By David Winfrey

Lake Tahoe—Missionary Debbie Wohler is committed to helping other people have the same transforming experience she had in Lake Tahoe 30 years ago.

“I came out from Illinois as a summer missionary and it changed my life,” said Wohler, a resort ministries specialist.

At the time, she explained, she was studying recreation in college but couldn’t reconcile her career interests with a sense that God was calling her to missions.

“At that point, 30 years ago, I hadn’t heard much about anybody (in church or missions) doing anything in recreation,” she explained.

But that summer she learned how resort areas can benefit from missions personnel who speak the language of recreation and resort settings. And she saw the unique opportunities available to reach people who are away from work and home routines.

“It was great to see that God could use me as He made me,” Wohler said.

Today, she orchestrates a variety of ministries using local and visiting volunteers.

“It’s one volunteer parade here and we are grateful,” she said. “Otherwise I’d be limited to just what I could do.”

Many of these serve children through preschoolers, after-school and summer programs. “Year-round we have about 100 children a day,” Wohler said.

This summer, 13 summer missionaries are helping her manage a variety of programs, most through First Baptist Church of Lake Tahoe. “About 80 percent of the people who show up at our children’s ministries don’t go to church anywhere,” she noted.

The short stay for both volunteers and residents results in unique challenges, Wohler said.

“We like to see ourselves as a training station for the Kingdom.” While volunteer missionaries are short-term by design, even local residents rarely stay longer than two years in this resort setting, she said.

“It used to be really frustrating to me that people were here for so short of a time,” Wohler admitted. “Often, by the time a new Christian has been discipled and is willing to serve, they move away.”

Today, she said, she understands the bigger picture that God is at work building His Kingdom. “And that’s very rewarding.”

Wohler said she enjoys people discovering the ways they can serve God. “It’s not as hard as we make it,” she said. “It’s all important to the Kingdom. Just go do what you’re good at for the Kingdom.”

In Lake Tahoe, Wohler gets the unique opportunity to connect with vacationing visitors who otherwise might not consider or discuss spiritual issues. “They come to enjoy the beauty of creation, but they don’t know the Creator.”

In a vacation setting, she explained, people are relaxed, willing to make new relationships and think about things they haven’t considered while at work or home.

“And then they’re more open to talking to you about stuff. There’s a lot of seed-planting.” That can include mountainside devotional times at ski resorts or face-painting.

Her experience in resort missions also has led to her involvement at Olympic ministries around the world, from Athens, Greece, and Beijing, China, to Salt Lake City and next year’s Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. In Sydney, she dressed as a kangaroo to meet people. In Salt Lake City, she dressed in a snowman suit. Whether it was taking pictures while dressed in costume or trading Olympic-theme pins with a gospel message, Wohler said she seeks to model Jesus. She noted that Jesus continually attracted people through His acts of service.

“It takes people by surprise – and it’s kind of sad — that Christians can be fun and they’re there to serve,” she said. 

“We really make this hard. Jesus said if you have eyes to see and ears to hear He’s at work all around us. And I’ve found that to be abundantly true.”

That lesson is not limited to resort settings or the Olympics, Wohler added. “If you look around in your neighborhood, you’re going to find people with needs and all kinds of ways you can help them.”

Because California Southern Baptists pray for and give to the California Mission Offering Wohler is ministering through resort missions to demonstrate “Love With Action.”

To view a short video of Debbie, click here.