About Us

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The Bible

The Bible, made up of 66 individual literatures, is God breathed and written with dual authorship between God and human writers whom he inspired. It is active as the living Word of God and is how He speaks to humanity. It is an authoritative document for all who profess Jesus as Lord. It is profitable for guidance, teaching, correction, and training in righteousness. Followers of Christ should study it, memorize it, and live it out. Both the Old and New Testaments are Biblical canon, and should be used as Biblical truth. 

Verse References- Deut. 6:4-9, Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:105, Matthew 5:17-18, John 1:1, 1 Tim. 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, James 1:22-25,  1 Pet. 1:20-21.

God

The Lord God is one, yet made of the trinity of the Father,  Son,  and Holy Spirit. He is eternal, the beginning and the end. He is the creator, laying the foundations of the universe and ordering everything into existence. God is all powerful, all knowing, and all present. He is the source of truth and love, and is deserving of our worship, obedience, and service to himself. 

Verse References- Gen.1:1,Gen. 1:26-27, Deut. 6:4, Job 38:4-6, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 139,  Psalm 145:5, Prov. 15:3,  Jer. 23:24,  Jer. 32:17, Matt. 28:19, 1 Cor. 8:6, 1 John 3:20,  Rev. 22:13.

The Father

 God the Father, is the creator and redeemer of humanity. He is the authority, provider, and protector of His creation. God speaks His authority through scripture and sets the standard for good and evil. He provides for and protects His children everyday. Because of this, Christ invites us into a personal “father-child” relationship with the Father, as Christ had with Him. The Father is love, and loves His children.

Through His great love, He ultimately fulfills His provider and protector role by choosing to redeem humanity. It was by His Will that mankind should be saved. It was the Father who sent the Son to die and rise again for the forgiveness of sins. This was to be, so that humans can have an eternal relationship with their Father. We are to be His people, and He is to be our God.

Verse References- Gen. 1.1, Due. 32.6,  Matt. 6:9,  Matt 6:25-34, John 3:16, John 6:38,  Rom. 8:15, Col 1:12-14  2 Tim. 3:16, 1 John 2:3-6,  1 John 3:1 , 1 John 4:14-16,  Rev 21:3. )

The Son, Jesus Christ

God the Son, Jesus, came to earth as both fully God and fully human. Through Him everything was created, as He was in the beginning. Jesus was born of a virgin, performed many miracles, and unconditionally loved with compassion. Jesus did not abolish the Law given in the Old Testament, yet he fulfills it as the Messiah who was prophesied to come. He reinforced the commands of the Father, by commanding us to love the Father and love one another. He lived a sinless life, yet he was crucified for the forgiveness of sins of humanity, buried, and raised on the third day. He is the only way to the Father and eternal life. Those who place their faith and trust in Him are forgiven for the sins they committed. Those same followers are united in his resurrection through baptism and they are His Disciples. After His resurrection, Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God, gifting us the power of the Holy Spirit. In time, Christ will return to rein with His people for eternity in the New Heaven and Earth. 

Verse References- Matt. 5:17-20, Matt. 9:35-38,  Matt. 22:37-40,  Matt. 27:32-28:10,  Matt. 28:19, Mark 15:33-16:13,  Mark 16:19, Luke 1:26-38,  Luke 23:26-24:12,  John 1:1-18, John 3:16-17,  John 14:6,  John 14:26, John 20:30-31 , John 19:17-20:29,  Acts 2:33,  Acts 2:38, Rom. 5:8, Rom. 6:1-11,  Rom. 8:17,  Rom. 8:34, 2 Cor.5:21,  Rev. 19:11-13,  Rev. 21:1-4)

The Holy Spirit

God’s Presence- The Holy Spirit is God’s spiritual presence. The first mention of the Spirit is in Genesis 1:2, He was hovering over the formless earth. Therefore,  He was at creation with the Father and the Son.  The Holy Spirit shows up many times in the Old Testament, guiding many to do the will of the Father. In the New Testament, the Spirit played an important role in Jesus’ ministry, even to the point of showing His presence at Jesus’ baptism. When Jesus left to sit at the right hand of the Father, He promised his disciples that a Helper would come. 

