"God owned, Christian operated, since 1976"
About Us
Ponderosa Bible Camp is a ministry called by God to boldly and clearly share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all who attend.
Since 1976, Ponderosa has built a strong reputation as a place where children and teens can grow in their faith while experiencing the power of God’s Word in a camp setting. As an affiliate of Children's Bible Ministries, a non-denominational organization dedicated to reaching young people with the Gospel, we are committed to providing Christ-centered programs that make a lasting impact.
Ponderosa Bible Camp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and we are grateful for the support that allows us to continue serving campers year after year.
Statement of Faith
At Ponderosa Student Ministries, we believe the Bible is the true, authoritative, and infallible Word of God, serving as the foundation for faith and daily living. If you’d like to learn more about our core beliefs, please read our Statement of Faith below.
Children's Bible Ministries, Inc
aka CBM - Ponderosa's Parent Organization
Children’s Bible Ministries (CBM) is an international, non-profit, non-denominational parachurch organization dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. CBM operates 13 Christian camps and ministries across the United States, along with five international affiliates. Each location is unique—some focus on Homeschool Enrichment Programs, others on Sports Ministry, Creation Education, or Wilderness Programs—but all share the same mission: to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Many CBM locations also offer retreat and conference facilities for church groups, families, and those in full-time ministry, including special programs for pastors.
Our Mission
CBM exists to support the local church by providing Christ-centered ministry opportunities for all ages:
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Children & Youth: Summer camps, retreats, Released Time Bible Education, after-school Bible clubs, and Bible Correspondence Lessons.
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Teens: Leadership training, mentorship, and opportunities to fulfill community service requirements.
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College-Age: Counselor and internship programs to equip young adults for ministry.
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Adults & Retirees: Full-time missionary and volunteer opportunities, as well as missionary training schools.
We invite you to be part of what God is doing through CBM! Get involved and help us share the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.
CBM Global Statistics – 8/23-8/24
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People Reached through God's work in CBM - 84,792
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Total of new Christians - 7,955
Our Purpose
Ponderosa Bible Camp exists to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with campers by providing opportunities to experience God's power, presence, and peace through a personal relationship with Him. Our mission is to nurture the spiritual, moral, and educational growth of our campers by offering a Christ-centered camp experience that encourages faith, character development, and lifelong learning.
Our History
The original "Camp Ponderosa" was built in the mid-1960s using rustic western cedar lumber by two psychology professors from the University of Alabama.
In 1976, Miss Bess Robertson discovered the property for sale, and CBM Ministries of North Alabama purchased the 80-acre camp. At the time, it included six cabins, a dining hall and kitchen, two small guest cabins, and a craft building.
Mr. Glenn Miller served as Ponderosa Bible Camp’s first director from 1976 to 1999. One of the camp’s very first campers, Jeff Nelson, later stepped into leadership and became the director in 1999.
(Pictured: Glenn & Linda Miller with Jeff Nelson in the early 1980s.)
