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1956-1964 1960 1960‘s 1966-1967 1965-1972

Rev. Kenneth Amsler By 1960 CBM had minis- CBM Camps as of 1960: 1966 Mike Birkner was Rev. Myron Schuit served as
served as general direc- tered to over 60,000 campers. Gilead—Cost $1.00 appointed as deputation national director.
tor from 1956-1964 and Ta-Pa-Win-Go—Gift secretary 1970 CBM started the telephone ministry,
1967 Reba Miller started
the work continued to Agnes Mackey wrote the four New Life—$12,000 the 1st CBM Released Time ―Dial a Story‖. Today over 4300 children
Victory—Gift
years of correspondence
expand in each area use this ministry.
lessons. They are still being By 1960 CBM had ministered to Bible Program in Franklin 1971 Divisions were encouraged to start
1958 Jonas Miller was used by CBM and several over 60,000 campers County, PA Bible Mailbox Clubs. In 2009 over 22,000
appointed divisional other ministries, nationally. 1963 Typhoid epidemic broke out 1967 Jerry Traister joined CBM correspondence and Mailbox
director of AL at Rhodes Grove Camp in PA CBM of PA lessons were completed.
Rev. Kenneth Amsler 5th grade class earns Bibles Teacher listening to Bible Mike Birkner Rev. and Mrs. Myron Schuit Correspondence lessons
memory verses

It was the Culture

CBM’s First Released Time n the early years of CBM we had summer camp for the black children at some
other place other than at our own CBM camps. Then in the early 60‘s, we
held a week of camp at our sites just for blacks. Later we gave the black camp-
I a choice to either attend an all-black camp with CBM white staff or just
ers
ne of the first public schools to close its doors to attend a regular week of camp. Today when it comes to the color
CBM was in the early 60‘s. Reba Miller, then of skin there is no distinction. ―Red and yellow, black and white,
divisional director for CBM of south central PA, they are precious in His sight.‖
and
O Frank Wingert, chairman of the local CBM It was the culture; in spite of it, God worked. In lower Alabama,
Committee, were told by Dr. Powell, Chambersburg area Bea Ames, now 99 years of age, ministered in a great number of
school superintendent, that Reba could no longer make all-black schools. To eleven year old Charles Lewis, she wasn‘t
out of place. Most of our CBM staff visited all black schools for
her monthly visits to teach Bible stories in the public many years in several states. Charles memorized his 200 verses
classroom. He, at the same time, asked them if they had and earned a free week of Bible camp at Camp Victory. On Tues-
considered the concept of Released Time. In the spring day night he gave his heart to Christ. Charles said, ―I was ready
of 1967, CBM in conjunction with Evangelical Fellow- for more spiritual instruction. My pastor was a godly man but did
ship of the Cumberland Valley launched the first CBM not meet my needs for Biblical understanding. I checked out other black churches,
Released Time classes. Seventy-two fifth grade students but my spiritual needs still were not being met. I began to inquire about attending
from two elementary schools participated in the weekly white churches. My white friends said they would ask if I could attend. Nobody in-
program. Today, over 20,000 boys and girls attend CBM vited me. I never felt comfortable, so I never went.‖ The Lord led Charles to the
Released Time classes either weekly or monthly in seven Navigators for staff training at Tuskegee University, and then to Dallas Theological
states, excluding the Released Time classes conducted by Seminary. He knew for many years he was to return home to Dothan, Alabama, to
Camp Joy-El. Joy-El left CBM in 1998. start a church. In 1987 Bea Ames became one of his charter members at the church in
Dothan that God used Charles to birth. God works in spite of culture.
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