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The Burnett Family
The Grizzard Family

Meet the Staff

 

The staff members of Ponderosa Student Ministries and Ponderosa Bible Camp

are a group of dedicated Christians! 

Each of us feel a special calling on our life to serve the Lord through this ministry.   

It is our goal to win children and youth to Christ and equip them to serve Him. 

 

 

Jeff Nelson

Director

Jeff & Ann Nelson, along with their 11 children are

year-round resident staff at Ponderosa.

Jeff serves as Director of Ponderosa Student Ministries and Camp Director.  He oversees all areas of ministry here at Ponderosa.   Ann serves as Camp Photographer, Webmaster, and publications designer.  The Nelson family along with the other resident staff also serve through our Ministry of Hospitality as they play host to the numerous Rental Groups that use our facilities throughout the year.

Jeff grew up coming to Ponderosa as a camper.  In High School and College, Jeff served as a Camp Counselor, Lifeguard, and Program Director.

Jeff is a 1983 graduate of Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham.  Jeff also has a BS degree in Business Management from UAB.  After spending 12 years managing a landscaping company in Birmingham, the Lord called Jeff and Ann into full-time ministry, and brought Jeff back to the place he loved so much growing up! 

The Nelsons joined the staff during the summer of 1998.

Jeff also serves part-time as Youth Pastor at Wills Valley Community Church in Fort Payne.

 

Click here to read "The Nelsons' Story" and see family photos!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas & Samantha Burnett

Thomas - Program Director

Samantha - Food Service/Head Cook

 

Thomas and Samantha Burnett are year-round resident staff at camp.  Thomas serves as our Program Director.  He is responsible for developing themes and programs for our Summer camps and Fall and Spring retreats.  He also assists Jeff with many things around camp.  Samantha serves as the Head Cook and Mailbox Club Coordinator.  They also teach Released Time weekly and help out with our Hospitality ministry by hosting some of the rental groups that use our facilities during the year.  Both Thomas and Samantha have a strong heart for missions and ministry with students and have a passion to see them personally come to know the Lord. 

At Wills Valley Community Church in Fort Payne they serve as Youth Leaders and each have a high school small group.

Currently they have 75% of their needed monthly support.  Please pray that God will provide the needed support for them to continue to serve the Him at Ponderosa. 

Samantha joined our staff in May 2004.  She is the niece of Director, Jeff Nelson.  Thomas joined the staff in February 2007 when he married Samantha.

Samantha and Thomas are expecting their first baby in October 2008!  Pray for Samantha as she cooks this summer!  It is a hot and tiring job even when you are not pregnant!

 

Click Here for the Burnett's webpage!
 

 

Max Grizzard

Director - Ponderosa Public School Ministry

also known as:

"DeKalb County Released Time"

Max & Sherrie Grizzard and their 7 children reside in Sylvania, AL.  

Max serves full-time as the Director of our Public School Ministry

called "DeKalb County Released Time",

reaching public school children with the Gospel of Christ.

Max & Sherrie "move to camp" during the summer to assist with our Summer Camp Program. 

Max coordinates our T.E.A.M. Member Volunteers during Summer Camp.

Max is a graduate from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.   

Sherrie graduated with a degree as a Social Worker. 

 

Click here for more on the Grizzards!

 

Click here for more about Released Time.

 

 

Amelia Baxter

Bookkeeper/Secretary

 

Amelia is our only "hired staff". 

She works part-time as our bookkeeper

and secretary. 

She handles our finances as well as Camp registration!

She has been a vital part of our staff for 11 years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dawn Hinkle

Summer Missionary &

Craft Director

 

Dawn Hinkle, her husband Dave, and their 3 children live in Trussville, AL.  Dawn and the kids "move to camp" each summer to serve as Summer Missionaries.  Dawn's ministry is taking full responsibility of our Summer Craft Activities.  Each summer Dawn outdoes herself by adding "new and improved" craft opportunities for the campers.  Dawn offers the campers ceramics, complete with a potter's wheel and kiln.  She also offers leather crafts, airbrush, and tie-dying.   Dawn spends the off-season planning and preparing ideas for the next year.  Dawn loves "bargain hunting" during the off-season and searches for crafts that can be offered to the campers for a minimal price.

Dawn raises support to help pay for her travel expenses and to help defray the cost of the craft supplies. 

Dawn is a blessing to have on our summer staff!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

The staff members of Ponderosa Student Ministries/Ponderosa Bible Camp

are faith-supported missionaries. 

What is a faith-supported missionary?

Faith-supported missionaries are not salaried employees of their mission organization. 

Faith-supported missionaries look to God in faith for the provision of financial, spiritual and other needs. These needs are then communicated to individuals and churches so that others can embrace their vision and support the missionary prayerfully and financially. Their monthly “pay-check” is written based on donations received on their behalf in the previous month.  Such support enables our missionaries to follow God’s call on their life to be a part of our staff reaching students with the Gospel of Christ,

and to provide for their family.

 

God blesses this biblical model of partnership in several ways. In addition to the necessary finances, the missionary  receives more effective prayer and a network of ministry partners. Members of a missionary's support team gain God’s blessings for being faithful and engage more fully in a life-changing ministry. 

 

Ponderosa Student Ministries is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. 

Your gifts to support our staff missionaries are tax-deductible. 

 

How to Support Our Staff

Pray for their needs:

Pray that the Ponderosa staff will:

 

· Impact the lives of students with the Gospel.

· Faithfully follow and help disciple these students throughout the year.

· Stay encouraged, biblically rooted, and focused on what God has called them to do.

· Receive full funding so that they can dedicate their time to ministry.  (Each staff member is a “faith-supported missionary” and responsible to raise 100% of their income.)

 

Send Financial Gifts:

As you give, remember these biblical guidelines:

 

· “Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.”   Proverbs 3:9-10

· “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”   2 Corinthians 9:7

· Give first...not from what’s left.

· Give joyfully...not grudgingly.

· Give faithfully...hot haphazardly. 

· Give sacrificially...not selfishly.

Should the Lord burden your heart to partner with one of our staff members and become a monthly donor

or to make a one-time gift, please contact the office or one of our staff members below. 

No gift is too small or too large. 

You may mail your donation to the office:

Ponderosa Student Ministries

1018 County Rd 734, Mentone, AL 35984.

Please indicate which staff member you wish to support.

Make checks payable to Ponderosa Student Ministries.

Any donation you make is tax-deductible and will be acknowledged with a tax-deductible receipt. 

 

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”   2 Corinthians 9:7

Your gift will enable us to continue reaching students with the Gospel! 

 

 

Please pray for the Lord to meet the financial needs of each staff member/families!

Thanks!  God Bless!

 

  

 

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Copyright © 2008 Ponderosa Student Ministries
Ponderosa Student Ministries is a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) organization. 
Last modified: 04/23/2008