About Us – Furnace Mountain Camp

OUR HISTORY

A Legacy of Community and Care

2003-2012: Elijah Gate Christian Center and Early Renovations

In late summer 2003, Pastor Lyman Eddy of Elijah Gate Christian Center gets a call from Brad Curl, who has run The Field School, a boys’ home on a 100-acre camp in the Catoctin mountains, for ten years. Pastor Lyman takes the reins in June 2004 and begins to offer church retreats, low-income housing, and partnerships with the Leary School (now Phillips Resources) and Loudoun County as a Cold Weather Shelter.

2012-2017: Heart for Youth

In 2012, the mission shifts towards youth programs, partnering with the Youth Resiliency Coalition to address teen depression, anxiety, and suicide. The property begins running Christian summer day camps and homeschool support programs. In 2017, partnering with ServeCamp, further chapel and lodge renovations are made. New facilities like basketball and volleyball courts and a lakefront recreation area are added. In 2018, LoCo Disc Golf builds Clark’s Run Disc Golf Course on the back 50 acres.

2018-2020: Executive Leadership and COVID-19 Impact

Jessica Hutchinson serves as Executive Director from 2018 to 2021, guiding the center through steady growth, while continuing to serve local youth and retreat guests. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forces the closure of retreat facilities, significantly impacting operations.

2021: New Leadership

In summer 2021, Paul Gernhardt becomes Executive Director of the camp bringing a renewed focus on improving the infrastructure and sustainability of the Camp. Butch Porter joins as Director of Education, launching the “Guild,” which focuses on character-building, communication and thinking skills, and vocational training with community engagement.

2023: Continued Growth and Challenges

In 2023, the center launches intense renovations of almost all the camp’s buildings, including new roofs on three lodges and updates to the Freedom House and the apartment building. Despite a devastating fire at the main chapel, the camp moves forward and forms a relationship with Mercy House Church from DC and Pastor Carlos Ruano.

2024: Spiritual Focus

Early in 2024, Pastor Carlos joins as Director of Spiritual Programs. Renovations turn two dormant buildings into Mercy House Chapel and the Library. Coming off of two years of renovations, the camp is able to significantly improve its spiritual retreat offerings, rebrands as “Furnace Mountain Camp,” recreates its website, launches the Forge Food Truck, and re-initiates a summer camp program.

The Team

The Furnace Mountain Camp is governed by a Board of Directors. Day to day operations are managed by an Executive Director, and staff.

Lyman Eddy

Chairman of the Board

Lyman Eddy has served as the President of the Board of Directors since 2003. He has pastored a church in Leesburg, Virginia since 1982, and has served on numerous non-profit/ government boards throughout his career.

Paul Gernhardt

Executive Director

Long-time change agent and consultant, Paul has been repeatedly asked to provide broad-based mentoring of individuals and organizations in the personal, religious, and professional realms. He is an accomplished private pilot, scuba diver, performer, skier, and bicyclist.

Abby McMillan

HSA Director

Abby McMillan is the Executive Director at Harrison Street Academy in Downtown Leesburg. She has a background in the corporate arena, and has worked with kids of different ages for around 15+ years in different capacities.

Butch Porter

The GUILD Director/ProgramDirector

Developer of MicroSchools through Independent Education (IndED), in Leesburg, VA. He has a Physics Degree from LSU, an MBA from USC, and a passion for Great Ideas education. Butch directs The GUILD educational program as well as other Partnerships with people and groups in Loudoun seeking to do good things at the FMC.

Pr. Carlos Ruano

Director of Spiritual Development

With a Degree in Pastoral Ministries from California Christian University, Carlos Ruano is the pastor of Mercy House Church in Washington DC, and a dedicated Team member at Furnace Mountain Camp. He significantly contributes with his creativity and enthusiasm, focusing on discipleship and mentoring development.

Mission

The Furnace Mountain Camp is a 100-acre property, nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Catoctin mountains in Lucketts, VA. The camp was formed as a rustic retreat venue for: church retreat groups; youth camps and events; educational programs; as well as recreational, and nature-centered activities; all with one goal in mind: To help people encounter God.

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