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The purpose of Ridge Haven camp is to provide Bible-based, Christ-centered programs and activities that will minister to and enable each camper, counselor, camp staff, and camp-related guest, to glorify God and fully enjoy Him.

 Ridge Haven camp ministry seeks:

 1.  The Glory of God – 1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Isaiah 42:8

            The goal of the camping experience is first, foremost, and always to bring glory to God.  Camp is not about the counselors, leaders, musicians etc.  It is about God, God’s will, God’s word and all that He has revealed to bring Him glory alone. 

 2.  To be scripture based – 2 Timothy 3:15-17

            Our position regarding the importance, foundational nature, and means of the application of scripture is most clearly provided in the Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 1.

 3.  To exalt and demonstrate the Lordship of Jesus Christ –Philippians
            9:2-11, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Acts 2:36, 2 Corinthians 4:5

Ridge Haven ministers from the perspective that salvation in Jesus Christ is inseparably linked to the Lordship of Jesus Christ as opposed to those who hold that embracing the Lordship of Jesus Christ is separate from and subsequent to exercising saving faith.  The lordship of Jesus Christ should be demonstrated not only in and through the attitudes of all camp staff, but in and through speaker’s choices and due diligence in the preparation of messages, stewardship of Ridge Haven resources, personal and family time and relationships with campers and other camp staff, etc; the musician’s choices of music, desire and efforts at leading others in worship in and through their music, stewardship of Ridge Haven resources, personal and family time and relationships with campers and other camp staff, etc;  the leader’s choices and due diligence in the preparation of themes, activities, and games, stewardship of Ridge Haven resources, personal and family time and relationships with campers and other camp staff, etc; counselor’s discretion and choices with personal time, stewardship of Ridge Haven resources, relationships with other campers and camp staff,  Lord’s Day worship decisions, etc.

 4.  To evangelize – 2 Timothy 4:5, Acts 26:16 and 18, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19,
            Colossians 1:28

No one enters the kingdom by physical birth but only by the second birth by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  Evangelization is the work of presenting the gospel, calling unbelievers to repentance and faith so that hearing they may believe and believing they may be saved, entering the kingdom.  Every effort, both individually and corporately, should be made by camp staff to maintain a prayerful focus on, awareness and mindset of evangelism.  Recording, analyzing, and reporting camper experiences of conversion should be the standard operating procedure which can be used to overcome the Adversary (Revelation 12:11)         as well as assisting Ridge Haven in follow up and promoting Ridge Haven.   (God forbid that we use such recording and reporting for spiritual boasting.)

 5.  To disciple – Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11-13

            Entrance into the kingdom having been secured through the evangelization of the gospel, we take seriously our responsibility of discipling believers as revealed in the whole counsel of God’s word and instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Just as every effort, both individually and corporately, should be made by camp staff to maintain a prayerful focus on, awareness and mindset of evangelism, so also should every effort made to challenge campers to spiritual growth, obedience, service, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

 6.  To recognize and provide opportunity for covenant community –
          Ephesians 2:19- 22, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 21-27

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ places the believer into a spiritual family and/or community known as the household of faith, the covenant community.  Relationships within this community are to be encouraged and nurtured through worship, mutual care and service to one another.  In the camp environment, opportunities for covenant community are always to be well staffed, supervised, and never to the neglect of age-appropriate needs and activities such as special schedules, small group devotional times, recreation, games, etc designed for age-distinguished needs and characteristics best met by Ridge Haven’s traditional categorization and separation of juniors, junior highs, and senior highs – 1 Corinthians 13:11.

 7.  To build through relationships – Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Peter 4:8-1,
           Deuteronomy     6:7

Contrary to the common notion, real learning takes place not only in a classroom setting, but also in the give and take of camp life, whether at activity times or in the interaction between camper and counselor.  The key is developing a listening ear to discern those “teachable moments” in the camper’s experience when a capsule of truth can be brought to bear on his/her life.  When Jesus trained the twelve, He chose the laboratory of everyday life to bring truth home.  Frequently they came with questions, and he found the “teachable moment” and seized it.

 8.  To model Christ-likeness – John 13:13-15, Romans 8:29,
            Philippians 2:3-5, Colossians 3:10-13

Camp speakers, leaders, musicians and counselors are called to be examples of Christ-likeness in their lives and attitudes.  To illustrate, counselors may show or demonstrate Christ-likeness by love to campers when campers get on their nerves, or willingness to be enthusiastic about games they do not like, or willingness to talk with a camper at 2 a.m. after a long, tiring day.  In short it is demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit.

 9.  To provide an environment that God will use to transform lives –
            2 Corinthians    5:17

The goal of the Ridge Haven Christian camping experience is to see lives transformed for Christ.  Having a well-balanced program with spiritual intercession (prayer), teaching, active events, and fun is vital to the camping experience. We believe the environment that we seek to create facilitates God’s work as He changes lives and brings new commitments to Christ.  We believe this goal can be best achieved by:

            A.        Providing an environment and hosting activities that campers cannot readily find anywhere else.

             B.         Having the greatest, biggest, most incredible amount of fun without crossing the line by being crude, rude, or dirty to make people laugh or to attract them to Ridge Haven camps.

             C.        Having both campers and counselors together join and participate in events and activities.  The approach is to have counselors with their campers in all activities rather than being stationed at particular events.  We believe that when counselors participate in and with their campers, counselors maximize their time for developing relationships with each child.

             D.        Using every aspect of the activities and events to their fullest, providing every opportunity for counselors and campers to overcome barriers and to develop relationships that assist in creating and stimulating spiritual opportunities for evangelism and discipleship.  

 Through humility counselors serve the campers, meeting their needs with love.  Paul said that he became “all things to all men so that by all possible means [he] might save some” (I Cor.9:22b).  Our goal should be to do the same.