I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Camp Living Stones and serve as the new Camp Director! Over the last 20 years, I have seen first hand how God has used the unique ministry of Camp to impact students and I’m excited to be a part of that work once again. My wife Bethany and I met while serving as counselors at CLS in 2010 and 2011 and have been married for nine years. We have three children, James, Amelia, and Laurel. 

I was raised in a Christian home and proclaimed my faith in Jesus at a young age. I was at church every time the doors were open and was active in my youth group. In college, God used my first summer as a counselor at Camp to profoundly grow my faith and deepen my knowledge of Him, and the person I was at the end of the summer was radically different from who I was at the beginning. God grew my passion for working with students and made me interested in a career involving camp ministry.

For the last nine years Bethany and I have lived in East Texas where we started our family and I have taught, coached, and been an administrator in the public education system. Through the years I have gotten to pour into students, both in the classroom and on the field, and have seen first hand the challenges that they face on a daily basis. Through this work, God has broken my heart for students and I have seen how desperately they need the hope we have in Jesus. 

God has used Camp Living Stones to bless and impact our lives over and over through the years, and we are humbled and excited that He has called us back. We look forward to seeing all God has planned for us and those who join us on Starr Mountain!

It’s so exciting to be a part of the camp. Here’s a little bit about my family and me. Hi, I’m Matt Swafford. My wife, Karen, and I have been married for 11 years and have two children, Alyson and Christopher.

I was born and raised in Birchwood, TN. I was saved at the age of 16. Youth ministry has always been close to my heart. It played a critical role in my teen years and continued through college. Throughout the years, I have served in many different capacities at church such as youth ministry, AWANA, and praise and Worship.

For the past 15 years, I have worked in the lawn care business as a spray and commercial technician. In 2016, the Lord opened the door for me to co-lead the youth. As my wife and I served together in this student ministry our love for the students and their discipleship grew. We served in this church until the Fall of 2019. The Lord took us on an amazing journey to reconnect with Him and each other as we searched for a church to call home. It was hard to not be a part of a student ministry as we visited churches. However, through this journey, the Lord solidified His calling on my life for student ministry. In early 2021, we joined our current home church and continue to serve an the praise team, AWANA, and community service projects.

I had the awesome opportunity to be a part of Camp Living Stones ministry in 2005 as a camper. I reconnected with camp in 2016-2017 through DNow retreat weekends with our youth group. In 2018-2019 as youth leaders, we brought our youth students for a week during summer. To come full circle and now be a part of Camp as the Director of Facilities/Acyivities is truly a blessing. I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for the ministry here at Camp.

My wife, Karen, is already a part of the ministry here at Camp as the Summer cook. We are excited to be doing ministry together again.

Hi! My name is Karen Swafford. I am excited to step into the Secretary role here at Camp. I have been the summer cook here at camp for the past 3 years. My husband, Matt, and I have been married for 11 years and have two children, Alyson and Christopher. It is a blessing to be apart of the ministry here at Camp Living Stones!