Floral City, Florida
Floral City, Florida
Camp Michael is named after my dad Michael David Otto who passed away May 2024. My husband Chris and I, along with our children Victoria and John chose this name because the name Michael means “gift from God.” This camp will be a gift to everyone who crosses its threshold. We dedicate it to the Lord and to the memory of a loving dad, father-in-law, and pawpaw.
Hi, my name is Ann Brock, and I am the owner of Camp Michael.
Camp Michael began as a tiny mustard seed of a prayer back in 2021. Back then I had heard from God that one day I would own land to help people. One year later my husband and I started a youth group from our living room with just a few kids from our neighborhood.
Neither of us had experience in youth ministry or in leading a ministry. Over the course of three years the Lord has grown our group and we have grown along with them. In August of 2023 my dad Mike moved in with us while he came to Tampa for cancer treatment. We decided it would be better if he moved in with us. Being that I am an only child and my parents are divorced it seemed like a no brainer decision. Thinking his time with us would be long term, we thought he would have treatment here, recover, and have a place close by.
However, the cancer spread very quickly and within ten months it was time to say “see you later.” Dad was not wealthy person but he worked hard as a body technician in the car industry for forty years. He saved his money well.
During his time as a teenager he spent the latter part of it as a US Marine and went to Vietnam. Dad was the baby of five siblings of which most were grown and moved on by the time he came around. All of his life I believe he wanted to do more to make an impact but never felt he knew how.
As I learned so much more about him in his last days than I ever had as a kid, I knew something impactful should be done with his legacy. Dad would have liked for me to keep this earning interest in a bank account, but ultimately, if he were brave enough, would have wanted it to go far beyond a small amount of interest gain.
Just before dad’s passing the vision of a youth camp became more clear. Immediately after his estate was put to rest I got to work searching for property. After a year and a half of looking for something I thought I would never find, five realtors later , and a summer pause to spend time with my family I finally found the place.
I am thankful for the journey ahead, and for the hard work and sweat from dad’s brow to provide an opportunity like this one. It’s bitter sweet having to lose someone who meant so much to us, but ultimately we want to leave a lasting impact that will glorify the Lord with everything we have slid to the middle of the table.
We miss you Michael with all our heart! We can’t wait for everyone to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
