christ, he is now with the Lord.”

For Karen, the impact has been closer to home, but just as meaningful.

“These studies have helped me with discussions about our Lord involving extended family members,” she said. “It has opened up conversation with them… learning more about how they relate to God has brought us closer.”

And for Kim, what started as a way to stay connected has reshaped everyday life.

“By doing this study with my cousins, I am sure to see them once a week,” she said. “We talk and text even more because of it… If we don’t know an answer, we talk and figure it out.”

It’s even extended beyond just the three of them. “My husband is doing the study also, so we discuss it too. It has brought me closer to my family.”

One Story, Still Unfolding

For three cousins whose story began generations ago on a drive down Route 30, this season is simply the next chapter. Only now, the connection isn’t just tied to a place, but it’s rooted in something deeper.

“We grow closer to God and to each other,” Kim said.

And that legacy of faith, once experienced together at camp, is still continuing, just in a new way. “This Bible study has been a blessing,” she said. “It is unlike anything I have ever experienced.”

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