November 20, 2001

We accept those areas of doctrinal teaching on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians.  Because of our specialized calling, we desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon the Bible alone, and that no such interpretation shall become an issue which hinders the ministry to which God has called us.

The Word of God
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God's infallible written Word, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks. II Peter 1:20, 21.

The Trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. Deut. 6:4; II Cor. 13:14.

God the Father
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers a prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. John 3:16; I Tim. 6:15, 16; Eph. 4:6.

Jesus Christ
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit, became man without ceasing to be God, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionally atoning death, and bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in his perpetual intercession for His people. We believe in His personal return in power and glory personal to earth. Matt. 1:20, 21; I Tim. 2:5, 6; Acts 1:9-11.

Holy Spirit
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide, enabling the believer to live the Godly life. John 14:16, 17; John 16:8-11; Acts 1:8.

Regeneration
We believe that man is totally depraved in that of himself he is utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. We believe that salvation is the gift of God who brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose atoning blood was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. We believe all men are sinners by nature and by choice, and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We believe in the water baptism of believers, symbolizing the believer's union in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23; I John 1:9; Eph. 2:8.

Christian Conduct
We believe a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well being of his fellowmen; that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. Phil. 3:10; Gal. 5:16, 22-25; James 1:27.

Christian Liberty
We believe that every person has direct access to God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith. While embracing Christian liberty, we reject personal preference in conflict or confusion with scripture. Therefore, we reject the concepts of sexual preference and pro-choice as being antithetical to scripture. Heb. 10:18-22.

Church Cooperation
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ, and the evidence of that unity being shown by how we love one another. We believe in the local church and encourage every believer, as part of God's family, to regularly attend the fellowship of His church. Ps. 122:1; I Peter 2:5, 6; Col. 1:18.

Christian Witness
We believe every believer has a scriptural mandate to share his life of faith in Christ. We believe the only Christ many will ever see is the Christ they see in us, thereby making our personal lives the most powerful influence for an effective Christian witness. Matt. 28:19, 20; John 20:21; Matt. 5:16.

The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost - those who are saved to the resurrection of life and eternal joy, and those who are lost to the resurrection of condemnation and endless suffering. Rev. 22:12; I Thess. 4:16, 17; Luke 16:22-25.

Satan and Hell
We believe in the personality of Satan, the prince and power of this world, and his ultimate defeat by Jesus Christ. We believe in a literal hell, a place prepared for Satan and his followers. I Pet. 5:8; Eph. 2:2; Matt. 25:41.

Tenets of Faith
1. We believe that God is the Eternal(1) King(2). He is an infinite,(3) unchangeable(4) Spirit,(5) perfect(6) in holiness,(7) wisdom,(8) goodness,(9) justice,(10) power(11) and love.(12) From all eternity(13) He exists as the One(14) Living(15) and True(16) God in three persons(17) of one substance,(18) the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,(19) equal in power and glory.(20)
(1) Deuteronomy 33:27; Romans 1:20; (2) Psalm 95:3; Isaiah 43:15; (3) Psalm 147:5; Job 11:7-9; (4) James 1:17; (5) John 4:24; (6) Matthew 5:48; (7) Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 115-16; (8) Psalm 104:24; Proverbs 2:6; Isaiah 28:29; (9) Exodus 33:19; Psalm 63:2; Psalm 31:19; (10) Psalm 33:5; Psalm 89:14; Isaiah 30:18; (11) Exodus 15:6; (12) 1 John 4:8; (13) Isaiah 43:13; (14) Isaiah 45:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4; (15) Psalm 42:2; Psalm 84:2; (16) Jeremiah 10:10; (17) John 1:18; John 10:30; 1 John 14:9; John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; (18) John 1:1; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 3:17; (19) Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4; (20) Revelation 5:13; Ephesians 3:14-21).

