|
The History of the Bethel Ministerial Association
|
Chapter 9 |
 Reverends Dyhouse, Ashby, Wilson and Badger |
 Classes in the fresh air, under the tin roof... |
Nazarene Acres today near Mechanicsburg, Illinois
 Music was always great, services inspirational! |
 Bro Jack Morrow teaching the boys. |
Our youth camp programs have always been exciting, challenging and Spirit-led. Direct testimony to this fact are the many lives that are always changed each year and the product of pastors, teachers, missionaries and evangelists for the kingdom. The 1955 Youth Camp at Nazarene Acres was kind of a watershed year. It was the one we know the most about because of the awesome work done preparing the pamphlet that was produced that year, which gives us the best evidence not only of what was going on but exactly how lives were changed.
The pamphlet shared testimonies of past young people who attended camps and how Jesus had touched their lives.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Everyone who goes to youth camp brings home memories with them, many that they keep for the rest of their lives. The years our youth attended Nazarene Acres were some of the best of their lives and incredibly formative in producing the leaders of years to come. While Bethel Assemblies was having great years at Nazarene Acres, they were excitedly preparing for the next chapter in their history with Bethel Youth Camp. Brother Etnier described the situation in the greeting he provided for the brochure:
“Plans for a number of years have been discussed toward having our own camp. Finally a site was found near Lynnville in southern Indiana and we decided to buy it. Building plans were made and construction started in July 1954. July 4, 1955 found 75 men working on the seven dorms and bath house which are under construction. At the present time we have an artificial lake, sites for kitchen and dining hall, tabernacle, recreation grounds, and private cabins. Much remains to be done, but we hope to be able to use our own camp grounds in 1956.”
 Bro Badger, Sam Bivens and Bro Etnier moving lots of dirt. |
 Brother Jim Holt mixing mortar for a dorm. |
 Pastors building walls for dorms... |
 The lake being built and filled...ready for Camp! |
Seven dormitories were built to house teens and adults. A bath house was designed and built...boys on one side, girls on the other. A seven acre lake was completely dug out, filled and set up for all future activities. A dining hall was constructed, finished just in time for the 1959 Youth Camp. And, the first worship facility was under a big tent, just like revival meetings that many of our members had been conducting for decades. When it was finished (as if a facility like this was ever finished), the press marveled, the pastors praised the Lord, and the teens came in droves! 1959 climaxed with the installment of a TIME CAPSULE on the corner of the brand new dining hall. In it was a Bible, some Youth Camp information for that year and several other small items.
The caption below the article read: “LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE highlighted the dedication of the dining hall at Bethel Youth Camp Sunday afternoon as over 500 persons gathered for the impressive dedication ceremonies. Shown in the above photo, which was taken just prior to placing the cornerstone, are left to right, Rev. Glen Dyhouse, of Rockport, Rev. Ivan E. Wilson, of Hatfield, and Rev. Richard R. Schwambach, of Evansville. Rev Schwambach is holding several items, including the June 15, 1956 issue of the Boonville Enquirer, which he is preparing to place in the cornerstone.”
The article continued: “On this stone now laid with prayer, Let Bethel Camp rise strong and fair; Ever Lord thy name be known, Where we lay this cornerstone. May thy spirit here give rest to our youth by sin oppressed, And the seeds of truth be sown, Where we lay this cornerstone. By wise masters builders squared, Here be living stones prepared for the temple near Thy throne, Jesus Christ its cornerstone.
“With the words of this lovely poem still lingering in the hearts of those present, the cornerstone of the new dining hall at Bethel Youth Camp was officially placed in a prominent niche of the building as a lasting memento to the tireless efforts of those responsible for its construction.
“The poem, which aptly expressed the feelings of all concerned, was written and recited by Rev David Williams and offered a fitting climax to an impressive ceremony witnessed by upwards of 500 persons.
“Sunday’s dedication of the dining hall culminated but one of many improvements being planned for the beautiful 72-acre camp, located on highway 68, three miles east of Lynville.
“The impressive ceremony was opened with singing of the hymn, “Send the Light”, followed by a prayer by the Rev. Glen Dyhouse. Rev. James Wilson led the group in its second song - “Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus” - before the Rev. Richard Schwambach, master of ceremonies for the afternoon, offered the following statement of purpose:
“‘We are gathered here this afternoon to insert this cornerstone and dedicate this building to the glory of God. We will read several verses of Scripture from the Holy Bible which will then be placed in the cornerstone, along with the short history of Bethel Youth Camp, its future plans, the Articles of Faith of the Bethel Baptist Assembly, the names of the National Chairman and National Secretary, names of the trustees of the camp, and the names of all who have given of their time, talents and financial means to bring about this momentous occasion.’”
