The Keene Family

“The story of the Keene’s at Camp Sychar began in 1926 with ten year old Ruth Thompson. At the invitation of a neighbor, Ruth attended a church camp in Mt. Vernon, OH. What she didn’t know then was that her decision would change hundreds, if not thousands of lives. Ruth spent that August sleeping in a tent, in 85 degree weather, and hearing about Jesus on our hallowed grounds. And she kept coming back every summer after.

As Ruth grew older, she kept coming back. Many years later, her name changed from Thompson to Keene and she soon wasn’t alone in her tent. It wasn’t long before she was toting three rambunctious boys along with her. As they grew older, her boys made the decision to follow Jesus and then wandered a call into vocational ministry...all at the altars of Camp Sychar.

These three boys, Barry, Tom and Ken, went on to become pastors, to influence and change thousands of lives with a combined ministry of more than 150 years. All three continued to attend Camp Sychar, alongside their mom, and brought their families with them too.

What began with a ten year old little girl had suddenly gone into a third generation. Ruth’s grandkids met Jesus at the very same altars that she had. They decided to follow Jesus in the same place their dads had. And they too answered a call to vocational ministry.

Today, almost 100 years since she first attended, five of Ruth’s grandkids are serving in vocational ministry. And the rest are all serving the local church in some way.

But the story of her yes doesn’t end there. Seven of her grandkids continue to attend Camp Sychar to this day, alongside their parents. Ruth’s great grandkids are now encountering Jesus at the same altars she did. They’re deciding to follow Jesus in the same place as they’re grandpas. And they too are answering a call into ministry, much the same as their parents.

Seventeen of her great grandkids attend Camp Sychar each summer. Many of them are serving in the local church, internationally, or in nonprofits. And now, the fifth generation of Ruth’s descendants are starting to appear, and they too are attending Camp Sychar.

What began in 1926 is still going, stronger than ever. Jesus is using young Ruth Thompson’s yes to impact the Kingdom. To change lives. And Camp Sychar has been a catalyst for that change.

Ruth’s yes in 1926 has forever changed the trajectory of her family. And countless other families. That’s the ministry of Camp Sychar…disciples making disciples, changed lives changing lives.”