40 Years of Camp!

Hi King’s Camp Family!

I’m not sure if you know this, but June 2026 marks the 40^th year of King’s Camp!

 We are so excited that we’re going to be featuring stories from the past, present, and everywhere in between of what King’s Camp has meant to people through these years. Sharing these testimonies is an act of gratitude, worship, and remembrance of what God has done, as well as an act of faith of what God will continue to do in the future.

We hope you enjoy! If you have a story about how God has met you at King’s Camp, please contact us at kingscamp@gmail.com

As we are getting ready for camp, we thought you might enjoy this first story by one of our directors from last year, Daniel Bouligny. Here’s Daniel’s story.

Ever since I was 9 years old, King’s Camp has played a dominant role in my life. Every summer, I would show up at camp to experience one of the most fun weeks of the year. Part of what makes King’s Camp so special is its unique culture and tight-knit staff. The counselors bring camp to life not only by creating a fun atmosphere, but also by intentionally caring for each individual camper. Unlike most camps, King’s Camp has about one staff member for every three to four campers, allowing them to invest deeply. I was a camper for nine years, and I still remember every single counselor I had by name.

As I grew older, King’s Camp became less about fun and more about knowing God.

Every activity at camp is centered on and connected back to Christ. Each day begins with time in God’s Word and concludes with worship and small groups. In my high school years, King’s Camp gave me a week where I was separated from the distractions of the world and constantly had the truth of Jesus poured into me. But the truth of Jesus wasn’t just shared—it was lived out vibrantly. The counselors whom I spent the entire day with were devoted to showing us the message of Christ and helping us grow. Back home, Ididn’t have any examples of what it looked like for young people to radically pursue the Lord, but at King’s Camp, Ifinally had an example to imitate. It was at King’s Camp that I came to understand the importance of the words I use. It was at King’s Camp that I started the habit of being in the Word daily. It was at King’s Camp that I began to understand theimportance of singing praises to God. And it was at King’s Camp that I was shown that life with Christ is an abundant and joy-filled journey, not an obligatory religion dominated by rules.

By the time I graduated high school, it is safe to say that King’s Camp was my favorite place on earth. But myexperience as a camper was only scratching the surface; God had so much more for me at King’s Camp. I returned tocamp for three years as a staff member, two years as a counselor and one as a director. To this day, I see these summers of service as the most fun and formative of my life. For the first time, I was in a position where I had to be selfless. Being a counselor is a fun job, but also a hard and taxing one. I wanted to provide the same experience for campers that I had received, and to do that, I had to put their needs first at every moment.

At the end of each week, even though I was exhausted, I felt a sense of fulfillment, joy, and peace that I had never experienced before. Through serving the campers, I got a taste of what a life of ministry can look like, and I was hooked.As I gave more of myself, I got to witness God blessing my obedience. As a counselor, I saw the gospel received for thefirst time, and I had the opportunity to counsel kids through the same struggles I had faced. Working at King’s Camp has been one of the most meaningful investments of my life. I haven’t even mentioned the lifelong friendships, the Spirit-filled times of worship, the hysterical memories, and my growth as a leader.

This will be the first summer in twelve years that I won’t be at King’s Camp. Even typing that out is bittersweet. It is bitter because I won’t be able to serve at a place that means so much to me, but it is sweet because I know God is not done working in and through me. This summer, I get to go to the other side of the world to share the gospel with those who have never heard it. It is sweet because King’s Camp helped grow my love for ministry, and now I am pursuing life in ministry as a vocation. I am currently a junior at Mississippi College, majoring in Biblical Studies. I don’t know exactly where my calling will lead, but I know that I will be serving in the church for the rest of my life. Even though I won’t be present at camp this year, I know that all the lessons learned and memories made will stay with me. God has used King’s Camp to play such a significant role in my story, and I know He is not done using it for His glory and our good!

Amen! Thank you, Daniel for sharing your story with us!