The Journey of White Oak Lodge

How Christian Retreat Center partners with the BIC Foundation to create a strong financial future.

Christian summer camps have long been a staple of children’s and youth ministry. They invoke fond memories of hikes, campfires, and evening vespers. Christian Retreat Center (CRC), a BIC camp in East Waterford, Pa., is one such camp, and they are on a mission to help people of all ages connect with Jesus.

Tucked away in a picturesque corner of Central Pennsylvania, CRC offers an atmosphere of peace and hope. Despite a few financial bumps in the road, CRC is expanding this mission beyond children and youth to the entire family, and the BIC Foundation has been pleased to partner with the camp over the past decade.

Today, CRC’s executive director Zach Bashore and long-time board member Stan Gipe share more of CRC’s story, how they use BIC Foundation investments to strengthen their financial standing, and their hope for the camp’s future.

Tell us about CRC; what’s the camp’s history?

Zach Bashore: The original vision for CRC was to be a place for youth and children to know Jesus as Lord. To this day, the heart and soul of CRC is our children’s and youth programs. The camp is owned by the Allegheny and Susquehanna Conferences of Brethren in Christ U.S. In 1978, they purchased 238 acres of land in East Waterford, Pa. Three years later, – using just a modified barn – the first children and youth camp was held with 13 campers.

Who does CRC primarily serve?

ZB: The summer programs, including youth camps, TIMS (Together in Mission Services), and our family camp still hold the affections of our staff and board of directors. However, CRC serves a wide range of groups throughout the year, including youth groups, family reunions, marriage events, men’s and women’s retreats, scrapbooking and quilting retreats, pastoral retreats, and church-wide family retreats.

Most of our weekend groups and campers are within a two-hour radius from CRC. Though, there are groups that travel from Washington D.C., Baltimore, New York City, parts of West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. It is a joy to welcome so many people to CRC who live in different parts of the country and represent different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Every weekend it is a great reminder that the Kingdom of God is wide and diverse, yet there is great unity for those that fall under the Lordship of Jesus.

In 2012, you first partnered with the Foundation to construct the White Oak Lodge. How has the Lodge expanded ministry opportunities?

Stan Gipe: For many years, CRC was known as a children’s camp and enjoyed many years of successful ministry to children. As the camp interacted with the families whose children came to CRC for youth camp, it became apparent that there was a need for a place for parents and other adults to get away and be ministered to. The beautiful mountain setting of CRC seemed like an ideal setting for such a ministry. It was out of this need the idea of the Lodge came to life.

ZB: Recently a church from Mifflintown, Pa., hosted a women’s retreat here; on another weekend, a church from Richfield, Pa., hosted a men’s retreat. I knew a lot of the men and women in attendance from both churches because their children came to summer camp. It was so encouraging to know that CRC is a place where mom and dad can have their own “CRC experience,” just like their children did through summer camp.

Additionally, within the last five years, CRC added a Family Camp to our summer programs. Our Family Camp is a long weekend where the whole family gets to come to CRC, partake in classic camp activities, engage with camp counselors, and be encouraged to pursue Jesus together.

What has it been like to work with the Foundation during this ministry expansion?

SG: The BIC Foundation has been a huge blessing to CRC. The Foundation agreed to loan CRC $1.9 million to fund the construction of White Oak Lodge. As with many construction projects, the Lodge construction went over budget, and the Foundation agreed to provide additional money for the Lodge to be completed.

ZB: Upon completion of the Lodge, CRC – due to various factors – was not generating funds necessary to repay the loan. For two-and- a-half years, we couldn’t make any regular payments, aside from several partial payments against the interest. The Foundation extended grace to CRC to allow time for the lodge to get established, reservations booked, and revenue to come in. In 2018 CRC started to build momentum, and since then we have paid all back interest and repaid $1 million on the principal!

How do you use other BIC Foundation products and offerings to strengthen your financial future?

ZB: The BIC Foundation has been a great asset to CRC. In addition to the loan for the Lodge, CRC utilizes the Foundation’s Demand Certificates to manage short-term financial needs. These investments provide higher interest returns than most local banks and they allow me to invest and redeem funds without penalties.

For instance, when CRC’s donors give to debt reduction or our camp sponsorship program, these funds are placed in separate Demand Certificates. This ensures money is being used as designated and that when a monthly loan payment is due or when it’s time for summer camp, these funds are available and honor the donor’s intent when they made their charitable gift to CRC. It’s brought peace of mind to know these funds are safe, gaining positive interest for CRC, and are quickly accessible when needed.

What is the dream for the future of CRC?

SG: The dreams are plentiful for the staff and the board of directors at CRC. Our first goal is repaying our loan to the Foundation in a timely manner. Once the loan is paid in full, there are several upgrades, renovations, and expansion projects CRC will discuss.

ZB: The goal of CRC is to be a place where people drive across our bridge, enter the camp and know the presence of the Holy Spirit dwells here. We want to enable children, adults, and families to know Jesus and be encouraged in the Christian faith. We believe this encouragement in our faith is best done through laughing around the dinner table, sharing the warmth of a campfire, having a week of camp with friends, spending a weekend with your church family, and enjoying the creational beauty in all seasons at CRC.

CRC has had a fruitful ministry for 45 years. We pray there is another 45 years of fruitful ministry to come.