The Kentucky Campers On Mission began their service with Bethel in 2006, when friends of Randy Speicher, former Director of Operations, visited family in Chattanooga. Thankfully the campus was able to accommodate RV campers, and David and Maddie Fuqua, project coordinators for KY Campers on Mission, stayed right on the property, creating friendships and a love for the ministry.
With Bethel’s need for volunteers to complete many projects, David offered to bring a group with him to Bethel to work. For the last 18 years, a group has visited the campus twice a year. The last group joined Bethel volunteers for the Superheroes Run For Hope in September 2024. Since 2007, the ministry has sent over 25 people to Bethel to volunteer. The group helps with projects large and small including cleaning, painting, small scale construction, and organizing.
While the campers have down time, they have an opportunity to eat lunch with the kids at school and many nights, dinners are scheduled for groups to share with the kids and their house parents. Annie and Martin Brown, project coordinators for KY Campers on Mission, have visited Bethel with the group since the beginning. “It is a God thing. God brought us to Bethel,” Annie explained while speaking on behalf of the group. “We have built a family.” While the efforts of the campers are needed and well appreciated, it is the relationships that create the motivation for the campers to come year after year.
“We enjoy spending time with the kids and we love seeing them make something of their lives,” Annie said. “We have lots of memories.”