Author Archives: Carla Taylor

The Youth Worker 2025 is Brenna Brimer!

We are excited to bring Brenna to IVHA this summer to work with our youth kids.  She is a favorite with the kids at church youth group on Wednesday nights.  Brenna will continue to help the teens grow in their faith this summer!  

Brenna Brimer lives in Lance Creek, Wyoming, where she ranches with her husband, Dalton. With a deep love for Scripture and a heart for discipleship, Brenna is dedicated to teaching the Word of God to both teenagers and adults. She brings five years of hands-on ministry experience through leading and teaching at InFaith Camp Grace and her local church’s youth group. Brenna also shares biblical insights through her weekly online publication, Theology on the Prairie. A lifelong learner, she actively pursues theological education through reading, podcasts, and college classes. Some of Brenna’s favorite things include chocolate ice cream, dogs with short legs, and Western artwork.

 

Worship at IVHA 2025

If you love modern worship music, you are in for a treat this year at Imperial Valley Holiness camp!  The Lusk Wyoming Community Youth Band will be leading us in worship during the 7:00 pm service each night as well as all 3 services on Sundays.

Last year if you came to camp, you got to listen to the youth during Harmony Hour every night.  It was during camp last year that several of these kids received a call from the Lord to music ministry as a career in the future. Since camp, the Wyoming portion of that band has worked many hours to improve their musical skills and grow their relationship with the Lord. Several of them play on the Sunday morning worship team, but the entire band leads their peers in worship every Wednesday night at the Community Youth Group. They hosted their first concert in March and continue to share their gifting where ever possible.  Listening to the testimonies of teenage kids is especially inspiring.

For those of you who prefer hymns to the modern worship music, do not be dismayed!  The Band plays hymns regularly on Sunday mornings and will sprinkle them in through out each service during camp.

 

2025 Missionaries, Meshak and Cate Habib

Our missionaries this year come to us in a different way that we typically are used to.  Meshak and Cate Habib are Kenyan missionaries to the United States.  They are serving in Texas and have been in the US for about 3 years.  Their daughters, will be joining them at camp this year as well!  Missionary Day will be on Thursday, July 24 and the Habib’s will be sharing during the 7:00 service that day.  They will be at camp for the entire camp helping out and sharing individually as well.

“Even them I will bring to My holy mountain.” Isaiah 56:7 (NKJV)

“As the Habib family, we are called to disciple and nurture the immigrant diaspora and multicultural community in Dallas, Texas, aligning with God’s vision of gathering people from every nation, tribe, and language into His house of prayer. Our ministry is focused on guiding individuals and families to live Christlike lives, walking alongside them as they develop into potential leaders who reflect the love and truth of Christ in their communities.

Through university and college outreach, as well as leadership development, we aim to equip students and emerging leaders to integrate their faith into their lives, empowering them to impact the world around them. Both of our daughters actively engage in this mission, using their gifts and talents to connect with peers and their families, building bridges to the church and the greater community.

This work is a family calling, a sacred mission, and a response to God’s heart for the nations. Together, we seek to see lives transformed, leaders empowered, families restored, and communities united under the Lordship of Christ for the glory of God.”

Rev Ron Richmond to be the 2025 Evangelist at IVHA

Rev. Ron Richmond is an ordained minister. Currently, he is serving as an evangelist, which he has done twice before and has preached in 10 different denominations. From June, 2010 to April, 2024 he was the Lead Pastor at the First Church of the Nazarene in Highland, IN. Highland is extremely strong spiritually and financially. The commitment level of the board members as well as the average attender is unusually high for an American church today.

Before Ron went to Highland, he was a Youth Pastor in two churches and a Senior Pastor in three churches, as well as an evangelist for 11 years. He has been the guest speaker for revivals, camp meetings, SS Conventions, retreats and for pastors’ conferences. In 2001 Ron received specialized training as a consultant in church health from Natural Church Development, and from New Church Specialties as a coach to pastors on refocusing. (“Returning the focus of the church to God’s original intention, making disciples.”) So when Ron was an evangelist, he also served as a consultant to pastors, church boards and churches.

Ron has also been a motivational speaker for non-profit organizations like the Red Cross and for corporations like Primerica, Zondervan and Impra.

Ron’s greatest joy is to be used by God in a way that produces spiritual change in the lives of people. “Changed lives” is what ministry is all about to Ron, and that’s what he has watched God do in amazing ways for many years.

