We Believe

Creation (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.(1) Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.(2) [Then] by the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.(3) By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.(4) Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made.(5) For from him and through him and for him are all things.(6)

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”(7) So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.(8) The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”(9) Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. (10) The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (11)

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”(12) The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (13)

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”(14) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. (15) Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.(16)

1. John 1:1-2                                     9. Genesis 2:18
2. Genesis 1:2                                  10. Genesis 2:22-24
3. Psalm 33:6                                  11. Genesis 2:15
4. Hebrews 11:3                               12. Genesis 1:28
5. John 1:3                                       13. Genesis 2:9
6. Romans 11:36                              14. Genesis 2:16-17
7. Genesis 1:26                                15. Genesis 1:31
8. Genesis 1:27                               16. Genesis 2:3

Fall (NIV)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”(1)

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. (2)

So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”(3)

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—(4) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…(5) They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. (6)

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.(7)

1.      Genesis 3:1-10 5.      Romans 3:23
2.      Genesis 3:21-23 6.      Romans 1:25
3.      Genesis 3:14-15 7.      Romans 8:20-22
4.      Romans 5:12

Redemption (NIV)

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. (1) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (2)

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. (3) And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (4) And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (5) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (6)

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over…and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. (7) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (8)

[Jesus said,] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (9)

Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me… (10) Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of

grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. (11) I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (12)

When he had finished [speaking], Jesus left with his disciples and [went to the Garden of Gethsemane.]... Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. (13) Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to [the teachers of the Law.] (14)

[Later] the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace…and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again, they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. (15)

Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the

punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (16) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (17)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. (18)

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (19)

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (20) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace… (21) He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. (22)

[Therefore,] if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (23)

1.      Galatians 4:4-5              13. John 18:1-3
2.      John 3:17                       14. John 18:12-13
3.      Matthew 1:18                15. Mark 15:16-20
4.      Luke 2:7                         16. Isaiah 53:4-7
5.      Luke 2:52                       17. Romans 5:8”
6.      John 1:14                       18. Matthews 28:1-2
7.      Matthew 4:23-24           19. Matthew 28:5-7
8.      Matthews 9:36               20. 1 John 4:9
9.      John 10:14-15                 21. Ephesians 1:7
10.  John 16:16                      22. Hebrews 9:12
11.  John 16:20-22                 23. Romans 10:9-13
12.  John 16:33

Restoration (NIV)

After his suffering, [Jesus] presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (1)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (2) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (3) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (4)

But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (5) [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (6)

[Therefore,] do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (7) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (8) Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (9) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (10)

[This is] the revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. (11) Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (12)

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (13) But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (14) To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (15)

  1. Acts 1:3 9. 1 John 3:18
    2. Matthew 28:18-20 10. Hebrews 10:24-25
    3. Acts 1:8-11 11. Revelation 1:1-2
    4. Acts 2:42 12. Revelation 21:1-5
    5. 1 John 2:5-6 13. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
    6. Luke 9:23 14. Philippians 3:20-21
    7. Philippians 2:3-4 15. Revelation 5:13
    8. Galatians 6:1-2

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We have intentionally taken time to read scripture, pray, and know who we are so intimately that we are able to live faithfully the mission of reaching the found, the lost, and the broken with the grace and love of Jesus Christ. We stand firmly on who God has called us to be and embrace those who think differently than we do with the love befitting a creation of God. We recognize the heart of Jesus in John 4:5-30 and his love for the woman at the well. We welcome the chance to host guest groups and campers who come from differing views. We are committed to loving well with respect and integrity. We understand that there are several perspectives on numerous hot topic issues and believe it best practice to place those in the hands of the Holy Spirit and the most consistent spiritual influences in the lives of campers and guests.

  • We embrace the fact that our campers are in different places in their personal faith. We believe that an individual’s faith should be experienced and grown through personal experiences, the influences of the church, and by living in a community of faith. We focus on the building blocks of the Christian faith and encourage young people to grow in the practices of reading scripture, praying, and making daily choices to honor God. We strive to create a safe space where young people can ask questions, share their joys/concerns, listen to speakers, and experience personal growth.

    Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

    We celebrate a place where campers and guests can safely ask questions of faith and grow with a child’s heart. Questions on denominational differences and items specific to different faith traditions we encourage campers to discuss with their families and local spiritual leaders.

  • We believe the Old and New Testaments are completely inspired by God, are one story from Genesis to Revelation of God’s Creation, the Fall, Redemption, and Restoration of mankind, without error in the original writings, and that they are the complete authority for faith and life. (2Timothy 3:16- 17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Hebrews 1:1)

  • God created man and woman, in His image, as unique biological persons. Human sexuality is not something to be shamed, but something to be embraced as individuals created in the image of God, as male and female. Because of the fall, the enemy has caused confusion around human sexuality and has turned it into something God did not create it to be. Because of God’s redemptive work on the cross, we now have the opportunity to freely express our sexuality, without shame, as it was created by God in the beginning. God’s plan for the physical act of sex is to be expressed only within the context of marriage. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, we believe marriage is exclusively the union of one biological male and one biological female. Each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.(Genesis1:27;2:24-25;3:7;Matthew 19:4-6;Mark 10:6-9, Romans 1:26-27; I Corinthians 7:2)

  • The biblical story begins with God acting, speaking all creation into existence. Whatever process this takes, God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the initiator. The New Testament boldly reaffirms that all things, the visible and invisible were created and are being held together by the very word of Christ. Thus, God transcends creation - he is not part of it. As Christ followers we worship God (not creation) and are stewards over creation. The echo of “it is very good” rings through the ages, through the broken, ugly, and disordered, culminating in the promise of all things being made new, the joining of heaven and earth.

    (Genesis 1:1; 1:28; Colossians 1; Romans 8; Revelations 21-22)

  • Sin is knowingly and willfully rebelling against the will of God. Adam and Eve committed the first sin when they acted selfishly by putting their own desires above the commands of God. Everyone has sinned, and the payment for that sin is death. (Genesis 3:11-12; Romans 5:12-13; James 4:17; Matthew 7:20-23 3; 1 John 1:8-10; Romans 6:23)

  • We believe that, through Jesus Christ, God offers salvation from sin and a new way of life. We receive God’s salvation when we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In Christ, we are reconciled with God and brought into the reconciling community. We place our faith in God that, by the same power that raised Christ from the dead, we may be saved from the condemnation of sin to follow Christ and to know the fullness of salvation. (John 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 5:9-10; Acts 4:12; John 3:16-18)

  • We believe in the end days, that God will restore humanity and creation into perfect union as it was in the Garden of Eden. The brokenness of the Earth will be redeemed, and all things will be new, dwelling in fellowship with the Lord God. And even now the Son, Jesus Christ, who took on flesh- the very stuff of creation - and then ascended to the Father means a bit of creation (humanity) is already residing in the presence of God, a first fruit of what is to come. (Revelation 21:1-5)

  • As a result of the fall of humanity, we live in a broken world. We believe that peace is the will of God. God created the world in peace, and God’s peace is most fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is our peace and the peace of the whole world. Led by the Holy Spirit, we follow Christ in the way of peace, doing justice, bringing reconciliation, and practicing nonresistance, even in the face of violence and warfare. We engage ministry to the faithful, broken, lost, and outcasts. We work to care well for creation and to love those that God has created. (Luke 6:27-28; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Isaiah 1:17; Matthew 5:44; Hebrews 12:44; Colossians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

  • We believe that God is One, existing eternally in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—sharing equally in essence, power, glory, and perfection. We believe in the two natures of Jesus Christ: fully human and fully divine. In our humanness we strive to understand with Godly wisdom these truths. We know that Jesus came to Earth to serve as the Lamb of God, in life, death, resurrection and ascension. God as Father, Son, and Spirit points to relationship and community where love is a real thing. For those created in God's image as human, we also are individual, yet only flourish in relationship and community. (Genesis 1:1, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30)