History
In the fall of 1946 the Earnest Nelson family was transferred to the Sutherland area by the American Sunday School Union. They bought a place in Sutherland (property was 100 by 400 feet). It contained a house, garage and an old barn. Soon after the Nelsons came they felt the need to began a camping program. So in June of 1947 the first camp was held. A tent was rented for a chapel. The girls slept in the haymow of the barn, and the boys slept in the garage. The Nelson home was used for the kitchen and dinning room.
Before the 1948 camp, studs on the barn had been sawed in half, the top part lowered down, and the lower part moved out to the east to make a building twice as long as it had been. A chapel was built as well. Camp was held even as the buildings were being finished over a period of time. In 1950 a basement was dug and a building erected on it. The basement held a kitchen and dining room. The upper part was the girls’ dorm. The boys used the old building. In 1978 the girls’ dorm was struck by lightning and burned down. The camp board, after much prayer and searching, decided to move the Camp to Wellfleet on a 4 acre tract of ground. The old camp was sold to a Baptist Church and construction began in Wellfleet.The 1979 camps were held at Camp Joy, in Alma, Nebraska. By 1980 one building was ready in Wellfleet; so camps were held there. The first (main) building was a kitchen, dining room and chapel. In 1981 a dorm was built for girls and in 1986 the boys’ dorm was added. Since 1987, a recreational pavilion has been added and a new staff/shelter facility (top is staff quarters and the basement is a classroom/storm shelter). The 330 acre Seller’s homestead property was donated to Camp in 1996.
Several missionaries served the Sutherland field, including Dirk Derksens in 1964, George Cochrans in 1966, Paul Johnson served from 1971-1987, and John and Carol Lewis served from 1987-2017. In 2013 Kevin and Jennifer Domes came to serve at Bethel Bible Camp alongside John and Carol, then in 2017 Kevin took over as Camp Director and Jennifer as Head Cook. John and Carol still serve in the area with other ministries as well as assisting at the camp when needed.
Before the 1948 camp, studs on the barn had been sawed in half, the top part lowered down, and the lower part moved out to the east to make a building twice as long as it had been. A chapel was built as well. Camp was held even as the buildings were being finished over a period of time. In 1950 a basement was dug and a building erected on it. The basement held a kitchen and dining room. The upper part was the girls’ dorm. The boys used the old building. In 1978 the girls’ dorm was struck by lightning and burned down. The camp board, after much prayer and searching, decided to move the Camp to Wellfleet on a 4 acre tract of ground. The old camp was sold to a Baptist Church and construction began in Wellfleet.The 1979 camps were held at Camp Joy, in Alma, Nebraska. By 1980 one building was ready in Wellfleet; so camps were held there. The first (main) building was a kitchen, dining room and chapel. In 1981 a dorm was built for girls and in 1986 the boys’ dorm was added. Since 1987, a recreational pavilion has been added and a new staff/shelter facility (top is staff quarters and the basement is a classroom/storm shelter). The 330 acre Seller’s homestead property was donated to Camp in 1996.
Several missionaries served the Sutherland field, including Dirk Derksens in 1964, George Cochrans in 1966, Paul Johnson served from 1971-1987, and John and Carol Lewis served from 1987-2017. In 2013 Kevin and Jennifer Domes came to serve at Bethel Bible Camp alongside John and Carol, then in 2017 Kevin took over as Camp Director and Jennifer as Head Cook. John and Carol still serve in the area with other ministries as well as assisting at the camp when needed.
