Camp Jonah Staff

"Many hands make light work," my mom used to say to us kids all the time. I hate to admit it, but she was so right! At Jonah Ministries, we have a pretty well-oiled machine running here. Here's a Fall of 2006 update on the Jonah Family:

Bernice "Grandma" Duke

Cook / Co-Founder

Grandma Bernice Duke is 74-years-old and has not stepped down from her position of Founder, Lead Cook, and anything else she can get her hands on. She is a warrior who will die with her boots on and with dirt (or chili) under her fingernails. The ONLY passion she has in life is to live fully to serve her Savior. She still sees Jonah Ministries as her baby and will continue raising this child. In the spring of 1996, her vision to start a Christian Camp came to fruition, and now the child is maturing. Over 2000 people came through our doors this year. That staggering number makes Grandma, the cook, tired, but happy. Grandma is here almost every day of the year. Early in the morning, if you sneak into the kitchen, you'll find her sipping a cup of coffee and meeting with her Lord. Her life of service is a testimony to all. Just in the past year, others have taken notice and she has received the following awards: Guest-of-honor for the Trout Lake Community Fair, which she helped start 40 years ago, recently inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame for her many years of service. Ask any family or staff or community member and they will tell you that this unassuming, short, white-haired lady never stops serving and never stops giving. She has five children, 24 grandchildren, and, at last count, 28 great grandchildren. Grandma Duke is our hero.

Jeff & Beki Duke

Camp Manager & Coordinator, Co-Founders

Jeff & Beki Duke were founders in 1996, along with Grandma. Jonah was her dream, and Jeff and Beki helped bring it to fruition. Along with Bernice, and their five children (Julianne, Carissa, Jerry, Angie, Brian) they sold land, cows, barns, home, etc. in order to purchase the old Trout Lake School to begin what is known today as Jonah Ministries, sometimes fondly called Camp Jonah. They like to say that Dairy Farming was good training for working in camp ministry - the hours, and the pay, are about the same. 27 years ago Jeff and Beki met while serving as camp counselors, now they manage their dream - Jonah Ministries.

Jeff is the Camp Manager here at Jonah. He has his fingers in lots of pots (we do try to keep him out of the kitchen, though). He is fixer, builder, dreamer (just like his mama), as well as keeping up with all the adventure aspects of our camp program. His main spiritual gifts are his gift of gab, singing at the top of his lungs, "horse trading," and being our bus driver. He is extremely good at each. The main reason that people feel welcome at Jonah is that Mr. Personality makes everyone feel at home here. Jeff's latest vision has come to fruition: our new High Ropes Challenge Course is a fantastic addition to our Adventure Program. This is a 15-element course that is 30 feet high! This past year we've added some great low elements, also. Jeff would love to have you stop by for a chat; he'll regale you with miracle stories of how Jonah started or why we're still here, or he'll take you on a tour and help give you the vision of what the future Jonah Ministries will look like.

Beki is the Jonah Ministries Camp Coordinator. She loves to help each Camp Leader plan and organize each of the summer camps, while still signing up groups for year-round retreats. As long as she can stay in contact with the staff and campers, she'll gladly try her hardest to keep the office side of this ministry running. She's getting to the point where as often as you'll let her "preach" to you, she’ll take the opportunity. (Have you been in the Word today?) This proud mom of five, and sappy happy grandmother of four, sometimes feels like Mother Hubbard - with so many children she doesn't know what to do. She adores being the mom of the whole Jonah Family. Beki’s biggest challenge is balancing her laptop and her grand children at the same time, while talking on the phone to her kids or friends of Jonah.

Micah Anderson

Program Director

Micah Anderson: There's nothing better for a parent than when your kids love your ministry enough to join you when they grow up. Our second daughter, Carissa, encourages her husband to serve here as a Program Director. Micah has worked off-and-on here at Jonah since he was age 14. He is now 25. We have been blessed with his service and his heart. As Micah has matured in the Lord, his programming has become more-and-more valuable. Micah's heart is in planning and running our growing Adventure Camp program. This past summer was our most successful yet. Micah's mind keeps chugging out great ideas for these camps that bring kids closer to the Creator by spending time in creation. Micah has three special women in his life. He is the best husband to Carissa that in-laws could want for their daughter, and he dearly loves his little girls, Nevaeh (age two), and Violette (born fall 06).

With Micah's full support, Carissa has opened her own beauty salon here in Trout Lake and uses her gifts to make others look beautiful. Recently Carissa told her mom, "I wouldn't be as successful if it weren't for Micah's love and support of what I do." When they were just ages 14 and 15, at the end of Micah's first summer here, Carissa told her mom, "I want to marry someone just like that." They've been married for four years.

