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1935 1947 1950-52 1959 1968

Bro. Winfred A. Hunt, Mr. Harvey Birky Mr. Birky recruited Miss Bess During the years before the current Winfred A. Hunt died; Miss
began teaching Bible became the first CBM Robertson to join CBM of property was purchased, camps were Bess Robertson and Miss Elsie
classes to public school worker and area director North AL staff held at rental locations. Bro. Hunt Bailey commuted from
students in DeKalb and in North AL, residing in 1952 Mr. Birky recruited served as camp director from 1959 – Birmingham, AL to help keep
Jackson counties in Birmingham Bro. Hunt to join CBM of 1968. Miss Bess served as camp the Bible classes going in
North AL North AL staff director from 1969-76. DeKalb & Jackson counties

Bro. Winfred A. Hunt Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Birky Miss Bess Robertson Bro. Hunt with campers in 1960 Miss Elsie Bailey

The History of Children’s Bible Ministries of North

Bro. Hunt with students who earned a Bible
BM‘s work was started in North Alabama in 1947, with Mr. Harvey Birky serving as director through
1958. In 1950 Mr. Birky asked Miss Bess to join CBM of North AL. In 1952, Mr. Birky asked Bro.
C Winfred A. Hunt, who had been teaching Bible to public school children in DeKalb & Jackson coun-
ties since 1935, to join CBM. Bro. Hunt became affectionately known as ―The Bible Man‖ to hundreds of
school-age children and young people of DeKalb and Jackson counties. Bro. Hunt visited the children in
schools until his death in 1968. Brother Hunt served as camp director from 1959 - 1968.
Miss Bess quickly became known as ―The Bible Story Lady‖ as she told the story of Jesus and His love to
children in the Birmingham area. Miss Bess was a 1945 graduate of Moody Bible Institute and a 1956
graduate of Southeastern Bible College. Before the current property was purchased students were trans-
ported to rental camps in other areas. Miss Bess Robertson served as camp director at these rental locations
from 1969 - 1976. In the years following Brother Hunt‘s death, Miss Bess Robertson and Miss Elsie Bailey, also a Moody Bible Institute
graduate, commuted from Birmingham to help carry on the work of Released Time in this area. Miss Bess served with CBM for 50 years.

The original "Camp Ponderosa" in Mentone, Alabama, was built of rustic western cedar lumber in 1963, by the University of Alabama, and
was used as ―a specialized summer community‖ for children ages 7-14, who were emotionally disturbed or who had learning disabilities.

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