2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God.(21) He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, (22) He is humanity as God intended us to be.(23) Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit,(24) instituted God's kingdom reign on earth,(25) overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation,(26) Gathering His disciples,(27) He renewed God's people(28) as His Church(29) to be the instrument of His kingdom.(30) After dying on the cross for the sins of the world,(31) Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day.(32) In His sinless, perfect life(33) Jesus met the demands of the law(34) and in His atoning death on the cross(35) He took God's judgment for sin(36) which we deserve as law-breakers.(37) By His death on the cross He also disarmed the demonic powers.(38) and redeemed sinful men. Therefore God's kingdom has come in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ,(39) that it continues to come in the ministry of the Spirit through the Church,(40) and that it will be perfected in the glorious, visible and triumphant appearing of Christ(41) in His return to the earth as King.(42) After Christ returns He will bring about the final defeat of Satan and all of his minions and works,(43) the resurrection of the dead,(44) the final judgment(45) and the eternal blessing of the righteous and eternal conscious punishment of the wicked.(46) Finally, God will be forever worshipped.(47).
(21) John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-7; (22) Luke 1:30-35; (23) Romans 5:19; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:29; (24) Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:16-21; (25) Mark 1:14-15; Luke 11:20; Luke 17:20-21; (26) Luke 4:1-13; (27) Mark 1:16-17; (28) Mark 3:13-15; (29) Matthew 16:18; (30) Luke 9:1-2; Luke 10:1-17; (31) John 1:29; John 6:51; John 4:9-10; (32) Mark 8:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; (33) Acts 3:14-15; Hebrews 4:15; (34) Romans 5:18-19; (35) 1 Peter 2:24; (36) Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; (37) Romans 1:18; Romans 1:32; Romans 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; (38) Colossians 2:13-15; (39) Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 12:28; (40) Matthew 6:10; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:11; John 15:26-27; Romans 14:17-18; (41) Mark13:26; Acts 1:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; (42) Revelation 19:11-16; (43) Revelation 20:10; (44) 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; (45) John 5:28-30; Revelation 20:11-15; (46) Matthew 25:31-46; (47) 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 7:9-12).

3. We believe that the Holy Spirit (48) came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin,(49) of righteousness and of judgment;(50) and to regenerate, sanctify, comfort and seal those who believe in Jesus Christ(51). The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church at Pentecost in power,(52) baptizing believers into the Body of Christ(53) and releasing the gifts of the Spirit to them.(54) The Spirit brings the permanent indwelling presence of God to us(55) for personal sanctification,(56) building up the Church,(57) gifting us for ministry,(58) and doing the works of Jesus.(59) The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ(60) and that He is our abiding Helper,(61) Teacher,(62) Comforter,(63) and Guide.(64) This filling or the empowering of the Holy Spirit,(65) often an awakening experience,(66) is for ministry today.(67) The present ministry of the Spirit(68) provides for the expression of all of the biblical gifts the Spirit.(69).
(48) John 15:26; John 16:8-11; 2 Corinthians 3:14-17; (49) Romans 7:13; Galatians 3:19; Galatians 3:21,22; (50) Romans 2:1-11; (51) Galatians 3:24; Philippians 3:8,9 (52) Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4; (53) 1 Corinthians 12:13; (54) 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; (55) John 14:16-17; (56) Romans 8:3-4; (57) 1 Corinthians 14:12; 1 Corinthians 14:26; (58) Romans 12:4-6; (59) John 14:12-13; Romans 15:18-19; 1 Corinthians 4:20; (60) Romans 8:9-10; (61) John 16:7; (62) John 14:26; (63) 2 Corinthians 1:4; (64) John 16:13-15; Romans 8:14; (65) Luke 24:49; Acts 4:31; (66) Acts 8:18-19; Acts 19:1-2; (67) 1Corinthians 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 6:4-7; (68) Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:15-17; (69) 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1Thessalonians 5:19-21).

