| Quick Links |
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www.riverbendretreat.org
888.269.BEND |
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| Greetings! |
 Thank you for being a "Friend of the Bend" by your financial support of the ministry of Riverbend Retreat Center. Some of you have been giving faithfully for years. Others have just recently made the commitment at the golf tournament and fish fry. Your support and connection with Riverbend is making a difference in people's lives.
"Friends of the Bend" began three years ago to provide a way to identify, encourage and provide an opportunity for individuals and families to support the ministry of Riverbend Retreat Center. Anyone who gives or commits to give $100 or more per year is a part of this special group. There are currently 120 individuals and/or families that have given a total of $60,919 so far in 2007. Every dollar donated to Riverbend goes toward improvements.
Vince Lombardi once said, "An uninformed player can't be aggressive." The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed of what God is doing at Riverbend as well as to share some needs so you will be able to aggressively pray and respond as God leads. Thank you again for believing in and supporting this ministry!
Blessings!
Alton Belew, Executive Director |
| Fish Fry Golf Tournament - a Great Success! |
 The first annual Fish Fry Golf Classic was a huge success as 128 golfers gathered at Squaw Valley Golf Course in Glen Rose! They enjoyed music by Whole Heart, lunch catered by Hammond's Barbeque and a great day of golf and fellowship.
The planning team led by Lamar Griggs, Tournament Director, Brian Sepulveda and Jeff Stewart provided excellent leadership for the event. Through the entry fees and commitments to "Friends of the Bend" $7,000 was raised for improvements to the Waterfront! We still need $20,000 to complete this project.
We want to thank everyone who participated in this golf tournament and want to invite you to plan on joining us in 2008!
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| New Prayer Garden at Riverbend |
| A wonderful new addition and opportunity to experience the Lord is coming to Riverbend as a new prayer garden is under construction. The Prayer Garden is made possible by a gift from Howard and Sue Schutt of Mansfield. Howard and Sue and their family joined other friends of Riverbend on September 22nd to mark the beginning of construction on this opportunity for guests and campers to experience God.
The Prayer Garden will be located between the Office Building and the bluff and to the southeast side of the Dining Hall and Riverside Room. The primary feature will be a pond and stream that will end in a dramatic natural waterfall on the bluff. Benches and planting areas will be placed alongside the stream. An aggregate walkway will tie in the Courtyard walkway to the Overlook Deck, which will make this all-time favorite gathering area now accessible to all guests. A new elevated walkway and observation deck will be built to view the waterfall area.
Alton Belew, Executive Director, said, "We are deeply grateful for Howard and Sue and their desire to see this prayer garden become a reality. This area will become a very meaningful place where many will spend time with the Lord and with one another during their time at Riverbend." Howard and Sue cited their experience in the prayer garden at Glorieta as one thing God used to lay this project on their heart. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Howard said, "God has truly blessed us and as we prayed about what he would have us do, it was evident that this prayer garden was something He was leading us to be involved in." Howard and Sue also gave the funds to build the first teepee, which is currently under construction at the Outpost Camp. Projected completion date for the prayer garden is this coming April. |
| Cedar Bluff Lodge Update |
| The Gift... The late Wynonia Pallmeyer left a wonderful legacy as she designated all of her multimillion dollar estate to be assigned to ministires and charitable organizations. God used Dr. James Bass, retired pastor of Richland HIlls Baptist Church and now Assistant Pastor, Hospital and Homebound at Travis Avenue Baptist Church as one of the trustees to assign the gifts. As a result, Riverbend became a recipient of over $500,000 from this estate.
The Lodge...The gift was designated toward an adult and family lodge, which had been on the Master Plan for over 10 years. Construction began on Cedar Bluff Lodge this past spring and will have 12 nicely appointed guest rooms, a large meeting room and a gathering/meeting area with kitchen/dining area. Two of the many highlights of this lodge are the rough cedar vaulted breezeway entrance and the covered back porch, which boasts one of the best views in the area! Construction updates will be posted online soon, so be checking the Riverbend site. Completion date will be May of '08, the Lord willing. Better yet, come out and let us take you on a tour of the lodge.
The Need...Funds are needed to furnish the guest rooms. Each room will cost $5,000 for all the furniture, wall hangings, window treatments and bedding. So far, three of the twelve rooms have been funded. All donors will be listed on a bronze plaque in the breezeway, and each gift of $5,000 will be named on a bronze plaque in the guest room. This is a wonderful opportunity for an entire family to honor parents and churches to honor pastors and staff.
Please contact Alton if you would like to be involved in this project.
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| The Legacy Tree |
The Legacy Tree located in the office breezeway is a special place to recognize special people. Since 1991, hundreds of churches and individuals have been honored and memorialized through the Legacy Tree. The levels of gift recognition are:
Leaf - $1,000 to $4,999
Small Stone - $5,000 to $9,999
Medium Stone - $10,000 to $19,999
Large Stone -20,000 and above
Individuals and Families gifts are accumulative and recognized at each appropriate level.
Churches/Organizations are accumulative up to the first level. Gifts are then recognized on an annual basis. |
| Wishes Come True! |
It is always fun when a wish comes true in a fairy tale! Riverbend has had some wishes come true recently from the wish list posted in various publications. A BIG THANK YOU to the following:
- FBC, Grapevine - 15 passenger Ford van
- Carl and Paula Langley - Chevrolet Suburban
- Superior Pools, Mitch Donald - Ranger pickup
- George and Helen Waldrop - Cash gift to purchase a 16' flatbed trailer
- Steve and Wayneen Cassidy - Ford Explorer
- Wedgwood Baptist Church - Commercial washers and dryers and cash gift toward new mower
- Bob Mayers - Automatic External Difribilator
- DeWayne Williams - Paddleboat
- David Chism - Storage building and cabinets
Current Wish List
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Rocking Chairs
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Scripture Stones for new sidewalks
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Ditch Witch or other trencher
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Outdoor Lighting (parking lot fixtures)
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Large heavy duty commercial charcoal grill(s)
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Volunteers to adopt flower garden areas
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Paddleboats
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Scissor lift
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Bobcat/Skid Loader | |
