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1961 1964 1984 1985-1988

First summer camp held at Samson and Ruth Whisnant School ministry changes to
1985 Moved to eight full weeks
Camp Victory, with three began working with CBM, Victory Bible Clubs of summer camp held at Camp
girls cabins; but tents and teaching 24 Bible clubs in Picture is of awards given to those Victory
Cordele, Georgia who learned memory verses in the
kerosene lanterns for the school ministry 1988 School chapels
boys. Mailbox Club lessons centralized at suspended
Camp Victory

Can you see the lake in here? Early teachers Samson Whisnant and family 1960‘s staff and counselor Cabin devotions by the lake

Summer Camp-the Beginning ―Lord use me.‖

ince 1961…that simple prayer from
or many of the early years, these Jonas Miller allowed God to use
faithful missionaries promised S him to start a work that has lasted
F camp to the school children who more than fifty years. In 1952, Jonas felt
learned their 300 verses, but had no place God‘s call to ministry—somewhere. Tak-
ing a step of faith, he moved his family
to take them. So, they rented facilities from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, to
each summer—which meant packing all south Alabama and was introduced to
materials, purchasing food and other sup- Harvey Birky and Eugene Hedger. After
visiting Florida schools with Mr. Hedger,
plies, and arranging workers and transpor- Class with earned awards Jonas began visiting schools in Alabama
tation. Camps rented were sometimes as counties near his home. He heard of a Jonas Miller teaching
much as 100 miles away, including Blue Lake Methodist Assembly in farm up for auction and went to see it.
The vision of a camp materialized immediately. He looked at the swamp
Alabama, a campground in Panama City, Florida, and a Boy Scout camp and saw a lake. He looked at the land and saw a road with cabins around
near Valdosta, Georgia! Usually, they would host only one or two weeks it and a dining hall in the center. He looked at the pasture and saw a ball
of camp each summer. How the children loved the activities and learned field.
Jonas went to the auction with only a minimum amount he could pay.
more about the Word of God! Many children were saved at CBM camps. The Lord provided, and Jonas purchased the farm of 200 acres for a little
It was a hassle to rent, however, and the missionaries knew how wonder- less than $80 an acre. He offered as much of the land as it would take to
ful it would be if God provided a place for their own camp ground... CBM for the purpose of building a camp and was named the developer

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