Brother Ron will be bringing the word each evening during camp at the 7:00 pm service.  He will also be teaching an adult Bible Study each morning at 10:30 am.  The Sunday schedule will be the same as in the past with Brother Ron preaching at 10:30 am, 2:00 pm, and 7:00 pm.  We look forward to having you join us this year to see what the Lord has to show us.

 

Krista Landaas is returning as our 2024 missionary

Krista grew up knowing about the love and hope of Jesus. She was lovingly taught by family and friends that God had a plan and purpose for her life. God also used visiting missionaries to open her eyes to the needs of children around the world. Then, in 2012, she visited a Native American reservation for the first time. She instantly encountered a spirit of hopelessness and despair.

Many Native American children and teens have no one to speak God’s truth and hope into their lives. Native American reservations have a preteen and teenage suicide rate that is three times higher than the rest of the United States! They need the truth and hope found only in Christ. God put a love and burden on her heart for them. He has called her to speak His truth and love to these children, guide them into a saving knowledge of him, and build them into faithful disciples.

They share God’s truth and hope through many activities that open doors to share our faith with, disciple, and mentor our children and teens. God has opened great doors for ministry to the Native Americans that she serves:

  • Sharing the Word of God in after-school Bible clubs
  • Opening creativity and exploring talents through music lessons
  • Encouraging and supporting teachers through volunteering in the local school district
  • Creating a worship culture through worship leading
  • Building strong foundations through Bible study
  • Cultivating impactful relationships through mentoring

We are so glad to have Krista join us at Imperial this year!  Krista will be involved in various things throughout the week and will share about her ministry on Thursday evening, July 25th at 7pm for our Missionary Service.  Please come and join us to learn more about Krista and her ministry.

Farm Fresh Faith at IVHA in 2024

Summer is approaching at a high rate of speed and we need your help!  July 22-26, 2024 we are doing something at Imperial Valley Holiness Camp that we have never done before!  We are hosting a Vacation Bible School every morning that week for the local kids!  Why are we changing it up?  Because we want to make new friends!

Kris Mustion and Kathy Weintz will be back this year to head up this exciting new adventure.  The theme is Farm Fresh Faith.  We will have Bible lessons, Games, Music, Snacks, and Crafts. The kids should arrive at the campgrounds at 8:30 each morning and be ready to pick up at 11:20-11:30.  We invite all preschool – 5th-grade kids.

We plan to have 2 different bus stops in Imperial to pick kids up and bus them to the camp, and we will return them to the same bus stops later in the morning.  Parents are also welcome to drop off and pick up their children personally.

There will be a short Bible School program on Friday at 6 pm.  We will have a picnic supper starting at 5 pm for the kids and their families.  Crafts can be picked up at that time.

How can you help? Invite kids to join us!  If you have the schedule flexibility to help wrangle kids, please join us.  Bonus points if you bring a vehicle full of kids!

There will also be afternoon activities for the kids who stay on the grounds.

Deb Ballard will teach the Youth on spending intentional time with God

We are excited to announce that Deb Ballard will be coming to IVHA in 2024 to work with the Middle and High Schoolers.  Deb is from Brookline, Missouri and has a ministry called Guided Steps.  This is what she says about Guided Steps:

“July 26, 2018 – Current – Our overall mission that God has given us…

Build A Community of Love & Not Judgement, Tell GOD’s Testimonies & Reach the Lost & Broken
I have been following leading of the Holy Spirit daily and all in God’s timing we are helping the Saints to draw near to God, have fellowship with Him daily, be still & listen, hear His voice, and become disciples that are STANDing for Revival. We are helping God equipping the Saints with managing their time so that they are not letting the devil steal, kill & destroy time away from God. We all need to Love God with all of our heart, soul, mind & strength and we all need accountability & commitment to God to do His great work.

God has guided us to some BIG things and we know that He is a BIGGER God. Every step we take is lead by His Guided Steps. We are blessed to be finishing the puzzle for the following to help the Saints….

Build A Community of Saints that are seeking the MORE of God (Love & Not Judgement)
Tell GOD’s Testimonies & reach the Lost & Broken = We are telling God’s Testimonies of God experiences.
Guided Steps Planner
Kid/Teens Guided Steps Planner
Pray & Plan with God = Learning to Pray & Plan with God daily!
I AM A Disciple = 52 Week Disciple Program
God Mornings = LIVE time together to seek God (Sundays – Fridays)
Submit Sundays = LIVE to Submit to God for the week and let the Holy Spirit speak.
STAND in Revival = We are standing together for a move of the Holy Spirit in us individually (Mon – Fri)

We are building first with adults but we completely believe that we have to reach our youth and that will be the next steps for Guided Steps Kid/Teens. We believe that the youth need to be trained the way that they need to go in this world of darkness we ALL need to be light that shines bright.

