Windermere Baptist Conference Center

The life-changing ministry of Windermere Baptist Conference Center was mentioned in Sunday’s Kansas City Star. The headline of the article read, “Church camp turned around a troubled childhood.” Here are a few highlights from the story about how a young teenager, Jerry Johnston, was saved at Windermere:

Johnston says he was a troubled and rebellious child who spent much of his time partying and doing drugs.

... “I was into pot and downers, and I was hospitalized twice. I was a 68-pound burnout on a liquid diet at one point.”

Things got so bad, Johnston said, that he considered committing suicide by swallowing valium.

... In June 1973, at the age of 14, Johnston went to Windermere Baptist Assembly camp near Roach in central Missouri.

“I never prayed so much in all my life,” he said.

... That night, June 21, 1973, Johnston said he invited Christ into his life.

“I went from a freak to a Christian,” he said.

Two months later, Johnston said, he dedicated his life to full-time ministry. He began spreading the gospel, starting a Bible study at his school and, according to his biography, speaking an average of 25 times a week to clubs and organizations through his high school years.

Amen! Johnston’s Windermere experience is similar to many others as he is just one of thousands whose lives have been forever changed by the ministry of Windermere. Last year, Johnston shared this story on James Dobson’s Focus on the Family radio show. Because of the ministry of Windermere and the faithful Missouri Baptists who have supported it, Johnston’s life was drastically changed and he has positively changed the lives of thousands more through his ministry work.

Lori Jo Jensen
Windermere Volunteer

Being at Windermere for me is a display of God’s amazing orchestrating of our lives. My call actually began when I was in high school at a conference similar to those held at Windermere. I felt the Holy Spirit urge me to dedicate my life to full-time Christian work. Although life took different turns, that calling deep in my heart never left.

I spent February and March of 2006 at Windermere, helping with a variety of volunteer projects. Windermere was even better than I had imagined! I found it to be a large facility with staff that treated me like family. The summer proved to be a time of deep fulfillment for me; and I am happy to say I am still here, loving it! One of the greatest blessings was hearing that God had sent me. When I prayed and said, “Here am I, send me,” God was arranging that there would be jobs I could do at Windermere, and they could use someone with my abilities.

The biggest reason I value being a part of Windermere is knowing that indirectly I am a missionary. Because of the work we do, people have become Christians and deepened their spiritual commitment. Because of Windermere, there are many who will spend eternity in heaven rather than hell. And the rippling effect of these lives changed goes on and on, as people who have been at Windermere go back and reach out to others in their families and communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ. How exciting to be a small part of that!

I also have found “ministry to the ministers” to be a way of serving and glorifying God. By that I mean spending time getting to know other staff members and summer employees, then loving them dearly and encouraging and praying for them. In return I have benefited from receiving love and encouragement.

I praise God for the sequence of events that led me to Windermere! I continue to offer myself in willingness to go where he leads, for as long as he wants me here. One of my prayers is that others would hear the call to come serve as volunteers at Windermere, in response to God’s orchestrating the tapestry of our lives.