Maranatha Bible Camp is a non-profit corporation owned by our member Churches.  So, in a sense, if you are a member of one of our member churches, you are a part owner of MBC!  There are around 45 Churches that participate as members.  The member Churches elect board members to serve as the Directors.   The annual meeting for the camp is usually held in September. The Directors meet monthly to discuss the business of the camp and make decisions.  The Directors hire on site Managers, (currently Jim Clay and Penny Cox) to oversee the year-round, daily business of the camp.

• Kevin Klein (Chairman) - College Heights Christian Church, Joplin, MO

• Phil Hayes (Vice Chairman) - First Christian Church, Oswego, KS

• Debbie Herren (Secretary) - Glendale Christian Church, Springfield, MO

• Joe Neill (Treasurer) - Welch Christian Church, Welch, OK

• Wayne Bushnell - Northside Christian Church, Springfield, MO

• Jim Wickenkamp - Christ's Church of Oronogo, Oronogo, MO

• Dave Martin - Elm Branch Christian Church, Aurora, MO

• Stephen Brody - Stockton Christian Church, Stockton, MO

• Andy Jones - Seneca Christian Church, Seneca, MO

Maranatha Bible Camp is not a part of any denomination.  Our member Churches are all independent Christian Churches.  We welcome all youth and children to attend and benefit from the fun, fellowship, Bible study, and worship that happens at our summer camps and our other year-round programs. 

No.  Any Church group is welcome to attend.  Member Churches and other attending Churches obtain registration information from the camp (all of which is available on this website.)  These Churches organize their attendees and send adult volunteers to come help as family leaders and dorm parents for the summer camps and other weekend programs.  We strongly encourage all Churches to send 1 adult for every 6 campers.  The campers will get the most benefit by having loving, Godly adults who attended camp with them from their own Church. We intentionally connect campers who come apart from an attending Church with adults and youth groups that can help those campers have a great week.  

Click here to see our basic beliefs on the "About Us" page.  We agree with the principles and teachings of the Restoration Movement (most independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ).

MBC only has two full time employees because we are a volunteer led camp.  Our philosophy of ministry is accomplished through home congregation and family support with the willing participation of Christ-like volunteers. 

We are not a camp that you “just send kids to”.  We are a camp that provides experiences and activities that create an environment for relationship building and life changing challenges.  We purposefully extend and enhance the ministry of the local church by encouraging church leaders that minister to these students year round to be a part of these experiences. 

Our Deans who are volunteers from around the region coordinate the entire camp program in which the students participate. All of our Deans are members of area Christian Churches. Many of them are Ministers, Children’s Ministers, and Youth Ministers.  They plan  specific activities for the camp week around the central theme of the summer.  The Deans recruit other adult volunteers to serve on their staff as family leaders, dorm parents, musicians, etc.  

Adult volunteers are assigned to a “family” of 10 – 12 campers with a family leader and family leader assistants.  Together these “family” groups participate in experiential learning activities, games, meals, worship etc. During these “common ground experiences,” natural relationship building occurs that is essential for ministry.  It is each local congregation’s responsibility and privilege to send adult volunteers to camp with their campers. 

Adult volunteers must be recommended by their Church leaders and screened for participation. Our goal is 1 adult volunteer for every six campers.

We are committed to keeping the Camper fees affordable.  The current fees cover only a portion of the actual camp experience.  The rest of the camp cost is realized through the willing gifts and donations of our member Churches and individuals who support the camp.  We are grateful for this support.

Our goal is to have camper fees and retreat rentals pay for the actual expenses of the camp (i.e. food, electricity, maintenance, salaries, etc.)  This will free up church donations and gifts to be used to fund camp facility development such as: master plan development, new buildings and facilities, ropes courses, pool enhancements and other recreation opportunities.

Yes.  All of our buildings are heated and air-conditioned.  See the "contact us" section of the home page for contact information.  Penny Cox, Assistant Manager, schedules groups to rent the Retreat Center and the rest of the camp all throughout the year.  Member Churches are given preferred rates and consideration when booking the facilities.  We encourage any group that is consistent with our values to use our facilities.