An Exciting Update
Dear Friends of Lake Ellen Bible Camp,
There is so much good news to share with you all! First, a quick summary:
Perhaps the biggest news is that the owner has agreed to a contract where we make a $100,000 down payment and he will provide the deed so that we can begin to operate the camp as the owner. The board has adopted a constitution and revised the camp policy manual/mission statement. Board member Kevin McIlhany, pastor of CrossBridge Church in Ishpeming, has begun meeting with several churches across the U.P./northern Wisconsin to explore interest and partnership in this effort. We have done interviews with the WHWL Radio Network and God’s Great Outdoors (Listen Here) detailing the renewal efforts. Finally, the chairman, Mel Zimmerman, is in active discussion with a potential director along with various grant-offering organizations for operating grants.
Our present pledges are over $80,000, so getting to $100,000 seems very possible. The board has set a goal of being able to make this down payment to acquire the deed by August 15. This means we need all of you who pledged, plus just a few more, to begin converting those pledges to actual giving. Monthly or other regular automatic donations can also be started.
CrossBridge Church is helping us get this started by holding the money until we are able to set up our own nonprofit accounts. Your donations will still be tax-deductible and will be specifically earmarked for Lake Ellen Bible Camp as long as you include a note or memo indicating that designation.
You can make a donation by visiting our Donate page. If you prefer to give by mail, donations may be sent to:
Lake Ellen Bible Camp
c/o CrossBridge Church
119 N. 3rd St.
Ishpeming, MI 49849
Once the deed is transferred, we will be able to start holding events at the camp and move forward with hiring a director. We hope to have a weekend retreat/work bee this fall and perhaps a few other camps, church events, or fundraisers there for everyone.
The Constitution and Policy Manual/Mission Statement are also available on our Resources page for you to review and download. We hope you will find them reassuring as to the biblical foundation and commitment this board has. For some added context, the policy manual is given to staff and volunteers during training and contains many other pages and instructions. The first two pages contain some camp history, mission statement, and a detailed affirmation of faith and beliefs. We hope they will be useful in sharing with your church and other believers who desire to see a strong, faithful Bible camp working for Christ.
We are willing to visit with a church or church leadership to discuss what we know so far. We do not have a fancy PowerPoint or glossy brochures yet.
Please listen to the discussion about Lake Ellen Bible Camp on WHWL’s Manager Minutes or on God’s Great Outdoors with Dean Hulce. Dean grew up attending Lake Ellen Bible Camp and has a huge heart to see it renewed. God’s Great Outdoors airs across the nation. Please consider sharing the episode with your friends and family to continue spreading the news about camp. LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
Finally, some of the initial discussions of partnerships with Lake Ellen Bible Camp were tied to the Southern Baptist Convention and the Bay Lakes Baptist Association. The board has decided not to pursue that route, as the distance from the association, along with its lack of familiarity with Lake Ellen Bible Camp and Christian camping in general, seemed to close that door. However, if any church has an interest in participating or partnering to see the camp reopen, we are very interested in discussing it with them.
We all hope that God is blessing you this summer. Please continue to pray for Lake Ellen Bible Camp and how God can use you to renew the camp to its founding purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission: “Go ye, therefore, into all the world and make disciples.”
On behalf of the Board,
Ed McBroom
