For more than 68 years, El Porvenir has been a sanctuary of peace and transformation in the New Mexico mountains. A place where people reconnect with God, nature and one another. El Porvenir has always been about creating a space where people can experience rest, outdoor adventure, and community. This mission has held steady through every season.
But two years ago, two major fires collided and made their way into camp. In 2022, the Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon Fire, the largest fire in New Mexico history, impacted the camp property. The camp lost several major buildings and other structures, and a lot of the forest around it, as well as several years of ministry opportunity, and many of our staff. Since that time, the camp has had limited capacity. The fire was devastating, but El Porvenir is planning for the future.
A key step in fully reopening the camp is the reconstruction of a road bridge which is owned and managed by the Forest Service. This bridge is essential for bringing in campers, staff, and supplies to the camp, in order to operate at full capacity again. The Forest Service is now targeting the end of 2025 for the completion of this bridge.
The bridge is gone, but the water still flows, and trucks are still crossing the river. The camp is still here. The camp is still functioning. God is still using El Porvenir. We look forward to the day when every camper can come up here once again, share God’s creation, share the experience that we know will make a difference in life.
As the camp awaits the completion of the bridge, the camp staff is working hard to make sure that El Porvenir is ready to hit the ground running the moment the camp has reliable access again. The goal is to build two new camper cabins that will restore 54 camper beds, and build one new full time staff home, by the summer of 2026. This is part of a longer term plan to fully restore the lower half of camp, develop a new area for staff housing, and eventually relocate some support structures like the maintenance shop and the office.
In this season of restoration, your support is crucial. Despite receiving some funds from insurance and disaster loans from the Small Business Administration, the camp is still waiting for promised recovery funds from FEMA. While the camp awaits funds from FEMA, your support is bridging the financial gap, sustaining the camp operations until the bridge is rebuilt. Every contribution makes a difference in keeping the doors open and helping the ministry to continue to move forward.
The camp is preparing for the future, ensuring that every building and activity is ready to receive campers with open arms, just as it has every season for the past 68 years. Right now your support is what’s helping the camp reach that future.
El Porvenir Christian Camp is more than just a place, it’s a mission, a legacy of life change offering campers a chance to step away from the rush of life, to encounter God, and to build meaningful relationships. Join the movement to keep this ministry thriving well into the future.
Together, we’re building a legacy, and with your help El Porvenir will continue to be a beacon of hope, peace, and connection for years to come.
Please support the camp at elporvenircamp.com/give