“The statement of purpose was followed by the reading of the following scripture verses: I Peter 2:3-9, Ephesians 2:14-22, and I Corinthians 3:0-11.
“Special tribute was paid to the Rev. I.E. Wilson, Dean of the Camp and chairman of the Board of Trustees, when he was described as, ‘the man who has done more than any other man under God to bring this camp to this present hour.’
“Rev Williams poem, a prayer delivered by Brother Jim Holt and a song - “He Lives” - closed the pre-cornerstone-laying ceremonies.
“The afternoon ceremonies were preceded by a basket dinner during the noon hour with an equally-large crowd attending that affair.
“Little time for relaxation was realized by camp officials as they immediately launched plans for further camp improvements and discussed the official opening of camping. Plans were formulated for preparing the camp for the initial group of young people scheduled to arrive August 17.
“Young people will spend one to two weeks at Bethel Camp, according to Rev. Wilson, with the camp being operated as inter-denominational. The youth of all churches are invited to attend Bethel Youth Camp and to take full advantages of its many up-to-date facilities.”
Fifty years later, at Bethel Senior Youth Camp, July 15, 2009, pastors, teen youth campers, visiting dignitaries and guests from around the country witnessed the opening of the time capsule on the corner of our dining hall at Bethel Youth Camp.
Chairman, Rev Don Horath (a youth at that camp meeting in 1959), Rev Jim Wilson (Director at that camp), and Rev R. R. Schwambach (original Youth Camp Trustee 1959) remove time capsule from corner of dining hall for 50 Year Anniversary Commemoration during 2009 Senior Youth Camp.
Warrick County Commissioner Don Williams, surrounded by ministers of the Bethel Ministerial Association, speaks at the unveiling of a time capsule from 1959. Also in photo Hershel Cobb, Rev R.R. Schwambach, Rev Oscar Owens, Rev Harvey Davids and Chairman, Rev Don Horath.
The article published in the Warrick News states: “Warrick County Commissioner Don Williams joined ministers and board members of the Bethel Ministerial Association along with more than 200 campers at Bethel Youth Camp in northern Warrick County to open a time capsule on Wednesday, July 15. The capsule, located in the corner of the camp’s dining hall, had been placed there in 1959. Officials from the former Bethel Baptist Assembly placed a Bible, plans of the camp and early history of the camp’s development into the capsule. Present again fifty years later were one of the original camp trustees and former senior pastor of Evansville’s Bethel Temple Rev. R.R. Schwambach, and Chairman of the Bethel Ministerial Association Rev Don Horath, a young leader of the organization when the time capsule was buried. Rev Don Matthews, former pastor of an Indianapolis church; Rev Jim Wilson, a pastor in Hatfield; and Rev Harvey Davids, a former pastor in Bloomington, Ill., were also on hand for the ceremony.
“Once the capsule was removed, the entire delegation proceeded to the camp’s outdoor tabernacle, where the original poem read in 1959 was read again by Barbara Jeffries, the former wife of Rev David Williams of Rockport, the author of the poem.
“Prayer and scripture readings and the dedication of the next 50 years of service at Bethel Youth Camp followed. The service was concluded by prayer by former Bethel Ministerial Association Chairman, Rev W.B. Badger of Leroy, Ill. And the evening service in the tabernacle. Rev David Matthews of Floyds Knobs read letters of congratulations from Secretary of State Todd Rokita and Attorney General Greg Zoeller to all those in attendance as the event reached its conclusion.
In a letter later sent by Governor Mitch Daniels, the governor stated: “It is a pleasure to offer my congratulations on the 50th Anniversary of Bethel Youth Camp. Your long, spiritual history of summer youth camps has given new life to countless individuals by reaching out to all people through word and deed. Your ministry provides hope and encouragement for a better life and future. You are an integral part of the richness of our country’s spirit and the glory of our achievements to bear witness and serve God as we live in this great nation of freedom. Thank you for your faithful service to your fellow Hoosiers. May you continue to serve to extend your mission of ministry for many years to come. Sincerely, Mitch Daniels.”
