Camp macon update

Lake Forest Ranch has existed for over 70 years as a ministry focused on sharing the Gospel of Jesus with young people in a summer camp setting. Though we serve churches and families from all over the southeast, we are deeply connected to our local community and long to “build relationships for eternal impact” at home as well. One way this has been accomplished is through a special summer event called Camp Macon.

Camp Macon started in 2004 in an effort to minister to the children and youth of Noxubee County. For 18 years, it has served Noxubee County by hosting teens at Lake Forest Ranch for a week of recreation, team games, Bible study, and more. Camp Macon also partnered with local churches to host Kids Camps for the children in our communities. It created opportunities for people across the southeast to join us in this work by helping create and manage the programming and to serve alongside us. Many of these people soon fell in love with Noxubee County and returned year after year to serve.

Unfortunately, something happened this past summer that changed Camp Macon forever. You likely know about the fight that occurred. In fact, soon after, if you Googled “Camp Macon”, you’d see a suggested search for “Camp Macon fight”. It was a hashtag on social media, and heartbreaking videos emerged online. If you don’t know, suffice it to say that a possibly gang related, riotous fight involving dozens of teenagers broke out at Lake Forest Ranch on the last day of Camp Macon this past summer. It was violent and dangerous and did not represent what this ministry has been for 18 years.

The hope of Camp Macon has always been to share the love of Jesus Christ and His offer of salvation and new life in Him. We believe that whatever challenges our kids and teenagers face, Jesus is the answer. It's hard to know the exact impact this special week has made this side of Heaven, but there are many encouraging stories of life change and Gospel transformation from both those served by Camp Macon and those who served with it.

This is why it is so difficult to let our community know that Lake Forest Ranch has decided to suspend Camp Macon for the foreseeable future. The incident this past summer helped shed light on several areas of this ministry that need attention. We are hoping for a more focused effort to serve kids and teens in Noxubee County that will not facilitate violence but will instead offer a quality summer camp experience like no other.

Starting this summer, Lake Forest Ranch is inviting anyone living in Noxubee County ages 7-17 to attend one of our regular summer camp sessions for a greatly discounted price of $100. This price includes a voucher at our Camp Store and Snack Shop. Our regular camp sessions offer an unforgettable experience with fun recreation, one-on-one connection with a summer camp counselor, meals, worship, Bible study, and meaningful late night activities.

This is what Lake Forest Ranch has been doing since 1950, and we want to offer our best to those in our community. A camper is guaranteed to have a conversation with their camp counselor about their relationship with Jesus, hear the Gospel of Christ and be given an opportunity to respond. This is how Lake Forest Ranch has been building relationships for eternal impact for 72 years. Even though Camp Macon will not happen in 2023, this doesn’t mean ministry to our community has come to an end. If you’re a parent, grandparent, or guardian of a Noxubee County child or teenager, consider registering them for camp! Go to our website to get started, and we’ll gladly help you sign up.

If you’ve served at Camp Macon over the years, we know this is sad news to you as well. However, you can still serve the children and youth of Noxubee County! You can start by praying for them and the rest of the community. Pray that kids will come to camp next summer and respond to the Gospel of Jesus! You can also give; giving provides scholarships that allow us to offer camp at such a discounted price. Finally, come serve in our county. We have connections with ministries that you can partner with, and Lake Forest Ranch would be happy to help facilitate any way it can.

This is sad news to many, and Lake Forest Ranch grieves with you, but we are hopeful! We are trusting the Father and looking forward to serving our community in a new way. Trust Him with us and join us next summer at camp!

Follow the buttons on this this page to register for camp or give!