Ben Warrell works as the Director of Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green, KY. As a young man, Ben was not interested in his faith. Once he could drive, he would "go to mass" separately from his family so he could sneak off and get breakfast with his friends. When he almost got caught, he went to mass long enough to get a bulletin and see who was saying the homily.
Ben encountered Jesus at a retreat that his brother and several friends forced him to attend. Afterwards, Ben began to turn his life around. He attempted to volunteer with the Youth Ministry program at his parish, but was never contacted. He ended up working as a summer camp counselor for a Methodist Camp, where he grew in his faith and began asking questions about his Catholic faith. He continued working at that camp for many years in several different roles.
In 2007, he took a leap of faith and quit his job at the Methodist Camp to help the Diocese find a location and build a camp of their own. Following the Holy Spirit's lead, the Diocese purchased and renovated Gasper River. Over the past 14 years, Camp has added a building, several low and high elements and has plans to continue expanding over the coming years.
For more information about Gasper River, visit their website at www.gasperriverretreatcenter.org
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