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1932-1934 1935 1938 1943-1945

Mr. & Mrs. Walter Jensen came to The first camp took place in The mission purchased the former Polk 1943-44 Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Brandkamp were
Florida with a great burden to reach a wooded area on a lake 20 City Golf Course on Lake Helene for caretakers of the property in the early years
lost children with the Gospel of miles north of Tampa in $1.00, where Camp Gilead now stands.
Christ. For two years, they worked August of 1935 1944 Miss Nina Briggs joined CBM
alone reaching children through Missionaries and volunteers worked hard 1944 Florida automatically became a division,
school assemblies, Bible clubs and to put up ten buildings in four months to headquarters at Camp Gilead in Polk City
accommodate 100 campers!
as they found opened doors. 1945-48 Mr. Ed Jensen, was the first divisional
director

Walter and Marie Jensen Edith Hulslander teaching Transportation to CBM camp Mr. and Mrs. R.F.
Missionaries and volunteers building a cabin
and their children in the early days Brandkamp Ed and Mildred Jensen

The History of Camp Gilead, Polk City, Florida

hildren‘s Bible Mission, of which Camp Gilead was the charter member, including fruit and ice cream, and a young calf, which provided meat for the
had its beginning in the early 1930‘s. In the fall of 1932, Mr. & Mrs. camp. Out of the 47 children who had earned a week of camp, 32 actually
C Walter Jensen came to Florida with a great burden to reach lost children attended; and of these, 16 were saved and other important life-decisions were
with the Gospel of Christ. For two years, they worked alone reaching children made.
through school assemblies and as they found opened doors. God was clearly
opening these doors in response to a weekly prayer meeting for that purpose. Soon it was clear that bigger and better camp facilities
were needed, and a search was begun. At the same time,
A plan was then presented to some Christian business and professional men: people were praying specifically for this need and, in an-
the public school classes would feature a Bible memory program, with a set of swer to prayer in 1938, the mission purchased the former
awards to be given for verses memorized, the top prize being a free week of Polk City Golf Course on Lake Helene for $1.00, where
camp. Thus, on February 5, 1935, Children‘s Bible Mission was born in St. Camp Gilead now stands. Other wonderful provisions in-
Petersburg, and in 1948 cluded materials and help in constructing the original build-
built their headquarters at ings on the property. Missionaries and volunteers worked
1628 Gary Road, Lake- hard to put up ten buildings in four months, to accommodate
land, Florida. 100 campers! In 1947, Hazel Yeater began working at Camp Gilead, and in
1948 she invited her friend, Edith Hulslander, to come and help with summer
The first camp took camp. When Mr. & Mrs. Ed Jensen moved from the area, ―Miss Hazel‖ and
place in a wooded area ―Miss Edith‖ became the directors and served there for nearly 50 years.
on a lake twenty miles
north of Tampa in Au- Over the course of time, there have naturally been many changes. Old build-
gust, 1935. Dishes and ings had to be replaced by new ones; more buildings had to be built includ-
cooking utensils were Early days at Camp Gilead ing the chapel, gym, lodge and lakeside pavilion. These buildings, in turn, had
borrowed from a YMCA, to be renovated over time, with air-conditioning installed, etc. Probably the
and all supplies had to be brought out from Tampa. Food was also donated, biggest change was that Bible teachers are no longer permitted to go to public
school assemblies with the Gospel as they had once been allowed to do.
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