50th Anniversary of HBSM! 1973 - 2023
Hampton Beach Summer Mission (then called Summer Project) was launched in 1973 by Cru staff member, Steve Kovic. College students from across America came for the months of June and July, filled the beach hotel at 20 G Street. They worked in the community, served at local churches, and had conversations with beach visitors — all for the purpose of sharing the love and message of Jesus with New Englanders.
During that first summer, 1973, the mission students met another student, David MacArthur, who was a local in Hampton. Through friendships with the students on mission, Dave came to know Jesus as his personal savior.
Hampton Beach Summer Mission continued for many decades, seeing people like Dave enter a relationship with God because students took steps of faith to share the gospel. The mission shifted its lodging spot down the street to the White Gull, another historic hotel.
Dave and his wife Amy have remained local to Hampton for the past 50 years, having served faithfully in their local church, Hampton Falls First Baptist, one of our primary church partners in NH.
In 2010, the White Gull acquired new ownership, and it looked as though Hampton Beach Summer Mission would see its last summer.
But things came full circle for Dave, who happened to be walking along 20 G Street as the Cru team was unloading the White Gull of all its mission supplies. When Dave learned that the mission would end because of a lack of housing, he and Amy prayed and considered if they could somehow keep it going.
Through their servant-hearted generosity, and through the Lord’s miraculous provision, the MacArthurs purchased a new home for the students of HBSM — the mission would continue!
To think the mission persevered because of a local who came to faith that very first summer! And to make it even sweeter - the property they purchased was in fact 20 G Street — the very house where it all began!
This is just one of many stories of God’s faithful hand on this mission for the past half-century. More stories to come this year as we celebrate 50 years of seeing God move through Hampton Beach Summer Mission!