When I arrived at Redeemer in 2001, a newly minted associate pastor, I was asked if I wanted to accompany the youth on a trip to Tennessee. I was young and up for just about anything, so I said, "Sure!"

Mountain T.O.P. is one of my most favorite places on earth because I have always felt safe and loved there. I don’t say that with a specific location in mind—I was a camper from 1993 to 1997 and on summer staff in 1999. I believe I stayed at every single camp the organization used in the 90s.

My summer at Mountain T.O.P. was the most intense and rewarding of my life. I loved getting to “peek behind the curtain” and see what all goes into creating positive experiences for the campers and homeowners alike.

When I reflect back on this summer, I think about the person I was before and then reflect on how much I have changed. Something about Mountain T.O.P. always brings me back to a sense of peace. As a camper, every summer I became more and more in love with the mission of Mountain T.O.P. I would leave with a sense of home and a heart ready to serve others. The thought of becoming summer staff always made my heart so happy.

This summer, Mountain T.O.P. hosted 763 volunteers! These volunteers represented over 50 churches and 14 states. Over 7 weeks, our volunteers served 189 families through home repair by completing 260 projects and worked with 90 unique children and youth through Day Camp and Summer Plus.

Read about the people and experiences behind these numbers!