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Our History
Stepping
out by faith into a cutting-edge venture in 1970, Don Crooker founded Christian
Berets, Inc., as a non-denominational, non-profit ministry to persons with
disabilities in central California. At that time, there were few non-profit
groups that
existed and focused on serving the disabled.
Seeing a need for individuals
and groups to care for persons with disabilities, Don Crooker resigned from his
pastorate in Salinas, California to start a camp for the disabled. Don
moved his family to the Central Valley in pursuit of his goal to build an unique
camp in the Sierra Mountains.
One year later in 1971, escrow
papers were signed and land was purchased in Long Barn from Jess and Laura
Wirth. For years the Wirth family had hoped to sell this land for the
development of a Christian camp. By God’s grace and the Wirths’ generosity,
that hope and Crooker’s vision became a reality.
The Wirths decided to return all
payments made by Christian Berets to them as donations designated for the
purchase of the land. The Wirth’s generosity was an amazing testimony to how
God provides. Contributions from several others made it possible for the first
Christian Berets camp, located about 11 miles off the highway in Long Barn, to
be completed and readied for guests in June 1973.
Months later, the Wirths told
Christian Berets about 35 additional acres of their land available for sale near
Mi Wuk Village. The Board unanimously decided to purchase this property, which
had remarkable potential as a larger camp site. The Wirths generously offered
to sell it with a one-year option for one dollar.
In 1977, the first committee met
to discuss the kind of camp that Christian Berets should build. Four years
later in November 1981, Mary Greybell who owned the frontage on Highway 108
donated ¾ of an acre to Christian Berets to provide better access to the camp
property.
Twelve years later, the Board of
Directors unanimously accepted a cash offer on the sale of the Long Barn camp,
which led to a groundbreaking ceremony on the 35 acres purchased for a new
Conference and Retreat Center.
Convinced that God had provided
a larger site for the expansion of ministry to the disabled and their families,
the Staff and Board made plans to build a new Center and to launch additional
Summer Camp sessions. Construction began in August 1995 on a recently
acquired 11-acre parcel adjacent to the other 35 acres. The 6,000 square foot
building was designed to sleep about 50 guests and to provide a multi-purpose
room for meals and meetings.
That first building was named
Meadowview Lodge and dedicated in May 1996. It was built to be fully accessible
(ADA certified) for disabled guests and provided big improvements over the rustic cabins of the
Long Barn camp.
Four years later, Wirth Lodge
was completed and dedicated in May 2000.
Adjoined to each other by a
full-service kitchen and large multi-purpose area, these two lodges provide 86
beds and service disabled guests during five-day sessions of Summer Camp and a
variety of Weekend Retreats.
For several consecutive years,
the Center hosted a summer high of over 300 disabled
guests.
In 2004, a drastic and
unforeseen cut in state funding to the disabled resulted in significantly fewer
guests during Summer Camp sessions. It signaled an even greater need to raise
funds for Camp Scholarships through donors and grants.
Invigorated by the arrival and
leadership of a new Executive Director in 2005, the Board of Directors and Staff
got a fresh vision for expansion and renewed their passion for ministry. The
Board charged six men to brainstorm and determine how to develop the Center for more effective ministry
to people over the next decade.
In 2007, the Board unanimously
approved a recommendation by Staff to rename the facility in Mi
Wuk Village. Its new name is Whispering Pines Conference and Retreat Center.
Christian Berets has developed
under the direction of these Executive Directors: Don Crooker (1970–2001),
volunteers Mel Turner and Jack Coyle (2001–2003), Troy Thompson (2003–2005) and
Dave Shackelford (2005– Present).
Today, a committed leadership
team, consisting of Dave Shackelford, Karen Gwynn, Brice Ringsby, Brian Robison
and Vicky McElyea, serves alongside a cadre of part-time employees, volunteers,
and donors in ministry to people.
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