In 1964, John Drake — my grandfather — sold some commercial kitchen equipment to a customer named Frances Warkentin at Hume Lake Christian Camps. He didn’t know Hume would become his favorite place in the world or how it would impact his family for generations.
It all began when Frances, the wife of Hume’s founder, Walter Warkentin, invited my grandparents to a couples conference. Soon after, in 1967, they bought a lot in the subdivision. God provided enough money for them through prayer, my great-grandfather, and the stock market to build a cabin.
Each year, their family spent all summer at the cabin. My grandpa enjoyed long, restful weekends with family at the lake and returned to Fresno every Monday morning for another week of work. Over the years, my grandparents invited countless friends and relatives to stay at the cabin and attend Hume conferences and retreats. Their kids — my two uncles and my mom — fished, hiked, sailed, and played at the lake until they were old enough to work on staff. Eventually, they were joined by two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, and 11 grandchildren, most of whom have also served on staff.
The ministry of Hume Lake has shaped our family in countless ways. For almost 30 years, my grandpa served on the Hume Lake Board of Directors. His heart was for the ministry, and he was passionate — often with tears — about young people hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ at camp. He continued to use his food service expertise by helping design and consult in the kitchens at Hume.
After a long battle with Alzheimer’s, on May 3, 2024, in Fresno, CA, John Drake passed from faith to sight, entering the presence of his Lord. We miss him dearly, and we’ll never forget how he loved people — genuinely loved people — and showed us how to joyfully serve others.