We all have memories from our favorite summer camps—horseback riding, rock climbing maybe even an epic water balloon fight. However, for many kids with special needs or disabilities, these camp memories are put on the sidelines. In 2010, God gave Mark Price an opportunity to meet that need, and it ended up bringing him more joy than he could’ve ever imagined.
A Dream Given
At 50 years old, Mark thought he had his life together. He had a wonderful family, an amazing wife, and a lucrative career. However, there seemed to be something missing from his life, but he couldn’t quite understand what it was—until one sermon changed his life forever.
“One Sunday morning our pastor was talking about praying for God to use you, and he said if you commit to praying that prayer, you must also be committed to following what He calls you to do,” Mark said.
On the drive home, Mark was inspired by the words his pastor preached, and he committed to praying that prayer daily. He wanted God to use him in a mighty way, but he didn’t know what that would look like.
A few weeks later, Mark met with a couple who had a child with autism, and they looked like they were on the brink of tears. They both worked during the day, but because of their son’s severe autism they couldn’t find a caretaker for him while they were working during the summer.
“You could just tell from their faces how distraught they were when they were telling me what their summer coming up was going to look like,” Mark said.
From that meeting, a dream was sparked inside of Mark. The couple’s situation had touched Mark’s heart, and he began to wonder how many other families felt like that.
“I thought to myself, ‘What would it look like to have a camp that was tailored to those with special needs?’ so I drew out a map of what this camp would look like and what buildings were needed to keep it running,” Mark said.
Unfortunately, the regular routine of life dragged Mark away from his dream, and he continued to focus on his insurance broker career.
“I had the camp all planned out, but I ended up throwing the map into a drawer somewhere,” Mark said.
Several months went by and Mark was still praying for God to use him. He didn’t feel called to anything in particular, and his old dream continued to sit in the darkness of an office drawer. Eventually Mark and his wife sold their house, and while packing, Mark discovered his dream once again.
“As I was going through my office and packing up things in my drawers, I came across the map that I had drawn,” Mark said. “My wife walked in and she asked me what I was holding. I told her about what it was that I had drawn out, and she said to me, ‘Well, why don’t you do something about that instead of putting it in a drawer this time?’”
Mark knew this was an answer to his prayer and this was the dream that God was calling him to.
A Dream Fulfilled
God placed all the right people in Mark’s life to create a camp tailored to those with special needs or disabilities. From meeting with the camp director of The Grove at Red Oak Lake to contacting the founders of Camp Barnabas, God faithfully guided Mark, and Mark walked in obedience.
“In 2013 we created Camp Conquest as a nonprofit Christian camp,” Mark said. “And Camp Conquest is the only facility in West Tennessee that’s compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
When the camp first opened, there were only a few of its kind. Mark said they had a waiting list of volunteers who wanted to be camp counselors, and campers from across the nation wanted to attend. That’s because at Camp Conquest, they are able to participate in all summer camp has to offer. From archery to flying across the lake on a 600-foot–long zip line, all activities are accessible to those with disabilities or special needs.
“Typically zip lines require a harness that’s about $85,” Mark said. “Ours has a chair that’s around $280 so truly anyone can play on it. We even have ramps going up to the bathrooms, so campers are able to be transported from their wheelchairs to water chairs and wheeled up to the showers. Our camp is open to everyone.”
However, things took a turn in 2020. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of volunteers has subsided, and Mark has struggled to find the support they need for camp.
“For every camper who attends, there are one or two missionary volunteers who partner up with that camper for the week,” Mark said. “So if we have 50 campers, we’ll need about 50–55 missionary volunteers.”
In the summer of 2022, Mark gathered his team to brainstorm ideas for how to prevent closing down the camp or sending campers home because they don’t have the volunteers they need. Camp Conquest needed a strong marketing campaign to grab the attention of churches around the Memphis area to send their volunteers to Camp Conquest. But a marketing campaign that size would require a lot of funds.
Soon after that meeting Mark got in touch with Ross McGregor, Bellevue’s former Local Missions Pastor, in hopes of partnering with a local church. Through this conversation Ross connected Mark with Bellevue’s annual Love Offering. As it turns out, Love Offering 2022 was themed For Life, and Bellevue was partnering with multiple local ministries to provide financial assistance. Mark and his team applied for the assistance and prayed that it would be the breakthrough they were searching for.
“Everything about this dream was totally God,” Mark said. “I mean, I couldn’t make this up even if I tried.”
Their prayers were answered, and Bellevue partnered with Camp Conquest. Through the faithful offerings given to Love Offering 2022, Camp Conquest was able to launch a three-year marketing campaign.
“This will allow us to get ahead of churches’ schedules and get volunteers for Camp Conquest,” Mark said. “Because churches start thinking of their summer plans around the fall time of year, we have flyers going out during this time of the year to get on their radar.”
Additionally because of Love Offering 2022, Camp Conquest hopes to be able to open for nine weeks out of the summer instead of five. With this change, more campers with special needs or disabilities can experience the joys of summer camp we all know and love. Love Offering 2022 also provided financial help through scholarships for many families so that their children can experience the fellowship found at Camp Conquest.
In a world where kindness often feels in short supply, giving offerings—of time, money, or resources—reminds us of our shared humanity. Every small act of generosity creates ripples of change, impacting individuals, families, and entire communities. When we choose to give, we invest not just in causes, but in hope and a better future for all. And when we give, the Lord can do more than we could’ve ever imagined.
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 NIV
Through Love Offering 2022: For Life, Bellevue has been able to come alongside several organizations that serve children, families, and the vulnerable. If you want to serve with Camp Conquest, visit campconquest.com/servewithus.
This year’s Love Offering will be given For All Nations and Future Generations. Visit bellevue.org/love-offering to learn more, and join us for Love Offering Sunday on November 10!