History of Ponderosa Bible Camp and Ponderosa Student Ministries
History of CBM Ministries,
Ponderosa Bible Camp, Ponderosa Student Ministries
CBM Ministries/Children's Bible Ministries
In 1935, Mr. Walter Jenson, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute,
founded Children's Bible Mission (CBM Ministries) in response to his
burden to reach boys and girls with the Gospel. His method was to go
into the public schools and teach God's Word, motivating the
children to learn and memorize Scripture by offering, as an
incentive, the opportunity to attend a summer Bible Camp. That first
year, 47 children earned the privilege to attend Bible Camp, and 16
accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. The work of CBM Ministries,
as it became known later, quickly spread from Florida to
Pennsylvania, reaching thousands of public school boys and girls.
That same objective that founded the ministry, has remained through
the years, as CBM continues to reach boys and girls in public
schools through our Released Time program. We have continued Mr.
Jenson's incentive program to attend a week of Ponderosa Bible Camp,
through The Mailbox Club correspondence Bible lessons. Completion of
1 course of Mailbox Club Lessons earns a camper $25 off the price of
a week of summer camp. In addition, completing the required
Scripture memory verses earns a camper an additional $25 off the
price of coming to camp.
This ministry has expanded to meet the needs of such groups as
college and career adults, senior citizens, and homeschoolers.
CBM Motto . . . . . . "Win A Child . . . Win A Life! . . . . . .
It is better to mold boys and girls than to mend men and women. We
want to win them while they are young so they will be spared the
tragedies of sin and be free to serve God with their entire lives.
CBM Ministries' National Office is located in Townsend, TN.
Currently there are 10 CBM Ministry locations across the eastern US
from Florida to New York.
History of Ponderosa Bible Camp
The original "Camp Ponderosa" was built of rustic western cedar
lumber in the mid 1960's by two psychology professors from the
University of Alabama.
In 1976, Miss Bess Robertson discovered the property for sale, and
CBM Ministries of North AL purchased the 80 acre camp, complete with
6 cabins, dining hall/kitchen, 2 small guest cabins, and craft
building. In 1986, a 30' X 70' swimming pool and multi-purpose
gymnasium were constructed. Dormitories and locker rooms within the
gym were completed over the next 2 1/2 years. In 2000, thanks to an
anonymous donation of $72,000, construction of a new 2-story Chapel
was finished, complete with central heat and air. The bottom floor
of this building is now the Ponderosa Student Ministries Office.
Thanks be to God, who supplies our every need!
Mr. Glenn Miller served as the first Camp Director from 1976 to
1999. Jeff Nelson was named Interim Director in 1999. In January
2003, the Board of Directors officially named Jeff Nelson as Camp
Director.
In 2006 we changed our name to Ponderosa Student Ministries to
reflect all the areas of ministry in which we are involved:
Ponderosa Bible Camp
Ponderosa Public School Ministry/Dekalb County Released Time
Ponderosa Mailbox Club Ministry
Ponderosa Hospitality Ministry
Ponderosa Student Ministries and Ponderosa Bible Camp's purpose is
to help boys and girls to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their own
personal Savior, to help them develop Christ-centered personalities,
to be witnesses for Him, and to be effective members of their local
churches. The Bible is taught as the Word of God, and the authority
for faith and conduct.
