Bair Lake Bible Camp is a Christian summer camp located in Jones, Michigan [1] . The camp is not affiliated with any particular larger group, but was founded by the Plymouth Brethren Church and is currently considered an evangelical, nondenominational organization. [2]
Values
editBair Lake Bible Camp functions based on their values. [3]
Core Purpose:
“To fulfill the Great Commission by providing an escape from the daily rigors to a place of excellent programs, people and facilities.”
Core Values:
1. Uncompromisingly Biblical
2. Relationally Based
3. All-encompassing Christian
Mission Statement:
“We exist as a launching pad for individuals impacted by Bair Lake Bible Camp to make Jesus Christ known in their community, country and world.”
Statement of Faith:
"We believe the bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ to be both truly God and truly man. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that every person is fallen, sinful and lost. We firmly maintain that no one is saved by an act of his own will alone. The Holy Spirit affects the new birth and works in the soul of the sinner, convicting him of sin, repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling a Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe that the Gospel should be proclaimed to every person on Earth, and that the responsibilities of all who hear the Gospel is to repent of their sins and rebellion against God, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive justification and the forgiveness of sins.
We believe that redemption is wholly by the blood of Christ; those who are saved unto the resurrection of life, and those who are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe that the universal church, a living organism known as the body of Christ, is composed of all true believers of every age since its inception at Pentecost. We believe that local churches are composed of believers in any community who assembles in Christ's name." [4]
Faculty
editBair Lake Bible Camp has only 12 full time employees year round. Qualified volunteers dominate the summer staff, as the camp is well known for its volunteer opportunities. During one of the camp programs, CIT (Christians In Training), campers 17 are taught safety rules and counseling techniques. After attending this program, campers may volunteer as counselors for other camps at Bair Lake Bible Camp throughout the summer. The full time employees are headed up by Bob Tissot, co-author of the book Purity and Holiness, and executive director of the camp. Next are the program director of Bair Lake Bible Camp, Eric Sandberg, and the Site & Faculty Director, Dave Stiles.
Divisions
editThe weeks in the summer at Bair Lake Bible Camp are split up into different camps by age [5]:
- Day Camp- Grades K to 5; (this camp allows children to have the experience of camp even if they are not old enough or not ready to stay overnight. Day camp happens several weeks of the summer because they can be run at the same time as others.)
- CIT- Grades 8 to 12
- Juniors- Grades 3 to 6; happens two weeks out of the summer
- Rookie Camp- Grades 3 to 6; happens the same two weeks as Juniors, (like day camp, these are especially for campers who want to experience the camp, but do not want to stay the night.)
- Sixers- Grades 6 to 7
- Middle School Classic- Grades 6 to 8
- Teen Classic- Grades 9 to 12
- Middle School ATAC- Grades 7 to 9
- Youth Week- Grade 12 to college age
- Family Camps- all ages, open to any families. Available 4th of July and Labor Day Weekend.
Other weekend retreats throughout the year usually include:
- Women’s Retreat
- Men’s Retreat
- HS & MS Purity and Holiness
- HS & MS Fall Retreat
- HS, MS and Juniors Winter Blitz Retreat
- Couple’s Retreat