The purpose of this camp is to Glorify Jesus Christ… By Teaching fundamental truths of God’s Word and Christian principles, By providing healthful recreation under a Christian influence, By cultivating a greater appreciation of outdoor life, and By promoting a growing fellowship among Free Will Baptists in the state of Illinois.

The program at Camp Hope is Christ-centered, Bible-based, and evangelistic. Bible Study, Christian living, music, missions, and crafts are included in the curriculum. Daily recreational activities may include basketball, volleyball and other games in the gym, swimming in the camp’s pool and softball or baseball on one of the camp’s Fields. Chapel services each morning and an evening service of worship and preaching make up the major emphasis of seeking God’s will for our lives and knowing Him better.

Pre-Registration Deadline is May 15th!

Help us get the word out.

Camp Directors:

Leadership Camp (Training High School Workers)
Thursday-Saturday, June 11th-13th
Director Lyman Parsell: (618) 437-5699

Junior High Camp (7th & 8th Grades)
Sunday-Friday, June 14th-19th
Director Harlen Johnson: (618) 439-3262

Junior Camp (5th & 6th Grades)
Sunday-Friday, July 5th-10th
Director Bryant Harris: (618) 625-6946

Primary Camp June (3rd & 4th Grades)
Sunday-Thursday, June 28th-July 2nd
Director Brad Ryan: (618) 437-5103

Freshman-Sophomore Camp (Entering 9th & 10th Grades)
Sunday-Friday, June 21st-26th
Director Josh Ham: (618) 550-1036

Junior-Senior Camp (Entering 11th & 12th & 13th Grades)
Sunday-Friday, July-August 2nd-7th
Director Ernie Lewis: (618) 673-2299

What to Bring:

Your Bible, pencils, notebook, pillow, sheets or a sleeping bag, sweater or jacket, towels, soap, bath cloths, and any other toiletries that you might need. Be sure to include a raincoat or umbrella. By all means bring your camera, musical instrument, special music, roller skates, swimming suits, and ball glove. Bring simple clothing for the out-of-doors. You should include play clothes for recreation or hiking. Coolers will not be allowed in the dorms for food and/or drinks.

Insurance Notes:

Camper accident insurance will not pay for claims on individuals who are covered by other companies & plans. If you have no insurance, or yours will no pay for accident claims, then the camp’s insurance company will take over the claim.

Camp Hope Contact Information

Address: 16322 Camp Hope Road
Ewing, Illinois 62836
Phone: 618.629.2188

For More Information Contact:
General Director :
Ernie Lewis
Route 1 Box 52
Cisne, IL 62823
Phone (618) 673-2299,
Cell (618) 838-6708

Camp Managers:

The Camp is looking to hire a new Camp Manager.  If you are interested please contact Bryant Harris or someone on the Camp Board.

Camp Hope is a ministry of the Illinois State Association of Free Will Baptists.

Our speaker this year for the Illinois State Association is Dr. Garnett Reid. Continue Reading

Elizabeth Kohn will be leading a youth choir on Friday Night, March 20th, 2009 at the State Meeting.  Continue Reading

The Rev. Robert L. Gilbert had established a career as a teacher and school administrator when he decided to become a Baptist minister.

“He felt that he was called by God to be a minister,” said his son David. “It’s a little unusual for someone at that stage of his life to change professions, to go from education to the ministry.”

In 1952, Mr. Gilbert stepped down as head of the Wheaton Academy in West Chicago to become a pastor in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

He later served as foreign secretary of Baptist Mid-Missions, coordinating missionaries throughout the world.

Mr. Gilbert, 97, died on Sunday at Centralia Manor.

The Rev. Edward Fuller served with Gilbert during the 1950s and ’60s at Bethel Baptist Church in Erie, Pa., where Gilbert was pastor.

“I think he wanted to emphasize totally teaching the Word,” Fuller said. “That was his real desire in life and what he loved best. Even after leaving the pastoral ministry he went into international ministry going to other countries. That was in his heart — to explain the Bible.”

Mr. Gilbert’s secretary at Bethel used to call him the “Happy Elephant,” Fuller said, not because he was heavy — which he wasn’t — but because of the forceful way he could motivate his congregants and others.

“He had a wonderful way with people,” Fuller said. “He had a way of getting beside people and just nudging them along. They didn’t even know they were being moved in a specific direction.”

Mr. Gilbert was born on Nov. 9, 1911, in Chili, IN. He was attending Chili High School when he met classmate Mae L. Rife. They married after she graduated from Indiana Central College in Indianapolis and he got his degree at Manchester College in Indiana. He then earned a master’s degree in education at Indiana University and another in school administration from Purdue University.

He taught high school level history in Peru, IN, before becoming a principal in Riley, IN; school superintendent in Cambridge City, IN, and finally the head of Wheaton Academy in West Chicago.

He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1952 and served at the First Baptist Church in suburban Wheaton before moving on to Bethel in Erie, PA, and the Glen Park Baptist Church in Gary, IN.

“He was called by the Baptist Mid-Missions to be foreign secretary,” said his son David, former press secretary to Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson.

“He also became a vice president of Mid-Missions. He loved that job. He and my mother figured they traveled around the world at least three times. They went to all the places Baptist missionaries were working at the time — the Congo, South Africa, India and Mexico.” Frequently the missionaries were met with suspicion in countries where Baptist was not the predominant faith, he said.

“Part of my dad’s responsibility as foreign secretary was to meet with local political figures and try to smooth out those relationships,” his son said.
“He tried to convince the government officials that the missionaries weren’t there to take their people away from their religion, but to help them. They served them as nurses and schoolteachers and worked in the communities.”

Mr. Gilbert retired about 25 years ago and moved to Missionary Acres, a retirement community near Silva, MO. They later relocated to an assisted living facility in Centralia. Mrs. Gilbert died in 2002.

Other survivors include two daughters, Dr. Roberta M. Douglass and Lana S. Estes; another son, Jan R. Gilbert; 17 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.
He was a member of Pleasant View Free Will Baptist Church, and services will be at one Friday at the church. Services will be conducted by Dr. David L. Burgess.

The Loyal Workers District meets Saturday, March 7, at Arnold View Free Will Baptist Church.  The speaker will be Yvonne Hampton.

The Emily Malone District meets Saturday, March 28, Mt. Vernon Free Will Baptist Church.  The speaker will be Sarah Malone.

Calvary Free Will Baptist Church would like to invite everyone to this year’s State Meeting…

Continue Reading

The Illinois Mission Board has put together a new plan of giving in response to some of the changes that are coming from Free Will Baptist International Missions.  Continue Reading

Congratulations to all of the students from Illinois.  You can check out the 2008 Award winners, click here.

2009 Retreat information:

The MM retreat will be at Camp Hope Sept. 17, 18, 19. Bro. Larry Cook and Bro. Bryant Harris will be the speakers. Registration is free. For more information contact me at tjharmon@pngusa.net.

Thanks.