Sad to say, but when the contents of the time capsule were opened after fifty years, the only thing that remained were decayed ashes from years of water rot and varments. In an attempt to do better over the next fifty years, before the capsule was reinstalled into the corner of the dining hall, it was filled with memorabilia from that year’s camp programs, information from the 50th anniversary ceremony and an digital “flash drive” with photos from many BMA activities and youth camps. It is hard to say if anyone will even know what to do with a flash drive fifty years from now. But, in an attempt to better preserve the contents, they were loaded into the capsule in a steel, waterproof box. In 2059, I would be 105 years old, so I really don’t expect to be there. If you are reading this history of the BMA then, I hope you have kept the history further updated and can figure some way to download those photos from the memory stick on something useable.
As an unique aside, we have actually downloaded numerous videos of conferences, youth camps and other activities frequented by members of the BMA. We have an active website at www.BMAMinistries.com where anyone can view sermons, services, dedications and the like any time. This seems like a long way from the old black and white photo taken in the news article in 1959. But who knows what kind of media sources we will have by 2059?
In the fifty years of youth camps between two openings of our time capsule and in the years following, the Bethel Ministerial Association has conducted camps every year with the express purpose of forwarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not only in the lives of every youth who attended, but inspiring them with the call of God on their lives as they choose to live for Him.
This is one area where I can speak from very personal experience. Many years at camps, individuals will testify to how many years they have attended and what their first year was. I can honestly say that I started attending Bethel youth camps when I was zero years of age. I was born May 6, 1954 and attended the Youth Camp at Nazarene Acres that summer with my mother and father. Dad was pastoring the church in Vincennes, Indiana that year.
I can honestly say, as so many others have said, that Bethel Youth Camps shaped my life. The experiences each summer directed my spiritual life for the rest of the year. I met girlfriends at camp. I showed off my physical sporting skills at youth camp. I have lots of stories I can tell about myself, my brothers and my friends from youth camp and wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything in the world. I also have rich, fond memories of my exposure, teaching and nurturing by many of the BMA ministers through the years as I grew up and listened to them at camp. I will always remember Brother Jack Morrow pulling me aside one hot day at camp in one of the boy’s dorms and telling me “he was gonna ‘doctrinate me.” I listened intently to all of his words of wisdom. I remember crying my eyes out at the alter, pleading for the Lord to fill me with His Holy Spirit and speaking in a tongue I didn’t understand. I also remember hugging Brother Jerry Owens as he and his wife prepared for their lives as missionaries to Guatemala, telling him, “I will support you.” At age 17, I had no idea what supporting a missionary meant nor did I have the financial means to do so. The following year I would leave for the Air Force Academy and 23 years of an Air Force career. But I never forgot my promise to Jerry and did manage to support his mission work and the work of many other missionaries. Bethel Youth Camp, as it also did for so many other young people, shaped my life.
After the camp was largely completed in construction in the early 1960s, it took on a life of importance for so many young people and church ministries. Initially meeting under a canvas tent, we decided to build a more permanent structure for our tabernacle. A steel pole, partially-enclosed 70' long structure has served for meetings, services and lots of activities ever since.
The dining hall has had several internal structural changes through the years, but its walls have housed thousands of meals to thousands of kids and continues to do so today. When seven 20' x 40' dormitories were not enough to hold the growing number of kids at camp, we decided to build the “All Weather Dorm.” This structure not only served to give the girls a nicer place to live in while they were at camp (the boys continued to live in the more spartan dorms), but it also provided a year-round meeting place for conferences and special events. Many classes were held through the years under the shade of all those trees at camp, in the dining hall and in the tabernacle. One weekend in the 1970s however, several visionary leaders got together and built four pole-barn shelters that have been used every year since, not just for classes but for prayer, meetings and lots of group meetings.
 Who can forget those classes at camp? |
 |
**************Continued writing of this chapter (not yet finished)****************
Several camp “brochures” have survived through the decades to remind us of many of the programs and special meetings that happened through the years.
Several leaders and special speakers were featured in many of the year’s camp programs.
Rev David Coote
Jimmy Rich
Mike Wernke
Keenan Smith, Power Team/Team Impact
Facilities were modified, improved and added through the years
All Weather Dorm
Four Shelters for classes
“The BLOB”
Mods to Dining Hall
Circle J Ranch?? Horses, corals, Café J
|
Click here to return to home |
DaveM3333@aol.com
page created by daveweb1.com
|