Teen swimming at church camp drowns in WI lake, church says. ‘Profound grief’
.png "A teen drowned while swimming at church camp in Wisconsin, officials said.")
An Illinois teenager known for bringing “warmth and joy to every room he entered” drowned in a tragic accident while attending a church camp in Wisconsin, the church and family members said.
Langston Britton was attending the Community Christian Church camp at Silver Birch Ranch in White Lake, Wisconsin, on July 25 when he went underwater in the designated swimming area and didn’t resurface, Silver Birch Ranch and Community Christian Church said.
Lifeguards pulled him out of the water and attempted to resuscitate him, but he died, Silver Birch Ranch said in a July 26 Facebook Post.
“This young man loved Jesus deeply and shared the gospel with his friends regularly online. Even in our profound grief, we see how God used his life to touch so many,” Community Christian Church said in a Facebook post.
Britton’s church community in Plainfield, Illinois, is mourning his unexpected death.
“Though his time on earth was heartbreakingly short, Langston’s impact was eternal,” John Ciesniewski, a pastor at the church, wrote in a GoFundMe organized to help the teen’s family. “He taught us to love more deeply, to forgive more freely, and to live with courage and wonder. ”
Britton’s father described the high school student as a compassionate person.
“He had a way of making people feel seen, heard, and valued—reminding us all of the beauty in simply showing up with love,” Sherrard Britton wrote in a Facebook post. “Though his time with us was far too short, Langston’s spirit made an everlasting impact. He taught us how to love more deeply, forgive more freely, and live with wonder and courage. His faith was unwavering, and his smile unforgettable.”
White Lake is about a 190-mile drive northwest from Milwaukee.
This story was originally published July 28, 2025 at 4:54 PM with the headline "Teen swimming at church camp drowns in WI lake, church says. ‘Profound grief’."
