Dear Partner,
If I asked how many people reading this letter have heard of Billy Walker, almost all of you would confirm you’ve heard of at least one or two Billy Walkers and Hiawatha Youth Camp. At the same time, if I asked how many of you have heard of Earl Walker? Most of you would ask "Earl who???" I would have been in the same boat had I not found a box of pictures and letters from Earl Walker when clearing out my mom's house when she moved this past summer.
I knew a little about him but not a lot. I found quite a bit of information reading old letters and postcards that I found there. My dad had a pretty large gathering at his funeral service. Earl had a handful of people at his. My dad lived a pretty full life taking his final breath a couple of weeks shy of 80. Earl passed away before his 23rd birthday. Most would agree that without Billy Walker there would not be a Hiawatha Youth Camp. I've come to realize that without Earl Walker there would not be a Hiawatha Youth Camp.
Shortly after graduation, Earl Walker went off to fight in World War II. Around that same time his brother, Billy Walker Sr. (my grandfather) reported to a train station in Detroit where he had been summoned by the government to make his way overseas as well. Once he got there, the officer in charge told him his name was not on the list so he was to go home and wait for further instructions. Those instructions came a week or two later summoning him again to the train station in Detroit where he boarded and headed to Chicago. When he got to Chicago the officer there informed him his name was once again not on the list, so he was told one more time to go home and informed not to come back. Earl Walker never made it home from WWII. He was killed at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 at the age of 21.
My grandfather, after losing his brother, devoted himself at that time to making sure his life counted for eternity and committed himself to full-time Christian service. Ultimately, he became a pastor, brought young people from his church to a lake in Eckerman and helped his son start the ministry of Hiawatha Youth Camp. The turning point for my grandfather was losing his brother in 1944. While there are many people whose shoulders we stand on today, none are bigger than the shoulders of Earl Walker. The life he gave was a turning point for this family and began to sow the seeds for a ministry that would see thousands impacted for the cause of Christ and span over 60 plus years.
So, why am I writing to you with the story of a man you’ve never met?
Because there is a direct connection between your faithful support of Hiawatha and the impact being made in the lives of young people year after year.
Because you give, a ministry to young people surges with enthusiasm into its 7th decade.
Because you care, kids who come to camp for a week of fun leave 6 days later with dreams of being a Pastor, Missionary, HYC staff member, or other avenues of serving the Lord with their lives.
Because you pray, we continue to thrive through a pandemic, location change, schedule changes, and whatever obstacles the Enemy attempts to put in the way. We keep our eyes fixed on what the Lord has in store for HYC in the coming days.
Earl Walker had no idea that his life would still be making an impact two generations later…and today, I’m so thankful for your continued commitment to young people that will lead to an eternity of impact for the Kingdom.
Thank you for giving, caring, and praying. Thank you for being part of the Hiawatha story still being written.
Sincerely,
Craig