What’s poppin’, my name is Dakota Bowley, and I am the new Camp Director at Hope Haven. I’d like to share some of my story of how God has led me to Hope Haven.

When I was 16, I had the opportunity to attend a Christian camp with my youth group. There, I heard quality preaching, and through the work of the Word and the Spirit, I came to faith in Jesus Christ.

After coming to salvation, I realized the impact that my pastors had on me and how much of a role they had in preparing my heart for that decision. I wanted God to use me in others’ lives, just as He had used my pastors in mine. I decided to pursue a vocation in youth ministry.

In 2019, I graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in Christian Ministry. BJU is also where I met my wife, Kristina. To continue my education, we moved to this area so that I could attend Virginia Beach Theological Seminary.

Camp has been part of my life at many crucial moments, and I am excited to be a part of the ministry at Camp Hope Haven. I am grateful that God has placed me in this role, and I am blessed to be able to serve alongside everyone at Hope Haven to serve Christ, our campers, and the community.

Although this summer might not look like previous summers, I want Camp Hope Haven to continue to minister to the community here in Hampton Roads. This means we will have to be flexible as safety standards change, but I believe God will use our efforts in great ways as we seek to honor Him in all that we do.

We are working as a staff to determine how we can best be used by God to offer a fun, safe, and God-glorifying season of camp. As we decide on the best ways to move forward, I look forward to sharing more information about Camp Hope Haven this upcoming summer.

Peace out,

Dakota Bowley