From the Beginning

Since the early 1940's Bible Centered Ministries International (Bible Club Movement then) has had a camping outreach in western NY. In those days, Bible Club missionaries rented the grounds of the Odosagih Bible Conference in Machias, NY and the grounds of Le Tourneau Christian Camp in Canandaigua, NY and used their facilities for up to three weeks each for a successful summer camping program. Both Bible Club and the two conferences were satisfied with this arrangement right up until 1976, when new NY state laws changed the property and housing requirements for children's camps. Both Odosagih and Le Tourneau were mainly family conference grounds and were now under a completely different code than children's camps and would have had to make expensive and extensive facility changes to accomodate our Bible Club camps, which were only a small part of their total ministry.

And so, throughout the summer and early fall of '76, we prayed and waited on the Lord for His leading. In October, a Christian farmer in Bliss invited Mr. Hirt (then director of Bible Club Movement) to come and view a property he believed the Lord was leading him to donate to Bible Club for the development of a camp. In January 1977 the property was officially transferred and the Lord opened a new door to Christian camping in western New York. The property consisted of about 55 acres of open fields and 25 acres of wooded land. It was centrally located - about 60 miles from both Buffalo and Rochester - well secluded by woods and farm land and within easy walking distance of 300 acres of county forest land.

It would take a book to recount all the miraculous ways that God worked to raise up a camp in the middle of a hayfield. Churches, youth groups, families and individuals all prayed, gave and labored feverishly together that first year, from April through July, to grade a road back to camp, dig a septic system and construct a dining hall and bathhouse in order to hold our first camp that summer -a task that was deemed impossible by the health department - stated impossible by the permit issuing officials - judged impossible by the engineers - and even, at times, believed impossible by those working day and night against all odds, but "...with God, nothing shall be impossible." (Luke 1:37) and on July 27th, 1977 the first registration for Camp Bliss was held.

A new camp, however, needed a new name. in 1978 the camp committee held a contest and chose the name BLISS SUMMIT BIBLE CLUB CAMP from the many entries received. Long ago, when railroads were at their peak, there used to be a switch-track just below the camp property called Bliss Summit. This was the high point of the long haul between Rochester and the NY/PA line. Here, at the summit (or high point), trains would unload their heavy cars, leave some behind so that they could make the grade, pick up logs, fuel or water and continue on their way. The name BLISS SUMMIT BIBLE CLUB CAMP was chosen not only for its local historical significance, but also because it symbolized the emphasis the committee desired camp to have. It was (and still is) their prayer that camp would be a high point (summit) in the spiritual development of each staff member and camper - that they would come to camp, leave their heavy loads with the Lord, fill up on the Word and fellowship with others and go home refreshed and equipped for the challenges of life.

Camp began with a commitment to build and expand as the Lord provided, and He has faithfully supplied the materials, the people and the funds needed to operate debt-free throughout the history of Bliss Summit Bible Club Camp. Camp began with a commitment to train young people for service and to help them aim for the hightst (summit) and the Lord has furnished us with an excellent means to do that through the ministries at camp. Camp began with a commitment to make outreach ministries affordable to local church groups and camp has propsered because of their support. And of course, camp began with a commitment to reach boys and girls, young people and men and women with the Gospel. From tents in the early days, to rustic cabins, to Holman Lodge, our first winterized cabin built in 1990, the Lord increased our housing facilities as enrollment grew steadily each year. Services were held, first in the back of the dining hall, then in a large army tent set up on the lawn, which finally led to the construction , in the early '80's, of the Reno Memorial Chapel and (later) Gymnasium Complex, named in memory of John and Evelyn Reno, a brother and sister who greatly influenced the spiritual development and training of staff and campers - not only at Bliss Summit, but at many Bible Club camps long before our times.

Perpetual construction seemed to be the norm around camp for many years. An archery/picnic pavilion was built and later dedicated to the memory of John Brown, a dedicated counselor and archery instructor at camp. A dock and bridge were added to the fishing pond, sleep-out spots and an outdoor chapel sprang up around camp and the waterslide was improved. Each of these improvements brought about a greater use of camp and an ever increasing need for new construction and maintenance of existing programs and facilities. This led BCM to send Alan Work (and family) as the first full-time camp director. Under their leadership, from '88 to '95, camp continued to grow and prosper. God has always provided the vision, the laborers and the means needed to accomplish his plans, (I Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.") and at the start of the new millennium, Jeff (and Debbie) Baxter were chosen by BCM to undertake the directorship of Bliss Summit Bible Camp. And thus, the growth and development of camp goes forward, and we continue to rest in God's promise that "...He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
-Submitted by Esther Sampson, January 2000.

In 2007 Carl & Karen Manning have taken the awesome responsibility of caring for the sacrifices that so many before them have made. Buildings, programs, and people all built by the surrendering of Christian men and women as they were led by God. Please pray that God would provide the support they need to move from professional volunteers to professional missionary directors. Also please remember camp as Carl & Karen undertake the next milestone in its rich history. Looking forward to the hope of Christ’s return we hold on to the words of Paul in Philippians 1:6 “...I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”