Ponderosa Staff

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 grow in their relationship with Him.

Jeff Nelson

Director of Ponderosa Student Ministries

Jeff & Ann Nelson, along with their 11 children are resident staff at Ponderosa.

Jeff serves as Director of Ponderosa Student Ministries and Ponderosa Bible Camp. 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 in May of 1998.

Jeff also serves as an Elder at his church.

To make a tax-deductible donation to Ponderosa Student Ministries on behalf of the Nelsons click here: (Please choose the Nelson's name under gift purpose)

Thomas Burnett

Program Director

Thomas and Samantha Burnett are 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. 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.

They both serve as Youth Leaders at their church and they each lead a high school small group.

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 gave birth to their new baby girl, Harley Joy, in December 2009!

Samantha is now a full-time mom. During summer camp she will oversee the kitchen staff and TEAM Members.

To make a tax-deductible donation to Ponderosa Student Ministries on behalf of the Burnetts click here:

(Please choose the Burnett's name under gift purpose)

Max Grizzard

Director of our Ponderosa Public School Ministry

known as:

"DeKalb County Released Time"

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

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

called "DeKalb County Released Time",

reaching over 1,000 public school children each week 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. and S.A.L.T. Volunteers during Summer Camp.

Sherrie coordinates our snack shop and gift shop.

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

Sherrie graduated with a degree as a Social Worker.

To make a tax-deductible donation to Ponderosa Student Ministries on behalf of the Grizzards click here:

(Please choose the Grizzard's name under gift purpose)

Click here for more about Released Time.

Daryl & Diane Chavers

Staff Members

Originally from Albertville, Alabama, Daryl and Diane have been married for 34 years. They have 3 children, two of which are married and have given Daryl and Diane 3 grandchildren. They homeschool Kim, their 15-year-old daughter.

The Chavers have been in residential childcare ministry for a

combined total of over 30 years.

They have served at The Big Oak Ranch and most recently at the Tennessee Baptist Children's home in Memphis, TN.

While in ministry, they have served as residential house parents, relief house parents, business manager, campus manager, and coordinator of activities.

In April 2009, the Ponderosa Student Ministries Board approved Daryl and Diane

to join our staff. They are busy raising support and looking for housing in the Mentone area! We have no doubt that their experience and heart for children

will make them a great asset to the Ponderosa Staff!

To make a tax-deductible donation to Ponderosa Student Ministries on behalf of the Chavers click here:

(Please choose the Chavers's name under gift purpose)

Amelia Baxter

Bookkeeper/Secretary

Mrs. Amelia is our only "hired staff".

She works part-time as our bookkeeper

and secretary.

She handles our finances as well as Camp registrations!

She has been a vital part of our staff since 1998!

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 donations to the ministry to help us pay for her travel expenses

and purchase craft supplies.

Dawn is a graduate of Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham, AL

To make a tax-deductible donation to Ponderosa Student Ministries on behalf of Dawn

click here:

(Please choose Dawn's name under gift purpose)

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.

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.

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.

Make checks payable to Ponderosa Student Ministries.

Each 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!