Sherri Duke

Lead Staff

Sherri Duke has been a part of Jonah since it began in 1996. Sherri attended Grandma Duke's cousin camps for many years before it grew into Jonah Ministries. This talented young woman has been a camper, volunteer staff and now is hired on as a part-time Co-Program Director, along with Micah. Sherri directs our Music/Drama Camp (with some help from big sis, Sarah) and our Home Ec Camp. She also puts life and heart into helping Micah with Adventure Camps. Sherri is a graduate of Multnomah Bible College. She has a heart for missions, camping, children - anything that leads other to Christ. She puts 110% into everything she works on and is serious enough in her walk with God to ask others what she needs to be working on in her life. Kids and adults alike love "Daisy." Having a woman like Sherri directing our camps is a decision that leads to success.

Brian Duke

Brian Duke Brian has worked (volunteer) at Jonah for six years, since he was adopted at age 14 into the home of Jeff and Beki Duke. Brian loves to serve and is very good at making behind-the-scenes things happen. He is amiable and easy to work with and can see what little things need done in order to make a program successful. We were extremely happy when our Board of Directors recently okayed hiring Brian fulltime to help Jeff with the ever-increasing load of keeping this place running. Brian was given a huge gift two years ago - a godly, loving wife who lives to serve her Lord and make her husband happy. Brian and Annie are now the happy parents of a precious young boy named Malachi. This young couple love each other and the Savior who brought them together.

Dorina Colburn

Publications

Dorina Colburn is our longest-term employee. She has worked at Jonah Ministries for eight years. When she started, she was newly married. Now she is the busy mother of three active little ones and she works mostly out of her home office. When you see nice newsletters or camp brochures, you have Dorina to thank. She started as our bookkeeper, moved to our Office Assistant. Now she is our Publications Associate and our computer and bookkeeper Consultant. She's the sort of person who can balance three kids and three jobs, still look nice and be nice. She loves God and enjoys being a part of a ministry that reaches kids for Christ. She and her husband, Morgan, lead the youth at a local church. We are honored to have Dorina's touch here at Jonah Ministries.

Nancy Lucas

Bookkeeper

Nancy Lucas has worked here at Jonah Ministries for five years. She helps keep us sane by doing all our Bookkeeping. Nancy is a nice nag who gently prods us for receipts; she answers the phone and steps in to do all sorts of things that are definitely NOT in her job description. Nancy keeps a smile on her face and quietly goes about her work while everything around her is chaotic. It seems like her whole goal in life is to make life easier on those around her and to make others feel special. She likes working here and plans to stay for awhile. We are blessed by this kind, talented, gifted woman.

Ron & Ruby Love

Full-Time Volunteers

Ron & Ruby Love: Ron and Ruby full-time, volunteer missionaries sent by Yankton Baptist Church to lend a hand here at Jonah Ministries. They are in their second year of service here, and are both extremely gifted at seeing things that need done - and doing them. They have been heard to say, "We just want to lighten the load for the Dukes, so that they can do what they're best at." Our load is lighter, thanks to the tireless service of this "retired" couple who shop, cook, do dishes, clean bathrooms, empty garbage, pray, encourage, give gifts, live in a travel trailer, and more, without ever complaining. It's people like the Loves that make Jonah Ministries successful.

Harmony Allaway

Office Assistant

Harmony Allaway: When Harmony called to say she was interested in our Office Assistant position last spring, we were more than pleased. She has quickly risen to the position of Office Manager. This mother of three, owner of a scrapbooking business, talented woman sees her job as a ministry - which it is! She keeps the office running smoothly, keeps Jeff in line and is amazing with people and computers. She is also an extremely talented musician and helps with both Music Camp and Home Ec Camp. We couldn't be more pleased with Harmony.

More Contributors...

So Many More: It's impossible to make a complete list of the people and businesses who help make this place what it is. Here's a partial list:

• Angela Duke does part-time work cleaning bathrooms, and working in the kitchen and the office.
• Dianne Doede cleans our fish tank regularly.
• Ardyth Thompson comes every Friday afternoon to help Grandma in the kitchen.
• Phil Steller is our webmaster.
• Big C Grocery of Glenwood, Washington, owned by Walt and Anne Campbell gives us gallons and gallons of milk.
• Hood River Juice Company gives us all the apple cider we need and has for years.
• Produce Kountry of Hood River gives us all the fruit and vegetables we need and has for years.
• Safeway of Hood River gives us cart-loads of bread products weekly.
• Don Willner does attorney work for us at no cost.
• Chris Phelan still prays for Jonah each morning at 10:00.
• Mark and Sherri Zoller of Zoller's Outdoor Odysseys donate ALL of our camp's white water rafting trips.
• Their guides donate the trips, also.
• There is a huge list of people who help with construction on our buildings.
• So many of you give your Time, Talent, and Treasure.

Thank you for giving to the Lord. So many lives are changed because of your sacrifice!