Endowment opens to support Camp Manna

A new endowment was opened at the Davie Community Foundation that will support an organization that has impacted children and youth in Davie County for more than 25 years.

The Ron & Teresa Bivins Fund for Camp Manna Ministries was opened in August.

“The Bivins have a passion for the ministry and are thankful for the dedication of its founder, Stan Riddle,” said Jane Simpson, president and CEO of the foundation.

Riddle is founder and pastor for the Church at Camp Manna. He felt called years ago to create a place where teens, children and families could come to enjoy God’s creation in a space where they could renew and refresh their walk with the Lord – a place where everyone would be treated with respect.

He built it and they came.

Since its beginnings, Camp Manna has worked to add to its amenities and offerings every year. They never stopped asking what they could do to add to the value of Camp Manna for children and youth and the community. They have moved forward with projects as the donations allowed.

“I can take $1 in donations and turn it into $2 of work for the camp,” Riddle said.

In 2005, Camp Manna made a conscious choice to serve children and families with childcare by offering summer camp. The summer camp which began with 12 children has grown to 175-185 kids in 2024.

Volunteers are vital in making the camp work. It takes 30 to 35 volunteers every summer. Some of the Camp Manna volunteers were former campers who grew up spending their summers playing baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. They participated in canoeing, paddle boating, fishing, archery, and zip lining. For them, Camp Manna was the perfect place to spend active summers learning more about the love of Jesus.

Daughter Jessica Riddle Branham joined her dad in 2007 helping with the administrative side of camp. Valerie Goodman later joined as camp director. Both of their families are “all in” on sharing their talents and gifts as they share the love of Jesus with campers.

Branham and Goodman know the importance of volunteers to Camp Manna. They invest in the counselors so the counselors can invest themselves in helping the campers. They offer a Wednesday night dinner to give staff time to relax and talk about ways to improve the camp. They are constantly striving to offer a better quality program.

Camp Manna pivoted during Covid to offer remote schooling for students. They added Wi-Fi throughout the campus so they could serve kids in three buildings. Later they offered a virtual school for students who weren’t ready to return to a traditional setting.

Every year Jessica gives Stan a “building list” of work to be done before the next summer camp starts. Donations are collected and the work is completed. Kids settle into the new additions over the summer, and then new ideas for projects begin again.

Camp Manna has expanded offerings far beyond the original vision of Stan Riddle. In addition to passive enjoyment and summer camp, Camp Manna offers weekly church services, seminars, special events, and weddings.

The foundation’s Bridgette Dillard and husband Nick were one of the early couples married at Camp Manna.

Today, Camp Manna more than fulfills Riddle’s original vision of offering a place for youth and adults to renew and refresh their walk with Jesus.

“Hundreds of youth are learning to share Jesus’ love with others – important work for the staff and many dedicated volunteers,” Simpson said.

“Our youth do not make up 100% of our society, but they do make up 100% of our future,” says Riddle.

Now that the Ron & Teresa Bivins Fund for Camp Manna Ministries is open, anyone may add to it with any amount. The goal is to provide perpetual support for the work of Camp Manna Ministries. Gifts may be made online at daviefoundation.org or send a check payable to Davie Community Foundation with Camp Manna in the memo section to PO Box 546, Mocksville, NC 27028.

To learn more about the foundation contact Simpson at (336) 753-6903 or jsimpson@daviefoundation.org or visit www.daviefoundation.org .

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