Deeply Rooted in Family

As lifelong residents of Marfa, Texas, we were extremely blessed to be located so geographically near Paisano. This led our parents, Stan and Nita Dempsey, to not only attend but volunteer at Paisano in many different capacities. Our parents worked the concession stand during General Camp for several years and assisted in the kitchen during GA and RA camps under Lloyd Conner. Nita Dempsey was a board member, the director of the Paisano General Camp Nursery for more than 10 years and the WMU Dorm for almost that many years as well (which meant she did a lot of cleaning, oversight of repairs and working with Campers on Mission). Their five children nearly lived at Paisano each summer as they attended GA camp, RA camp, Youth Congress and General Camp.

The Dempsey’s older son, Gene, remembers:

Paisano is the site of most of my pivotal spiritual development memories during my youth.  I was an annual participant in Royal Ambassador camps and West Texas Youth Congress as long as I was eligible to attend.  It was during Youth Congress in 1968, just before my senior year in high school, that I came to the conviction that God was calling me toward vocational Christian service.  The following year, when I was just out of high school, I was assigned to the Paisano R.A. camp while serving as a Royal Ambassador State Staff member.  During that week, I was presented with my license for the Gospel Ministry, granted by Emmanuel Baptist Church in Marfa, my home church.  I graduated from Sul Ross in 1973, and moved to the Pacific Northwest to begin serving a two year North American Mission Board assignment in church planting. The Lord next directed me to enroll in Midwestern Baptist Seminary in Kansas City, from which I graduated in 1979.  God’s call returned to the Northwest, to continue serving as a pastor in an area of our country where evangelical Christians comprise only a tiny percentage of the population.  I will soon observe my forty-third anniversary in ministry.  It’s been a good ride, which began largely because God could work in the life of a small boy, at a place called Paisano. Though I am far away, Paisano remains close to my heart.  I deeply appreciate the vision and spiritual sensitivity of the founders who brought Paisano into existence and the supporters who continue to partner with God in touching the lives of His people here.  May God bless you richly!

Their daughter, Martha, attended many weeks of GA Camp, Youth Congress and Family Camp at Paisano throughout her childhood and was drawn to special service while attending GA Camp at Paisano. That call to service has led her to serve local churches as pianist, Sunday School teacher in all levels, GA leader, WMU Director and Missions Committee Chairperson and/or Member, VBS teacher for many years and participant in local ministries such as teaching English as a Second Language.

Their daughter, Mary, states:

Due largely to the influence of Paisano Camp Missionaries, God led me to commit my life to full time service during GA camp in 1969. A commissioning service was held for me during General Camp in 1987 when I was appointed to serve as a missionary nurse in Ghana.

Their daughter, Ginger, reminisces:

I can’t remember a summer in my childhood that didn’t include Paisano. My weeks spent at Girl’s Camp, Youth Congress and Family Camp fostered a Christian background  and provided many wonderful friends that were reunited each summer. I wish I were geographically closer so I could attend more frequently, but Paisano will always hold a fond space in my heart.

Their younger son, Bob, shares:

I was married in absence at Paisano by Lloyd Conner and Dad (Stan Dempsey) stood in my place. Also, my daughter, Shara Lynn, was baptized at Paisano by my brother, Gene Dempsey.

The Dempsey family is deeply grateful for the contribution that Paisano General Camp has made in maintaining the campground that facilitated the many GA, RA, and youth camps that have touched their lives as well as the family camp known as General Camp that continues to bring our family together annually in fellowship and Christian service. May God richly bless the next hundred years of this camp’s ministry!

Martha Dempsey Tipton