4. We believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the human authors of Holy Scripture(70) so that the Bible is without error(71) in the original transmissions. We receive the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments(72) as our final, absolute authority, the only infallible and consistent guide of faith(73) and life;(74) and is our basis for sound doctrine.(75).
(70) 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; John 14:26; (71) Psalm 19:7-9; Psalm 119:30; Psalm 119:43; Psalm 119:89; Matthew 5:17-18; John 3:34; John 10:35; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Revelation 22:6; (72) Luke 24:44; 2 Peter 3:15-16; Revelation 22:18-19; (73) Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35; (74) Matthew 7:21; Matthew 7:24; Luke 1:38; James 1:22-25; (75) 2 Timothy 1:13,14).

5. We believe that Satan, originally a great, good angel, rebelled against God, taking a host of angels with him.(76) He was cast out of God's presence and established a kingdom of darkness(77) and evil on the earth.(78) Under the temptation of Satan,(79) our original parents fell from grace,(80) bringing sin,(81) sickness(82) and God's judgment of death to the earth.(83) Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation.(84) Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin.(85).
(76) Revelation 12:7-9; (77) 2 Corinthians 11:14; Colossians 1:13-14; Ephesians 6:12; (78) Mark 3:22-26; Ephesians 2:1-2; 1 John 5:19; (79) Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9; (80) Genesis 3:8; Romans 1:21; Romans 5:16; (81) Romans 5:12; (82) John 5:14; (83) 1 Corinthians 15:22; (84) John 8:44; 1 John 5:19; (85) Romans 8:20-23).

6. We believe that man is totally depraved in that of himself he is utterly unable to remedy his lost condition.(86) God before the foundations of the world,(87) chose certain individuals from among the fallen members of Adam’s race to be the objects of His undeserved favor.(88) Christ came into the world to represent and save only those given Him by the Father.(89) Thus Christ’s saving work was limited(90) in that it was designed to save some and not others, but it was not limited in value for it was of infinite worth and would have secured salvation for everyone(91) if this had been God’s intention.(92) The Holy Spirit never fails to bring to salvation those sinners whom He personally calls to Christ.(93) True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation(94) or separate them from Christ.(95) In that, salvation is the gift of God who brought to man by grace(96) and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,(97) whose atoning blood (98) was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.(99) The life of the believer is to be separated from the world by consistent conduct before God and man(100), and is to be in the world as a life-giving light.(101).
(86) Romans 5:12; Mark 4:11f; Ephesians 2:1-5; (87) Ephesians 1:4-8; (88) Romans 9:15,21; (89) John 17:9; John 6:37; (90) Matthew 26:28; (91) John 3:16-18; (92) Ephesians 5:25; (93) John 6:44; Romans 8:14; 1 Peter 5:10; (94) Philippians 1:6; (95) Romans 8:28-39; John 6:39; (96) Romans 3:24; (97) Romans 3:28; (98) Romans 3:25; Matthew 26:28; (99)1 Peter 2:24; Colossians 1:20; (100) Galatians 5:25; Romans 12:2,3; (101) Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 5:14).

7. We believe that Jesus Christ established one,(102) holy,(103) universal Church(104) of which He is the head(105) and its members(106) form the living Body.(107) In His church Jesus instituted two sacraments. The first being water baptism (108) by immersion of believers, symbolizing the believer's union in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The second established the observance of the Lord's Supper(109) commemorating the sacrifice of our Savior.
(102) John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:3-6; (103) 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; (104) Galatians 3:29; Galatians 4:1-7; Ephesians 3:6; (105) Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23; (106) 1 Corinthians 12:27; (107) Romans 12:4-5; (108) Matthew 28:19-20; (109) 1Corinthians 11:23-26).

8. We believe that the church exercises certain rites. Those rites are the dedication of infants,(110) confirmation of children,(111) ordination to office, (112) marriage of husband and wife,(113) and burial of those who have passed away.(114).
(110) 1Samuel 1:28; Luke 2:22,23; (111) Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 4:5-7; Luke 2:42-52; (112) Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; (113) Ephesians 5:22-33; (114) Psalm 39:4,5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-6; Mark 15:46 ).