At the Holiness camp we will be guiding the youth to START & END their day with God. How to spend intentional time with God and draw near to Him daily. We will be teaching them to seek him with ALL of their heart & soul.”

To learn more about Deb and Guided Steps check out their website https://guided-steps.com/about-us/

IVHA 2024 Kick Off Concert will be on Broadway in Imperial

We are very excited to announce that the Imperial Valley Holiness Camp Kick-Off Concert will be held on Broadway Street in Imperial, Nebraska this year!  The concert will be held in the common area between the Library and the City Gym.  All are welcome to this high-quality and high-impact event.

Mark Umfleet has been named the 2021 International Male Vocalist of the

Year by the Country Gospel Music Association.  He is also the speaker for the entire 10 days of camp at IVHA this year.  Chase County is blessed to have him.   Check out this video for a taste of what this concert will be like!  hhttps://youtu.be/zHTGLWKPD4Yttp

2024 Music Evangelist

Marcus A. Whitworth, Sr (age 65) is serving the Body of Christ for 41 consecutive years as an Ordained Evangelist/Revivalist.  He joyfully follows the Biblical model of Kind David – type Worship of the Lord, “in the beauty of Holiness.” It gives him much pleasure to include the blowing of the Jewish Shofar, better known in the Bible as “The Trumpet of the Lord.” Marcus accompanies himself musically on the keyboard and guitar.  He usually sings a blend of old & new songs, plus new, original material, and even the Davidic “New Song”  a free-flowing Song in the Spirit.

He has been happily married to Donna for 44 years.  They have 1 son in Heaven, and 2 adult sons with families, including 7 grandchildren here on earth.  Marcus enjoys hobbies in stick or cane making and various other crafts.  He enjoys shopping at antique, thrift, junk stores, garage sales, etc.

We are delighted he will lead us in worship in July 2024 at Imperial Valley Holiness Camp!

Mark Umfleet IVHA 2024 Speaker & Concert

The 2024 Imperial Valley Holiness Camp will be held from July 18 to the 28th on the campgrounds East of Imperial. Our Speaker will be Mark Umfleet! Mark will share with us each morning and evening during the 10 days of camp.  A bonus is that Mark is our artist for our Annual Kick Off Concert.  We are taking our Kick-Off Concert to town this year and will be sharing more details as we get closer to July.  To get a taste of Mark and his music go take a look and listen at https://markumfleet.com/

Mark and Dori Umfleet live in Forsyth, Montana, a rural community on the banks of the Yellowstone River. He is the pastor of The Point, a Wesleyan Church, and together they operate WeeCare Child Care, a ministry of their church. Mark is the leader of The Back Roads Parish, a mission to reach rural communities with the Gospel of Christ. He serves as Vice President at Cadwell Springs Camp, an interdenominational holiness camp in Southeast Montana.

Together, Mark and Dori have 4 children: Jabin and daughter-in-law Ally, with granddaughter Hazel, serve in ministry at Crossroads Farm in Reading, Michigan; Naomi and son-in-law Alex serve in ministry at The Branch Wesleyan Church in Lafayette, Indiana; Isaiah and Solomon are both students at Indiana Wesleyan University, where Solomon is a wide receiver on the IWU Wildcats football team.

Mark loves to hunt in the fall and to prospect for gold in the spring and summer. His favorite movies are The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hunt for Red October, The Man from Snowy River, and every John Wayne or Jimmy Stewart western. Dori loves kids: her own and all others. She tolerates country music, only because that’s what Mark prefers to sing. Her favorite movies are the short clips of baby Hazel sent by Ally and Jabin every day.

In 2021, the Country Gospel Music Association named Mark the International Male Vocalist of the Year. Mark has recorded two albums: At the Corner of Hope and Faith, and Do You Believe. His third album has been in production for a couple of years and will hopefully be released sometime in 2024. The working title of that album is The Sinner and the Saint: songs from The Door. The Door is a concert presentation of the Gospel like many have never heard. It has been described as an entire week of revival in one concert!