Our Mission

We exist to glorify God by creating an atmosphere for individuals to evaluate their relationship with Christ and be challenged to make decisions resulting in changed lives.

It is our goal to provide opportunities for each individual to grow spiritually, physically, mentally, and socially.

Our Vision

...is helping everyone who comes on property take the next spiritual step, strengthening families and local churches in the state of Florida and beyond.

Our History

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In the beginning…

Children’s Bible Mission (now Children’s Bible Ministries, Inc.) originated in 1935 after Mr. & Mrs. Walter Jensen moved to Florida in 1932, aiming to reach children with the Gospel through school assemblies. Their efforts led to a Bible memory program where memorizing verses earned children a free week at camp. The first camp in 1935 served 47 children, with half making significant life decisions. In 1938, the mission purchased the former Polk City Golf Course on Lake Helene for $1.00, where Camp Gilead now stands. They constructed ten buildings for 100 campers in four months!

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Camp Gilead 1947-1961

In 1947, Hazel Yeater began working at Camp Gilead, and in 1948 she invited her friend, Edith Hulslander, to come and help with summer camp. When Mr. & Mrs. Ed Jensen moved from the area, Miss Hazel and Miss Edith became the Directors and served there for nearly 50 years.

Over the course of time, there have naturally been many changes. Old buildings had to be replaced by new ones; more buildings had to be built including the chapel, gym, lodge and lakeside pavilion (now the RCA). Probably the biggest change from then to now is that Bible teachers are no longer permitted to go to public school assemblies with the Gospel as they had once been allowed to do.

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CAMP GILEAD 1981 - PRESENT

Since 1980, Camp Gilead has added new ministries, such as Creation Station, and continued its focus on changing lives. Outreach now includes Bible Correspondence Lessons, after-school clubs, and homeschool enrichment. Facility improvements include renovated buildings, a sand volleyball court, paintball course, and updated cabins. As of 2026, Camp Gilead marked 87 years of ministry, continuing to operate through volunteer and donor support.

We praise God for sustaining us in every way from 1938 until now.

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CAMP GILEAD 1961 - 1980

During the 1960s and 1970s, Camp Gilead grew through new programs and facilities. The problems affecting work in the public schools compelled the diversification and a reaching out to other areas with additional programs of getting the Word of God and His message to young people. including more camp weeks and follow-up lessons. Volunteer involvement increased, notably with winter volunteers from various states, accelerating building projects like cabins, an enlarged dining hall, and an air-conditioned chapel.

Our Statement of Faith

Camp Gilead (Children’s Bible Ministries of FL, Inc.) serves along nondenominational lines, and as such there are certain essential truths which are the basis of our sincerely held Religious beliefs. As Christians we believe in the necessity of the new birth as the work of God, the Holy Spirit to be obtained only by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and that men are saved by grace through faith not by works.

  1. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally inspired (God-breathed) Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings (Matthew 5:18; John 16:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

  2. We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin; as God, co-equal and coexistent with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:1-2:13; John 1:1-11; 14-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15).

  3. We believe in man’s fallen condition. Through nature, choice and practice he is guilty before God and is righteously judged fit only for everlasting punishment (Genesis 3:1-13; Matthew 25:46; Romans 3:10 & 23; 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:12-15).

  4. We believe Jesus Christ offered on our behalf is the only acceptable sacrifice for sin and was raised in the same body from the dead according to the Scriptures. Christ has secured our redemption through the shedding of His blood, qualifying the saints for service here, a like resurrection, and a place in His divine presence for eternity (Matthew 28; Luke 24:39-43; Romans 3:21-28; 5:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 9:11-22; 1 Peter 1:18-20; 1 John 2:2; 5:10-13).

  5. We believe that repentance, forgiveness and becoming a new creature are several of the many experiences of the Christian who is kept by God’s power, being secure in Christ forever and that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of salvation (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:11-13).

  6. We believe that God the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts sinners and who regenerates and baptizes them at the moment of their salvation into the body of Christ. We also believe that the Holy Spirit indwells and seals until Christ returns, all who believe, and fills and empowers for service those who are yielded to Him (John 16:8-11; Romans 8-9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 12-12;14; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; Titus 3:5).

  7. We believe in the visible, personal and imminent return of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His church (John 14:3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

  8. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and of the lost, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost (John 11:23-27; Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:12-15).

  9. We believe that Christ made provision for all the effects of sin in the atonement and that God heals in answer to believing prayer according to His sovereign discretion. Healing may not be claimed on the same unconditional basis as salvation, and the final deliverance from sickness awaits the believer in glory (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2).

  10. We believe that some gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent and are intended for use throughout the entire Church age. Other gifts were temporary and were given in the Apostolic age for the purpose of founding the church. These include the gifts of Apostleship, Prophecy, Miracles, Healing, Tongues, and the Interpretation of Tongues. At the same time, we affirm that God performs miracles as He wills (John 14:16-17; John 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:13, 28-30; Ephesians 2:20-22; Ephesians 4:1-16, 30; Hebrews 2:1-4; Titus 3:5).

  11. We believe God sovereignly and immutably creates each person as a male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God and His plan for man and woman (Genesis 1:27; Matthew 19:4).

  12. We believe in the biblical view of marriage as sanctioned and defined by God in His Word, which is the exclusive, covenantal union between one man (born biologically male) and one woman (born biologically female) (Genesis 2:18-24; Ephesians 5:22-23; Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9).