The Spirit in Us- This Helper guides Christ-followers to righteousness and truth. He is also tasked with convicting a world of its sin and reveals Christ to them. Every follower of Jesus is given the Holy Spirit at their moment of repentance and baptism, and the Spirit dwells in them. When the Holy Spirit dwells within us,  our bodies become its temple. Therefore, we are to treat our bodies as such, because we were bought by the price of Christ’s death. 

Spiritual Gifts- When the Holy Spirit lives in us, it gives us a gift to use for God’s Kingdom, “Spiritual Gifts.” We use these individual gifts as a body of one Church, to pastor, to serve one another, and witness to unbelievers. Many of these gifts are listed in Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, and Ephesians 4:11-16. 

Verse References- Gen. 1:2, Mark 1:9-11,  John 14:15-31, John 16:5-15 ,  Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38, Rom. 12:4-8, 1 Cor 3:16-17, 1 Cor 12:4-11, Eph. 4:11-16, 1 Tim. 1:6-7,  1 Peter 4:10-11. )

Humanity, Sin, and Death

Created- God created humans male and female, and in the image of Himself. God created humans to have an eternal relationship with us. God knows each one of us. He formed us in the womb, and He has called us by name. 

Choosing Sin- However, God made us with the ability to choose this relationship or reject it. In our free-will, we often rebel against God, choosing our own desires over His. Everyone chooses to sin, no man is blameless. This is known as sin, which has the consequence of death. 

Seperation- Death is eternal separation from God, who is righteous. Sin and death first entered the world through Adam, who passed it down from generation to generation. God, being Holy, will not defile Himself by dwelling with the unrighteous. Therefore, the result of sin is the result of separation from God. 

Verse References- Gen. 1:26-27, Gen. 2:7, Gen. 2:22-23, Gen. 3:6-7 , Gen.3:19, Psalm 139:13-14, Isaiah 43:1,Isaiah 59:1-2, Matt. 25:41,  John 10:3, Rom. 3:23, Rom. 5:12-21, Rom. 6:23, Col. 1:21, James 1:14-15, Rev. 21:8

Satan

His mission- Satan is a rebelled angel, who was thrown out of heaven. He is the deceiver of humans and seeks to destroy them. Meaning, Satan’s goal is to ruin the relationship between humankind and God. Satan does this by placing trials and temptations before us, persuading us to sin and reject God. The serpent first deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, resulting in separation from Eden. Satan searches for weaknesses in us, like a lion prowling on prey. Jesus portrays the deceiver as a thief and a wolf attacking his flock. However, Jesus is the good shepherd who lays down his own life to save the flock. 

Resisting- We are instructed to resist the devil so that he may flee from us. We can do this by putting on the armor of God found in Ephesians 6:11-18. 

His Punishment- In the end, Satan and the other evil forces at work will be thrown into eternal punishment. Though his presence is true, he is easily defeated by Christ. 

Verse References- Gen. 3:1-7, Gen. 3:15,  Job 2:7, Matt. 4:1-11, Matt. 25:41,  Luke 10:18,  John 10:10-15, Eph. 6:11-18, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Rev 12:7-9, Rev. 12: 17, Rev. 20:7-10.

Substituted Death and Forgiveness

The Payment of Death- Though everyone sins and deserves death, God provides a way to righteousness. The Father sent His Son to save the world from its sins. This happens through the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus, who never sinned, takes our place as a substitute on the cross. He suffered in many ways, and carried the transgressions of all humankind. The blameless Messiah was undeserving of this death that belongs to us. 

Forgiveness- Through Jesus, the penalty of death has been paid, which allows us to seek forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. Everyone should repent of their sins, and place their faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Through forgiveness, Jesus reconciles the lost relationship we have with God. 

Verse References- Isaiah 53:5, Luke 23:22, John 3:16-18, Acts 2:38, Rom. 3:24-25, Rom. 6:23, 2 Cor. 5:14-21, 1 Pet. 2:24)

The Resurrection

The Resurrection- After his death, Jesus was placed in a tomb where He  buried for three days. On the third day He conquered death and rose from the grave. When He died, He died to sin. Coming back to life confirmed death does not rule over Him.

