LATEST NEWS

Currently we're not responding to major disasters as I tore some ligaments in my hip, thigh and knee while I do PT daily to get back at it.  We've moved our base camp to Cedar Ranch Retreat Center in Culpeper, VA, where we're helping with the maintenance and discipleship there.  We've also been able to help with some local flood relief and still desire to continue doing diaster relief.   To read the update concerning this move, click here

If you’re interested in growing in The LORD as you selflessly serve others alongside of Calvary Relief during a response or at the Ranch, please let us know!  For more info on joining us, click here

To stay up to date with what we're doing, please see our blog, facebook and/or our newsletters, links are above. 

  Click here to view the video from a home we rebuilt for a widow in Moffett, OK.

To read our 2022 Review, please click here.

Please pray that wherever we are and whatever we do, we'd be diligent as we share the love of Jesus with those around us in a tangible way. Please remember to keep us in your prayers and especially that we'd grow in our relationship with The LORD and draw others to Him in all we say and do! Curt & Mary Jo

Join Us

There are many areas of service needed when we respond to a disaster.  Serving with Calvary Relief is one of them.  There are no unimportant jobs or unimportant people, it is a team effort.  There is always something for everyone to do.  Galatians 3:28, There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  While we work hard and sometimes long hours, everyone gets plenty of rest and is well fed and we all have a blast!  As a team, while everyone can work at their own pace and take the necessary breaks that everyone needs, we stick together as a team throughout our time together. 

 

A typical day consists of an early rise and shine where personal devotional time is encouraged.  We then eat breakfast and have team devotions together.  Our focus is never about the work, it is all about Jesus and following His command to believers, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”-Matt 28:19-20  As we each grow in our walk with The LORD the natural outcome is that we will serve others when we love God and love others as we're dying to ourselves.  Therefore, our times of morning daily devotions are treated as the most important time of the day and are usually an hour to an hour and a half long.  Often times our devotions are accompanied by worship so if you play guitar, bring it!  After devotions we get busy being Jesus’ Hands and Feet as we serve others!  Once the work day is complete, we head back Camp Calvary where we get cleaned up and ready for dinner and fellowship. 

 

The time you’re with us to serve is short and not about rebuilding homes.  We do this, like everything else in our lives, to personally become more like Jesus and allowing what we do and how we do it to draw others into a relationship with Him.  Drawing others to Christ by rebuilding homes, etc, is not just for the homeowners, but the rest of the community we may or may not know is watching us and of course those volunteering with us.  We need to stay true to the task at hand while making sure that we are getting the rest and nutrition that we need.  Remember that you will only be serving alongside of CR for a few days and any sacrifices you need to make will be short and sweet and may even fall under the category of taking up your cross daily!  Community living isn't easy and requires dying to yourself more than you can imagine!

 

Before we begin any type of work, we require homeowners to fill out documentation specifying exactly what CR has agreed to do.  As a volunteer you are required to fill out a liability release form before participating in any relief related activity or service.  The "Liability Release" forms must be signed in our presence except for anyone under 18 coming to serve without at least one of their parents or legal guardians. The underage team member's "Liability Release" form must be filled out and signed by the minor and at least one parent or legal guardian in front of a notary and notarized as such.  Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to this rule and the minor will not be able to serve without it.  No one serves and no work is done, no exceptions, unless this is completed.  We will also conduct a general housekeeping meeting and go over basic "Disaster Relief 101" with each team upon your arrival to Camp Calvary, even if you have joined us before. It is also a requirement to read, agree to, and sign the Relief Trip Expectations form at the bottom of this page.  We highly recommend that you do this as a team, family, etc so that everyone is aware of how things are done at Camp Calvary and what we expect of everyone so there are no misunderstandings.

 

As with anything that God has called His servants to do, we are to do it to His glory and in an orderly fashion.  This requires leadership and while you may not always agree to what and how Calvary Relief is asking you to do, please remember that God has called us to unity in Him and in this case unity with CR's leadership.  There is a time and a place to bring up disagreements and we need to exercise good judgment in this area.  If you join us, we ask you to trust The LORD with His choice of leadership with Calvary Relief.  We're only looking for humble servants who are willing to die to themselves and come in under what The LORD has clearly directed us how He wants Calvary Relief to operate. 

 

We welcome all teams, families and individuals to join us, but all need to be willing to come under our leadership and guidance.  No matter where we are serving or where we are staying, volunteers are essentially coming to serve in the ministry that The LORD has given Mary Jo and I to be good stewards of.  The LORD has shown us in many ways over the years how He wants us to oversee Calvary Relief.  While we wish to remain humble and flexible in how Jesus wants us to change, please don't just assume you're the voice to do so and instead we ask you to respect us just like you'd expect us to respect you and your church or ministry should we visit.  We typically are in the field for long periods of time, and you are only here for a few days.  This is a marathon for us and not a sprint and our focus is on making Jesus known throughout the whole time we’re here.  You may not understand everything we ask you to do, but we do ask you to understand that we’re doing what The LORD wants us to do and ask you to simply trust in Him!  We're not looking for skilled servants, though we welcome them like anyone else, we're looking for servants who are wanting to grow in their relationship with The LORD as this is first and foremost the mission of Calvary Relief.

