McIntosh Co., Ga.
Shark Camp

Darien Telephone Company

About This Camp

The first 30-30 Ministries’ Shark Camp was held the weekend of June 8-10, 2018 in McIntosh County. The ministry weekend was spurred when 30-30 Ministries’ Executive Director Brad Gill was fishing with local guide Capt. Justin Bjorneby in June 2017 for an article with GON magazine. Justin mentioned to Brad to reach out to him if he could ever help with a weekend of taking kids shark fishing. That began the process of allowing Justin, several local fishermen and even anglers from middle Georgia to host a weekend of ministry.

After the 2019 Shark Camp, the 30-30 Ministries’ Board decided the high lodging costs associated with the Camp meant local funds would be needed to continue future Camps. Thankfully, David Stevens, one of the Shark Camp guides, solicited the needed funding from Darien Telephone Company. The local company currently provides full funding for a local lodge. In 2026, the lodging was moved to a different local facility, Emma’s Driftwood Farm. The owners of the new facility are born-again believers and offered lodging to 30-30 Ministries at no cost!

Camp Managers

Mark & Lilly Smith

Mark Smith, a full-time fishing guide on Lake Oconee, has been involved with 30-30 Ministries since 2013 when he began taking 30-30 Ministries’ volunteers fishing as a way to thank them for their services. For several years, Mark was feeling God’s call to get involved with 30-30 Ministries in some way, but it took a little while for God to open that door.

Then, on June 8-10, 2018, Mark stepped out of his fishing comfort zone as a result of being asked to guide at the first-ever 30-30 Ministries’ Shark Camp. It was that weekend when Mark was hooked on 30-30 Ministries. After that, he brought his wife, Lilly, on board for a meeting with 30-30 Ministries to ask how they could be more involved together. As it turned out, Lilly is excellent with administration and order, while Mark has great people skills, making them the perfect Camp Manager team.

Mark and Lilly visited a few Camps and served in different capacities, but their first official weekend as Camp Managers took place the weekend of Jan. 24-26, 2020 at the Taliaferro County Rabbit Camp. They now manage several Camps and even host their own Lake Oconee Crappie Camp with their home church, Lakepoint Community Church.