Witnesses and Ascension- Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene, then to other women. Later, He appeared to two followers on the road to Emmaus, several times to his disciples, and then finally to over five hundred witnesses at one time. During these times, Jesus was in a resurrected, glorified body,  which we will all inherit. Jesus ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God, as the mediator of those He died for. 

Verse References- Matt. 27:59-61, Matt. 28:9-10, Matt. 28:16-20, Mark 16:9, Mark 16:14, Luke 24:13-32, Luke 24:36-43,  Luke 22:44-49, John 20:19-31, John 21, Acts 1:3-9, Acts 2:33, Acts 2:24, Rom. 6:8-10, Philip. 3:20-21, Heb. 9:15.)

Baptism

Immersion and Resurrection- Baptism is the act of fully immersing a person, to be united in a death and resurrection with Jesus Christ. In the act of immersion, one dies and is buried to their old selves and is resurrected to walk in a new life dedicated to Christ. That being said, it is a decision one must make for themselves. A decision to be baptized can not be made for anyone by another believer.  

The Commands- Peter also tells us that, in order to be saved, all should repent and be baptized. Peter would later reinforce this in his epistle, stating that baptism saves us. Finally, Jesus  commands His disciples to baptize more followers, because those who are baptized will be saved. For these reasons, those who wish to become disciples of Jesus should be baptized. 

Importance- Baptism, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is where we officially accept salvation as it is our unification with Christ. Like Jesus,  we die to sin to be set free from it, and if we die with Christ then we will live with Him. In this moment we confess Jesus is Lord and declare ourselves forgiven, redeemed, and now disciples. Therefore, baptism is not just a symbol, but under the new covenant it is a required commandment for the general believer who wishes to make Jesus their Lord. 

Verse References- Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:16,  John 3:5,  Acts 2:38-41,  Acts 10:48,  Acts 22:16, Rom 6:1-11, Rom 10:9, Eph. 4:4-6,  Col. 2:12-13,  1 Pet. 3:21.

Eternal Life and Hell

Eternal Life Today- Because Jesus paid the penalty of death, death no longer reins for those who place their faith in Him. Once we die to our old selves in the waters of baptism, we accept the free gift of eternal life. Though still a part of this mortal world, our eternal life begins at our dedication to Christ. 

Christ’s Return- However, once Christ makes His return, creation will be renewed. Those who had faith in Jesus in this world, shall dwell with God in the new heaven and earth. Like Jesus in his resurrected state, we too shall have glorified bodies. There will be no more tears, pain, or death. We will be co-heirs with Christ, we will be his people  and He shall be our God. 

Hell- However, those who do not seek forgiveness through Christ will be separated from God. Jesus will not know them, and they will receive the second death,which is eternal punishment, the place created for Satan and his angels. 

Verse References- Matt. 7:21, Matt. 25:41, Matt. 25:46, John 3:16-18, John 5:24, John 10:27-28, Rom. 6:23,  Rom. 5:21, Rom. 8:17, 1 Thess. 1:9, Philip. 3:20-21, 1 John 5:11-13,  Rev. 7:16-17,Rev. 20:15,  Rev. 21:1-4, Rev. 21:8.

The purpose of the Church

Unity- The Church is the united body of Christ-followers, founded on the belief that Jesus is the Christ. The Church should not be divided in teaching, but teach sound doctrine based in the Gospel. A church should follow a teacher or divided among teachers, but only follow Christ. 

Services- The members are to gather on the first day of the week, and devote themselves to teaching of the word,  the breaking of bread, and prayer. That being said, when the church gathers, it should incorporate all three literagies into it’s services. The weekly gathering should not be neglected by believers, so that they may stay strong in the Word and in their faith. 

The Mission- The Church’s mission is to encourage its members to do good works in the name of Christ. The service should uplift those who attend, and send them out to use their Spiritual Gifts and make new disciples. Members should take care of the needy of their communties, such as widows, orphans, and the poor. 

Verse References-  Matt. 6:1-4, Matt. 25:31-40, Matt. 28:18-20,  John 17:20-21,  Acts 1:8, Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7,  1 Cor. 10-13, 1 Tim 6:1-10, Titus 2:1, Heb. 10:24-25.

Our camp exists to be an extension of the local church, as well as a resource to our community, to provide guests with a safe environment to cultivate spiritual growth in order to become servants for Jesus.