 

Please also respect us and our time as we are serving the Lord here full time, usually 60+ hours a week in many ways outside of homes we're rebuilding.  We need our rest!  We don't allow teams to come into the camp after hours (9 PM) and/or leave during the middle of the night (quiet time ends at 6 AM).  We realize that things do happen as you are traveling, and this may require you to check into a hotel before arriving or before your intended departure and thanks for your understanding in this matter and putting others above yourself (Philippians 2:3-7).   Depending on where you land, we may be able to provide transportation to and from airports if you are flying so check with us before renting as we have an 11-passenger van.  We also do NOT serve on Sundays.  If you are in camp on a Sunday, you will be on your own for all meals, etc. for that day, but we will attend church together.  We do allow teams to arrive and depart on Sundays, but this will need to be discussed/approved in advance.

 

We offer safety training and on the job training if there is anything you’d like to learn to do while we’re doing it! 

 

We never allow members of the team to go off on their own, as Jesus sent out the disciples in twos, we will follow His example.  We also want to give the different teams the ability to spend time with their respective groups if they so desire, we just ask that you abide by all regulations set up by the camp and/or location we are responding at and discuss with us prior to arriving.  No one leaves camp or a job site without first discussing this with us and it being agreed to.  We request that the bulk of your time be spent with the group and/or your work team in order to promote unity in the camp and community. 

 

There are many costs associated with this type of work, as with any ministry.  We ask that any funds you wish to donate to those affected by the storms, be given to CR to distribute as deemed necessary, this includes any monies you wish to give to the owners of the camp/church we are staying at.  Often there are bills that have to be paid by Calvary Relief for where the teams are staying.  There is also a cost for food, snacks, water, etc.  There are also many ministry expenses incurred by Calvary Relief such as fuel, tools, equipment, supplies, maintenance, etc.  We are just like any other short term mission trip that you may take.  Each trip will be a little different so please contact us in advance to discuss this.  Just to cover your personal expenses is roughly $75/person/week depending on inflation!  If The LORD is calling you to serve, then He will provide for you to do it!  This is a very minimal fee for all that is provided by Calvary Relief and doesn't cover any of the "field" work, materials, tools, etc.  Of course, you are always welcome to donate more so that we can do more to help more!  We don't want finances to keep anyone from serving The LORD, it's up to you to step out in faith! 

 

We travel with a trailer loaded with tools to do most of the work we will be engaged in for all the volunteers serving with us.  There may be other equipment and/or tools needed, and we can discuss this prior to your arrival.  Our goal is to make Camp Calvary fully functional and equipped for you to just show up with your personal clothes, linens, Bibles, and serve The LORD.  However, if you have your own tools and want to bring them, that’s fine!

 

One final note.  If you or anyone on your team is taking psychotropic medication: Any medication capable of affecting the mind, emotions, and behavior, whether prescribed by a doctor or not, we ask that you seriously consider whether a trip of this magnitude is a good fit for you/them.  We are in the frontlines of Spiritual warfare.  Serving The LORD outside of your home, living in community, etc. is hard stuff and not for everyone.  This must be discussed with Calvary Relief before being accepted as a team member.  Thanks for your understanding in this matter.

 

Please remember that each potential team member is required to read through and fill out the "Relief Trip Expectations" form below. Please open and print a copy for each team member.  As a team leader you will be asked to verify this has been done and then it will be your responsibility should any issues arise.  And this should be done together as a team/family so that there are no misunderstandings.

 

**WARNING**

 

As with any service to The LORD there will be spiritual warfare.  Disaster relief and serving alongside Calvary Relief is no exception!  Satan attempts to thwart all we do for The LORD and will stop at nothing to bring us down.  We’ve experienced satan using folks who’ve come into our camp in the past to break up the unity and destroy relationships, fellowship, etc.  It is extremely important that you don’t take serving with CR lightly, that you are prayed up, and continue to be prayed up during your time with us.  The moment you see this happening, it is imperative that it be dealt with as eternity is at stake for some in the camp and those watching us.  We CANNOT allow satan to have any victories.  We are all human and often the smallest misunderstandings get blown way out of proportion simply because things are ignored as feelings and flesh are fed instead of dealing with the matter and dying to our flesh.  We follow Jesus’ guidelines in Matthew 18 in our ministry and ask that you do the same.

 

If you are interested in joining us then send us an email by clicking here.  We usually respond within 24 hours.

 

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