LJCC'S STAFF
Matthew Love
Executive Director
Matt and his beautiful wife Jennifer have been married for 27 years and they are blessed with six children ages 12-25. Matthew graduated from Milligan College where he majored in Bible Ministry and minored in communications. Camp Ministry has always been part of his life; growing up as the son of a camp director. For the past 23 years Matt has been in full time camp ministry and has served as the Executive Director of Lake James Christian Camp and Retreat Center since 2013. His desire is to provide a fun, safe environment where campers can be transformed in Christ. Some of Matthew’s hobbies are hiking, fishing, boating, and photography. Matt and his family are active in their church, Lake Area Christian Church. His life verses are Proverbs 3:5-7 “ 5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

My parents brought me here when I was two years old in October of 1977. My dad had just been hired to be the new Camp Manager. This was my mom’s home camp she had worked on summer staff in High School and my parents worked together in the kitchen when they were in college. I worked as Maintenance Assistant and Lifeguard in High School. The summer after I graduated from College in 1998 along with several volunteers I helped my dad start Adventure Camps. God called me into camp ministry full time in 2002 and I had the opportunity to return to Lake James in 2006. I have served in several rolls here over the years Dean, Maintenance Manager, and Program Director.

What keeps me here is when someone stops by and tells their story of how Jesus transformed their life at camp. When I see campers surrender their lives over to Jesus during a week of camp that keeps me going.

I am most excited about our current generation of High School and College students who are passionate about their faith and wanting to making a difference in their communities and theworld.
Kevin Petermen
Associate Director
Kevin is married to Angie and they have three children. Kevin and Angie are both graduates of Central Christian College of the Bible. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry with a minor in Christian Education. Prior to serving full-time at Lake James in 2013, he served as a Youth Minister in three churches. Kevin and his family worship at Cedar Creek Church of Christ. A scripture passage that has guided his faith journey comes from Joshua 24:15, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your
ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Ben Knowlton
Guest Services Director
Daryl Woolard
Food Service Director
My Name is Daryl Woolard, I am the Food Service Director for the Cafeteria here at LJCC. I am thankful for the journey that God has placed me on. I have worn many hats at different jobs and locations, but all of them were in some form of serving and helping others. My connection to the camp is by HIS design; God has been teaching and training my skills along the way. My father taught me at a young age, that anything you do in life to find JOY is to put Jesus First, Others Second, and Yourself Last... Look up Colossians 3: 23-24. My Faith in our Heavenly father and the lessons from my earthly father has led me to the ministry of service, and I have a wonderful family that supports me along the way. I look forward to the many camps ahead and to the plans for what God has in store. I am thankful that LJCC has given me the opportunity to minister here with the other staff and look forward to the new family I can meet and make along the way.
Steven Barth
Maintenance Director
I have been serving here at LJCC for 1 year and 6 months. I started off  Summer Staff serving as the night watchman, then moved up to housekeeping/maintenance assistant, and as of October 13th I was promoted to Maintenance Director. My connection to the camp actually comes from my wife, Katelyn, who was a camper growing up. My faith brought me to the camp after my wife and I moved to Indiana from New York, we weren’t sure why we were pulled out here. That was until we both started working at the camp in April of 2024, that’s when we realized God pulled us out here to serve at the camp. What has kept me here at LJCC is how Godly this place is. Every person I see come to camp is moved by the Holy Spirit. Being a firsthand witness is incredible and helps my faith and relationship with God grow. Lake James Christian Camp has had a huge impact on my life. The Year Round staff, Summer Staff, and camp sessions inspire me, and help my faith grow as I continue my walk with Christ. From April 2024 to November of 2024 the Holy Spirit was moving through me and my experiences here at camp in those months helped lead to my decision to get baptized on November 22nd of 2024.
Katelyn Heins
Office and Marketing Manager
The first time I encountered LJCC was in 2009 as a camper. I was going into my 6th year of school. That summer my family moved from Tennessee to Indiana. This was our first big experience with the community in a new place and wow did it leave an impression. After my first session of summer camp I was hooked. I went back to Lake James every single summer, all the way through my graduated year of high school. In all of the changes of adolescence, one thing remained the same. Every summer I had a home at LJCC. I returned to the same Chapel, Dining Hall, dorms and ball field. I reconnected with old friends and met new ones. Most importantly, I walked away after each camp session with a renewed sense of self and a feeling of spiritual refreshment. All thanks to the people of LJCC.
With that being said, I came on board as staff in April of 2024. Little did I know that taking a Summer Staff job in the camp office would completely change my life. After the summer of 2024 I joined the Lake James team year-round. My guiding light verse through this past year and a half has been, “For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength,” Philippians 4:13.
The moral of the story is that, this place, this camp has an eternal impact. It has and will forever impact my soul. I am honored to serve at an organization that values inspiring generations of people to be followers of Christ.
Kay Hartman
Bookkeeper
I have been serving at Lake James Christian Camp since 2015: 7 years as an office volunteer and the past 3 years as the camp bookkeeper. Church camp has a special place in my heart because of the impact it had on my life as a kid growing up. It's a joy and a privilege to be able to serve this camp ministry, watching both the campers and the Summer Staff grow in the Word.