Camping Ministry

Open Door Camps Ministry gave birth to Open Door Believers Chapel. The Lord led Gordon and Loretta Soutar to begin a camping ministry in the 1990’s. They were already exposed to this ministry through the works of Cecelle Cary, Gloria Edwards and, for a greater part, through Dave Ho’s Teen Time Camps in Jamaica. Through camps, they have reached many young people and exposed them to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. They have seen many give their lives to the Lord, and many rededicate their lives to the Lord. Both Loretta and Gordon saw these victories as a confirmation that camps are a powerful ministry to reach others for the Lord.

In 1995, the Soutars had their first Christmas Camp. Some believed that no one would come to a camp that started the second day after Christmas, but the Lord sent over eighty young people! Gordon and Loretta then established two camps for the year—a summer camp and a Christmas camp, which later changed to New Years Camp.

Today, the Soutars continue to run camps, and the ODBC camping ministry continues to grow and thrive. The various camps cater to a wide range of campers, and the whole church gets involved. ODBC’s five-day summer camp is geared towards young people and evangelism, though older believers also attend as helpers and campers. The New Years Retreat begins on December 30 and ends on New Year’s Day. This retreat centers around the fellowship of the believers—church members, their families, and regular attendees.

The younger boys and girls also have a special camping experience. Each year, the younger boys participate in a campout; they brave the elements and pitch tents in the great outdoors under the stars. The younger girls also get together for an annual sleepover (or, rather, slumber party!), a night of girly fun and friendship. Not to be outdone, the ladies look forward every year in October to a two-night retreat, which is attended by 100 ladies or more. The Lord continues to use camping at Open Door Believers Chapel as a time to get apart, rest and be built up in the Lord. Camping fosters the fellowship of believers, and it exposes young people to the gospel of Jesus Christ,winning the lost. Therefore, camping continues to be an integral part of the program at Open Door Believers Chapel.