GPS: God. People. Stories.

Episode Summary: "Camp Mystic Tween Helps Others Find Their ‘Hallelujah’ Again"

Host: Jim Kirkland
Guests: Skylar Darrington (survivor), Lacey Darrington (mother), Billy Graham (archival)
Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This moving episode centers on the harrowing night of July 4th, when 12-year-old Skylar Darrington survived a devastating flash flood at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Kerr County, Texas. Skylar and her mother, Lacey, share their perspectives of the tragedy and reflect on faith, hope, and healing. The story takes a remarkable turn as Skylar, a talented young singer, composes a heartfelt song in the wake of the disaster—a song that would inspire thousands and help others rediscover their own "hallelujah" amid loss.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Night of the Flood

• 00:00–03:14 Lacey recounts waking up far from her daughter Skylar, feeling deep concern after seeing evacuation alerts.
  • “I had a bad feeling. I just had this feeling like I just… Because I got like a text message… It was a matter of life and death.” – Lacey Darrington [00:00]
• 01:54–03:49 Jim narrates the timeline: the Guadalupe River rose rapidly during the night, prompting evacuations. Skylar describes being woken and led from her riverside cabin to the safety of the rec hall, wading through water in pajamas, clutching a few valued items.
  • "I dropped my blanket but we still had to keep going...we made it on the first floor and then whenever it started rising, we went onto the second floor." – Skylar Darrington [02:25]
• Skylar and her fellow campers, unaware of the full scale of the crisis, sang to comfort each other through the night.
  • "We were all singing together and comforting each other and singing like Christian music." – Skylar Darrington [03:49]
  • Skylar sings the Camp Mystic song: [04:08–04:34]

2. The Morning After: Discovery and Reunification

• 04:34–05:49 At dawn, with little knowledge of the devastation, the girls are carefully led to the tennis courts for breakfast.
• 05:14–07:27 Lacey struggles with fear and lack of information, describing the agony of trying to contact her daughter (“the girls don’t have their phones—it’s a technology-free camp”). Relief floods in with the news: "This entire cabin is accounted for." [07:19]
• 07:54–08:26 The full gravity sets in: the Texas Hill Country flood claimed at least 138 lives overall, with 27 lost at Camp Mystic, including people the Darrington family personally knew.

3. Processing Tragedy and Remembering Joy

• 08:45–09:31 Despite loss, Skylar recalls camp joy—four years of games, friendships, and favorite activities.
  • "I like archery, arts and crafts, horseback riding, dance, cheer... just hanging out by the waterfront and the river and everything." – Skylar [09:15]
• Lacey describes Camp Mystic as a nearly sacred place, evoking its timeless charm and emotional resonance.
  • "It's just kind of a place where time stands still... she would rather go to Mystic than Disney World...that says something." – Lacey [09:48]
• 10:23–12:24 Returning to camp, Lacey and Skylar retrieve belongings and gain emotional closure, greeted by staff who gently prepare them:
  • “This camp’s gonna look different, but the spirit’s still the same.” – Camp staff to Skylar [11:11]
• Skylar finds comfort in the enduring “spirit” of Camp Mystic, even amid destruction.
  • “Even though...a lot of it was washed away, it felt like Camp Mystic still.” – Skylar [11:34]

4. Community, Faith, and Song

• 12:44–13:04 Skylar describes her Bug House group chat as a source of support and faith: “They have been each other's sisters in Christ…” – Lacey [12:56]
• 13:17–14:43 Processing trauma leads Skylar to songwriting. With her little brother Clark and Lacey’s help, she writes new lyrics to "Hallelujah," weaving their experiences and faith into the tune.
  • “I heard there was a giant flood but we were washed in Jesus blood…” – Skylar [14:43–16:52, full performance]
• 17:12–17:35 The song, shared privately, quickly goes viral—Skylar and her family are surprised to find her rendition has millions of views and has been broadcast nationally.

