Rick and Cindy Truesdail retired and looked forward to being “Snowbirds”, taking it easy in Florida for the winter, getting away from the harsh Michigan winters.  However, after the first winter of this plan, they knew this is not enough to satisfy their longing to serve the Lord.  They attended a very good church in Florida but personally were not involved in any ministry for three months.  The people were friendly and kind, but did not include them knowing they would be going north in a few months.

They asked their church for prayerful support that they might find a church to be able to work with on their next journey south for the winter.  An elder lady shared with them that she and her husband, when he was living, had traveled with Campers on Mission (COM).  When they went home, they researched this ministry online and joined up that day as members with Illinois, Indiana, and Florida since there was not chapter in Michigan. They traveled the next year to these states, working with the COM groups and attending their meetings as they knew the Lord was leading them to begin a chapter in Michigan.

After a year of hard work and prayers, Michigan Campers on Mission (MI COM) was officially organized. It was a busy three months. Organizers held meetings at Bambi Lake Baptist Camp to discuss the constitution and bylaws, and to vote for an Executive Board. On July 31, 2020, amid the Covid crisis, a ceremonial event was held to commemorate the milestone. National COM Coordinators, Jerry and Renee McGovern, came from Florida.  Region 4 COM Representatives, Don and Janice Kragness, came from Illinois.   BSCM Director, Tim Patterson.  was there to offer support and give the charge to the group, which consist of 28 charter members.

Membership grew as people begin to hear about the organization and its mission, doubling in the first year.  MI COM is on the move to evangelize, assist churches and camps, and many other ways to minister throughout Michigan. Special thanks are being given to Heritage Baptist Church of Grand Blanc for their faithful support, prayers and involvement in going forward “Sharing Christ as We Go.”

We began this chapter knowing that Bambi Lake Baptist Camp is our “core” center to work and to support their efforts.  Little did we realize then that we would be able to work with inner-city churches on their housing projects.  We work with Faith Fellowship Church in Lansing, remodeling homes for veterans, single mothers, and needy families.  We work at Jachin Baptist Church with their ABC Program in Flint.  This amazing program is open to boys and girls ages 7-17.  It teaches the youth skilled trades (electrical, plumbing, carpentry, cooking, sewing, character) and life skills. 

MI COM members travel to various states as they prefer and work on many types of projects, including camps, children’s homes, fairs, building churches, and so much more.

Would you like to be a member of MI COM and be on mission with us?  There are no membership fees.   To join MI COM, go to our website:  www.michigancampersonmission.org and click on Membership.  Fill in the blanks and click on Send.  Or call Rick and Cindy Truesdail at (810) 869-4716, we’d love to tell you more!

Rick and Cindy Truesdail have been married for 32 years.  Together they have 5 children and 14 grandchildren.  During their early years together, they worked as leaders of a Single Adult Ministry.  Rick is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a licensed SBC minister.  He served as Associate Pastor with a Spanish-speaking church in Flint for 10 years; and Cindy served as the Pastoral Assistant.  They are active members at Heritage Baptist Church, Grand Blanc, and currently serving and National Coordinators of Campers on Mission in their retirement.