Troy Taylor Selected as Camp Magruder Director

The Board of Camp and Retreat Ministry is pleased to announce the hiring of Troy Taylor as the next director at Camp Magruder. After a nation-wide search, application reviews and an interview process, Troy demonstrated the capacity to lead the life-changing ministry at Camp Magruder. Troy brings with him a great deal of experience with programming, including having been on the team to write curriculum for camp and retreat ministry used by many mainline church programs. He also brings a vision of developing leaders through the employment of trained counselors who have demonstrated their involvement and love of camping through volunteer opportunities.

Troy has been serving as the interim director since the end of June of this year. He was originally hired in 2014 as the assistant director at Camp Magruder. His prior camp experience includes volunteering and working for 10 years at Lakeshore United Methodist Camp in Tennessee. We are excited and grateful for Troy’s commitment and vision for the future of our camp and retreat ministry at Camp Magruder.

Long time Camp and Retreat Supporter Jo Japs Passes Away

Radiator of joy, longtime camp supporter, board member, counselor, and participant, Jo Japs, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday in May, has passed away according to her daughter Judy Parmley.

Jo had a huge impact on helping Camp and Retreat Ministries become the high-impact organization it is today with her work on the Program Division in the 1980's-1990's.

The picture at left was taken in the 1970's at Camp Magruder and is emblematic of fullness of life that Jo carried with her always.

The memorial service will be Saturday October 29 at 2pm at St. Helens UMC

Donations in honor of Jo are requested to be given to St. Helens UMC or Camp & Retreat Ministries.