Staff Profile: Faith “Tumbledore” Banford

Meet Faith Banford, our talented Media Specialist who plays a key role in creating the amazing CampLife experience for you! Hailing from just outside DC, Faith isn’t just tech-savvy—she’s also a pro with pottery, CrossFit, and (hopefully soon) vans! You read that right. Get to know Faith and her many facets below!  

Tell us about where you’re from and where you went to college!
I’m from northern Virginia, just south of DC, and I went to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. I did my undergrad in video production and strategic communication, so I was a double major and then I stayed and got my master’s in pastoral counseling.

How did you find your way to Pine Cove, and what is your role now?
I worked at the Towers for one half as a photographer in 2017 through a random classmate connection in college. And then I worked at the HQ for the backend of the media teams during the summers while I was finishing school. After that I did the Forge, and now I’m here working full time as a media specialist.

I like to explain my job in two branches. So I think about summer media as a whole, how to prepare for it, how to execute it well, and how to work on the future production of summer media. And then the other branch is CampLife, which is the app that parents use during the summer to experience camp alongside their camper while they’re away.

What is your favorite thing about your job?
With my job, I get to explore a lot of areas that I never expected to be a part of. Stepping into and experiencing the world of technology is something I would have never expected, so I’m really grateful for it! 

What is your camp name and how did you get it?
My name is “Tumbledore.” It’s very simple and I really like it. It’s a combination of two questions. I did gymnastics competitively in my younger years, and I also love Harry Potter! During my name game, they asked me to prove that I did gymnastics, so I did a roundoff back handspring in the dining hall!

What are some of the biggest life lessons you learned from the Forge?
For me, the Forge was instrumental in the security of knowing who the Lord is, and therefore walking out this life with confidence instead of being shaken by the world. Another takeaway was learning that people play a role in displaying the Lord’s kindness in our lives.

We know you’re a big fitness fan, how did you get started on your fitness journey and what are you working towards right now?
I basically had a part-time job as a gymnast as a kid, and so that was really familiar to me and got me in the habit of staying active. When I moved to Tyler I wanted to get back into fitness so I joined a gym that got me back into the routine of working out. After that I got interested in the world of CrossFit through YouTube and Instagram. I ended up working out at a CrossFit gym and had the itch to be more competitive again, so I entered into a competition and then ended up qualifying for it! So I’ll be going to Austin, Texas at the end of January to compete. I’m in the rookie division and I’m really excited! I love competing and I love the fact that people come and cheer people on and don’t even have to know the people in front of them to get invested in it.

Are you still into “van life?” What’s your dream van setup, and what’s the first trip you want to take?
Yes, I’m really interested in van life! The aspect of it that really draws me in is the building part of it. I love projects, creating things, and conquering big tasks.

When it comes to my dream setup, it’s difficult because there are so many ways to lay it out! I want to build it in a way that I can live in it full time. I’d love to take lots of trips and travel, but I really still want to be a part of a homebase community like in Tyler. The first trip that I would probably do is Joshua Tree. I’ve heard lots of great things about that park. Or I’d love to go back to Zion—I ran a half marathon there, but the half marathon was mainly outside the park, but even that was beautiful. 

What would your ideal day off look like?
I think I would, if my friends were on board with it, host a garage workout with everyone and then make brunch for them! I’d probably spend the rest of the day taking a nap, and then go out to dinner with some friends.

What are just a few of your favorite hobbies?
I did pottery for a year, and that was fun! I previously had known nothing about it. The process from start to finish is pretty intricate—wedging the clay, making sure it’s centered on the wheel, getting all the air bubbles out, putting it in the kiln, etc. Throughout the process you’re forced to learn the lesson of letting it be what it is. I typically am not like that! I like to know what I’m getting into. It was really fun and stretched me.

You’ve been so instrumental in the development and maintenance of the CampLife app. What are some of the app updates that you’re most proud of?
I love the updates we’ve made for parents! We have the camp update feature, which allows parents to see what’s happening during the day and media teams are able to share more things that are happening in real time. It makes parents feel more connected when they can see, “Hey we’re at lunch right now!” 

And then on the back end, I’ve been focusing on our media teams and how to make their job more effective so that they can focus on taking great photos. We now have a portal that houses a lot of resources for them to make their lives much easier. It’s a big system that we’ve created from scratch! I love being able to think about the system and organize it in a way that is helpful. 

Who are some of the people who’ve had the greatest impact on your faith?
I am fortunate enough to have a lot of friends who are in stages before me. I like to be in their world and see what life potentially could look like and how they navigate certain situations faithfully. And so I’m just a sponge taking in all of the lessons that they’re learning so I can potentially be prepared for those same situations in my future. I also have an accountability group that the Lord uses to grow and sanctify me! 

What is one thing the Lord is teaching you right now?
Something that is really sweet is seeing the Lord soften my heart in areas that I previously felt kind of stuck in. I was waiting for heart change to happen, being patient and trusting in the Lord, and now I’m able to see the Lord move.

What keeps you at Pine Cove?
Well, big picture I believe in the purpose of sharing the Gospel. My heart is burdened for those who are around the Christian bubble, but for whatever reason may not be interested in a relationship with Christ. Pine Cove allows for a safe and fun environment to bridge the Gospel and meet people where they are at. And I love how Pine Cove’s ministry expands. It doesn’t just bless campers, it overflows into people who are secondary impacts of what we do at camp. For example, my mom is just a mom of a staff member at Pine Cove, but speaks so highly of what we’re doing. Pine Cove does things with excellence and it stands out in this world!