9. We believe that it is the duty of every believer to follow the Great Commandment(115) given by Christ in that all of the law may be contained in it: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself and that Christ gave us one Great Commission: 116 to go and make disciples in all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
(115) Matthew 22:37-40; 116Matthew 28:19)

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About Us

Camp Christian Ministries is a non-denominational independent nonprofit Christian camp and conference facility. Our purpose is to build the Kingdom of God and teach others about Christ and His salvation of those who accept Him. We desire not only to bring others to Christ but to build up believers and provide for their further growth and understanding. In addition to providing summer camps and winter and spring retreats, we are available for rallies, conferences, seminars, group retreats, picnics and family reunions.

Values and Mission

Values

We are committed to Godly leadership by men and women with these spiritual gifts. These include the concepts of empowerment, servanthood, strategic focus, and intentionality. (Nehemiah 1-2, Romans 12:8, Acts 6:2-5)

We are committed to teach Bible-centered programs with integrity and authority. We will constantly evaluate our forms and methods to be innovative and culturally relevant being more concerned with effectiveness than tradition as long as it is in harmony with scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16, I Chronicles 12:32)

We are committed to rely on both private and corporate prayer, in the conception planning, and execution of all programs, activities and events. (Matthew 7:7-11, James 5:13-18)

We are committed to the Great Commission and believe that the lost people matter to God. So we will use every available Christ-honoring means to point them to the Father. (Luke 19:10, Matthew 28:8)

We are committed to excellence that honors God and inspires people. As God gave His best (the Savior) we seek therefore to maintain that high standard of excellence in all our efforts and undertakings. (Colossians 3:17, Malachi 1:6-14, Proverbs 27:17)

Therefore... Mission

It is our mission of this organization to lead through godly example and prayer in order to provide a place of Christian learning and refreshment that points others to Christ and glorifies Him.

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History of Camp Christian

     Prior to late 1959 a group of Lane County Churches of Christ and independent Christian Churches had been holding summer camps at a camp facility at Crescent Lake.  In discussions with those involved, it was decided that the group should purchase property and create their own camp and a search for suitable property began.

     Vera Hall, a member of the University Street Church of Christ saw an ad in the paper for 40 acres on Booth-Kelly Road (now Deerhorn Road) for $30,000.  She and her husband Arden drove to the area after church that Sunday and searched repeatedly in a vain effort to locate the property, eventually giving up and going home.

     The next week the same property was in the paper but now listed for $20,000.  Again, Arden and Vera drove to the area after church and once again were unable to find any sign of the property they were looking for.

     The third week Vera told Arden, “We’ll get Larry Moore, he’s a deputy, he can find it.”  Larry was also a deacon at University Street.  That week after church, they all drove to Deerhorn Road and Larry did find it.  It was well camouflaged, as it was completely overgrown with blackberry vines. It seems that what is now the lodge was at that time a dance hall which had gotten so completely out of control, that the County had forced them to shut down, and eventually the property was put up for sale.  The final price was $13,500 which included the acreage, the lodge, an old house, barn and two-story garage.

     Early documents are sketchy, but what can be ascertained from the documents indicates that Edwin and Veva Bernhardt of Florence actually bought the property and held it until the corporation could be formed and funds raised to purchase the camp. On January 1, 1958 the Bernhardt’s were issued an insurance policy for the property in the amount of $10,000 for “the one story approved roof frame building while occupied as Club House for rental to groups for dances, banquets with a caretaker on premises.”

     On November 17, 1959, George Allison, Lyle Kellogg and Arthur Lindley signed the incorporation papers for the Willamette Valley Christian Service Camp. The churches represented were:
          Norkenzie Christian Church,
          University Street Church of Christ,
          West Side Church of Christ,
          Florence Christian Church,
          Irving Christian Church,
          Fall Creek Christian,
          Jasper Christian Church,
          Lorane Christian Church,
          Mapleton Christian Church,
          Marcola Christian Church,
          Mount Vernon Christian Church,
          Oakridge Christian Church,
          Thurston Christian Church,
          Trent Christian Church and
          Coburg Christian Church.