5. Impact: Inspiring Others and Healing Hearts

• 17:40–18:09 Lacey receives messages from strangers and friends whose faith was reignited by the song, including one who wrote,
  • “I lost my Hallelujah...and I got it back.” – Cabin parent [17:40]
• 18:26–18:50 Skylar’s music lands her on Fox & Friends, where she is surprised on set by her idol, singer Lauren Daigle—a moment of joy and encouragement for the young survivor.

6. Moving Forward: Faith, Ministry, and Hope

• 18:57–19:23 Skylar aspires to create music blending pop and Christian influences, while also focusing on returning to school and extra-curricular activities.
• 19:52–20:44 Lacey, a youth and family minister, reflects on how her faith and work strengthened her to guide her children and others through crisis.
  • “It’s important that we wait for God’s timing and that we praise through the storm…that will make you walk closer with God.” – Lacey [20:17]
• Lacey underscores the community of faith and God’s unwavering presence in suffering and recovery.
  • “You never, ever lose hope because it's always with you and you're never alone...God puts people in your life to help you with that, and he knows exactly what he's doing and he's still working even when you can't see it.” – Lacey [20:54]

7. Spiritual Encouragement from Billy Graham

• 01:08 & 21:58 Interludes from Billy Graham emphasize the theme of finding joy and “a song in your heart” even during dark circumstances, reinforcing the episode’s message of faith, resilience, and hope.
  • “The real victorious Christian has something to sing about even in the most depressing circumstances because Christ gives us a song in our heart.” – Billy Graham [01:08, 21:58]

8. Final Words of Hope from Skylar & Lacey

• 24:11–25:13 Closing heartfelt advice:
  • “God always has plans for you and just keep trusting in him…He’s just always there and he always listens to you.” – Skylar [24:11]
  • “Don’t give up. Keep searching, keep knocking, keep asking. You know, pray unceasingly. Don’t lose hope. Don’t feel alone, because you’re never alone. And joy will come in the morning. It always does…God always answers your prayer…I'm grateful for that. I want other people to live like that…” – Lacey [24:24]

Notable Quotes

• “I had a bad feeling. I just had this feeling like I just… evacuate immediately. This is a matter of life and death.”
  – Lacey Darrington [00:00]

• “We were all singing together and comforting each other and singing like Christian music.”
  – Skylar Darrington [03:49]

• “Even though...a lot of it was washed away, it felt like Camp Mystic still.”
  – Skylar Darrington [11:34]

• "I heard there was a giant flood but we were washed in Jesus blood..."
  – Skylar Darrington (singing) [14:43]

• “I lost my Hallelujah and…I got it back.”
  – Cabin parent (via Lacey) [17:40]

• “The real victorious Christian has something to sing about even in the most depressing circumstances because Christ gives us a song in our heart.”
  – Billy Graham [01:08, 21:58]

• “Don’t give up…joy will come in the morning. It always does.”
  – Lacey Darrington [24:24]

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• Skylar’s recounting of being evacuated [02:25–02:45]
• Camp Mystic song performance [04:08–04:34]
• Skylar’s “Hallelujah” [14:43–16:52]
• Testimonies of hope and healing [17:40–18:09]
• Lauren Daigle surprise [18:26–18:50]
• Closing encouragements from Skylar and Lacey [24:11–25:13]

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a compassionate, faith-driven tone, blending empathy for tragedy with uplifting reflections. The hosts and guests speak conversationally and candidly, intertwining stories of loss, survival, music, and spiritual growth. The language is accessible, warm, and centered on the core Christian belief of hope through Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

This episode offers not only a story of disaster and survival but also of faith’s power to bring peace, purpose, and even joy in the aftermath of tragedy. Skylar’s song, born from loss, provides hope and spiritual renewal to listeners far beyond Camp Mystic, reminding all that, even in the darkest moments, there is always a “hallelujah” to be found.