News and Events

New Capital Campaign Aims to Reach Next Generation for Jesus Christ

Thousands of youth have turned over their lives to Jesus Christ after spending time at Epworth Forest. This camping ministry makes disciples for Jesus Christ by creating short-term communities in which people experience the Christian faith.

The last building campaign ended in 1964 and nearly doubled housing capacity and re-shaped the program with more "classroom" spaces and recreation infrastructure allowing for continued evolution of the program.

Today camp is still a viable way to reach youth for Jesus Christ. Evangelism is most effective among kids. Barna Research has stated that 87% of all people who make a decision for Jesus Christ do so before or during their teenage years. In addition, more than 100 commitments to vocational Christian service are made each year at Epworth Forest.

For Epworth Forest to continue to reach a large number of students, additional housing and common areas must be provided. In addition to the upgrading of facilities, more capacity needs to be created as we move to impact more youth and adults throughout the region.

Through donations to this capital campaign, we would construct:

• A Conference Center with an auditorium, dining, and meeting spaces
• Larger space for multipurpose use
• New campus entrance
• Lodges on the waterfront that will provide year-round housing for camp residents
• Relocated beach, boat house, observation tower, sand volleyball and outdoor recreation areas
• Environmental upgrades that will keep Epworth Forest a viable
  retreat community well into the future
• New and expanded youth and adult programming
• A Maintenance Endowment to guarantee quality facilities for the future

Now is the time to rededicate ourselves to helping our youth experience the Christian Community and fellowship in a safe and secure environment. The National Youth Commitment Survey found that a Christian Camp Experience with a program affiliated with the local congregation is the most commonly identified denominator in a youth making a faith commitment—more than the pastor, family or friends, and more than twice as common as in a camp experience with a camp program unaffiliated with the congregation.

The Right Here, Right Now, Right Future. Campaign will provide an infrastructure for us to reach 10,000 more youth each year. Please help us do the right thing for the next generation of Christians by supporting this campaign today.