     On November 1, 1959, the camp became the property of the Willamette Valley Christian Service Camp.

     No one has been able to determine the exact age of the lodge, but the house which is now the director’s residence was built in 1910. We also know when there was extensive remodeling to the house which added the current kitchen space as there were repairs made several years ago and a number of newspapers were found in the walls for insulation or windbreak. One of them was from 1941 with the headline, “French Scuttle Fleet in Harbor to Prevent Capture by Germans”.

     At some point early on, the original restroom/shower building was built and campers stayed in the old barn and army tents, and swimming was done in the McKenzie River below the lodge. Churches began building cabins with the number eventually reaching ten and an athletic field was built with a baseball backstop on the south side of Deerhorn Road. The walk-in cooler was purchased from a bar in Florence and transported to camp and installed in the lodge. In 1964, the Christmas flood was large enough to change the channel of the river, moving it to the camp side of the river resulting in the need to bus campers to Hendrick’s Bridge Wayside for swimming. That was remedied in 1968 when the camp pool was built, and campers did not mind that the heater and filter was not installed until 1969, simply because it was so much warmer than the river.

     On March 31, 1966 the official name of the organization was changed to Camp Christian, Inc.

     In the 1980’s and 90’s the basketball court and cover were added along with the current camp store and craft area.

     In the 1970’s the change was made from part-time caretaker to full-time manager and later to the current status of executive director with additional staff. In the late 1970’s board member Don Kimball who was the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Springfield was able to arrange for a shop class at Thurston High School to build, transport and install four gazebos at the camp.

     In the 1980’s and 90’s there were proposals to either sell the camp and rent another facility or to merge with Grove Camp. All proposals were soundly defeated and met with great resistance from people that connection with the camp and board members.

     In 2002 the commitment was made to make the ministry a full-time year-round ministry for all age groups. In 2002 it was discovered that the camp qualified to buy from Federal Surplus and this allowed us to do significant upgrades to the kitchen and install a full-service stainless steel food service line with a separate beverage bar.  In 2005 we were able to purchase a large amount of equipment and furnishings from the former Mr. K’s Restaurant in the now non-existent Ramada Inn which will be incorporated into the coffee shop planned for the location that currently houses the camp store and craft area.

     The Articles of Incorporation and board make-up have been modified several times to reflect the changes in the camp and modifications necessary in the governance of the ministry. Originally there were two representatives from each member church with board officers elected from that body and they met either monthly or bi-monthly depending upon the year in question.  On December 12, 1995 the representatives at large were changed to an advisory board that met twice a year and a board of directors consisting of no more than eleven members that met once a month to take care of the majority of the camp business. There were additional changes in the by-laws in 1995 and 2000.  On September 19, 2002 the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and By-Laws were rewritten and adopted into the form they are today which included changing the name to Camp Christian Ministries, Inc. This resulted in the abolishment of the advisory board and increasing the board of directors to a number of members not to exceed 12. At this time a board manual was adopted which includes a board member agreement and statement of understanding. Provisions were also put in place with regard to the acceptance of board members and election of board officers to protect the vision and direction of the ministry and provide for continuing continuity of the goals of the ministry even with the change of board members.

     There are plans currently drawn for remodeling and expansion of the women’s restroom facility, a new lodge entry and restrooms and the expansion and enclosure of the existing camp store/craft area into a coffee shop and book store. Other changes that are planned include a game and recreation building, the enclosure of the swimming pool for year-round use, enclosing the basketball court to create a gym and additional meeting facility and additional over night accommodations to increase the capacity by over fifty percent.  Additionally,  there are plans for a pedestrian overpass to eliminate the need for children and adults to cross Deerhorn Road and a parking lot at the east end of the athletic field.  As funds come available, we also plan on adding an ADA compliant bathroom on each of the cabins.

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