Memorial Day Offering

The Memorial Day Conference at Peniel Bible Camp is an event that has been a great blessing to our churches since the purchase of the camp property.Peniel Bible Camp has been able to continue debt free throughout its development and operation through supporting churches that have taken offerings for the needs. Memorial Day each year has been a time for gathering in these offerings and observing the Lord's gracious supply through His people.

The projects for 2009 have been completed. The replacement tool truck for the camp arrived and is being put to use.


The offering goal for the 2010 Memorial Day Offering was set by the Ohio Bible Mission at $10,000. The past couple years, we have been focusing on projects that will help maintain our camp facility in its best possible condition. One big project that has been put off, because of the expense, is redoing our much used multi-purpose courts. The surface has been patched and redone before and is presently in poor shape. A better method has been secured to give a fairly maintenance-free playing surface. However, the total cost is around $30,000. We have designated the major portion of this year's goal to go toward this project. We realize that it may take a couple more years to complete, unless there are some additional donors who want to take this as a personal project.


We are praising the Lord for an offering that surpassed that goal on Memorial Day! With some additional gifts, the total offering now is over $13,000! Praise the Lord for His provision through His people.

If you would like to give toward this project, contact Ken Perry, Ohio Bible Mission treasurer, at perry@obf.net.

New at Peniel

As the weather warms here in central Ohio, work has stepped up to complete several projects around the grounds. Projects recently completed include:

installation of new doors on the rest room building,

new stands for the archery targets,


a roof over the shooting stands on the rifle range,


and new stools for the rifle range.

Memorial Day 2010

The annual OBF Memorial Day service was held on Monday, May 31st at Peniel Bible Camp. Rain moved through the area about the time folks were arriving at camp, umbrellas in hand. The service began with pledges to the American and Christian flags and the singing of the National Anthem and several other patriotic songs.



Veterans were recognized and thanked for their service to our country.


Pastor George Bailey was the speaker during this morning service.



The sun was shining by the time the service was dismissed shortly after noon. Folks visited around the chapel before heading to cars to retrieve picnic baskets and enjoy lunch on the camp grounds. The afternoon was filled with fishing, boating, disc golf, ice cream cones, riflery, relaxing, volleyball, basketball, etc.

Happy Campers

One mother sent this note along with her children's camp registrations:

"Our daughter invited a friend last year as a first-time camper herself. She turned around and invited her cousin in person within 5 minutes of returning home from her first week at camp! Literally! She loved camp. Praying for Peniel."

We enjoy hearing from happy campers.

Don't miss out on a great week of camp this year; get your registration in the mail today. Don't delay. We already having a waiting list for Teen Camp 1 girls.

2010 Father/Son Retreat: April 23-24

The Father/Son Retreat, first OBF camp of the 2010 season, was held at Peniel on Friday and Saturday, April 23 & 24. One hundred fifty-two fathers and sons the time they spent together building memories at camp.

Pastor Chuck Phelps was the speaker for the retreat.


There was plenty of delicious food (roast beef dinner, pancake breakfast, and subs for lunch) served by Melody Peeler and her volunteer staff.


There was a lot of activity around the lake...


... and in the Rec' Hall ...


... as well as out on the playing fields.


We are thankful for the Lord's working in lives during this weekend retreat.

Campers from Grace Church of Mentor

Eagles at Peniel

Come see the eagles at Peniel Bible Camp. Come to camp on Saturday for Clean-up Day and you may have an eagle sighting!

Spring Cleaning at Peniel

Springtime: flowers budding, birds singing, spring cleaning...

These lovely spring mornings turn thoughts to Peniel Bible Camp. Have you ever been to camp in the spring? It looks different than it does in the summer. With the leaves just starting to come out on the trees and bushes, you can see right through the woods to the cabins, chapel, and back lake. A beautiful time to enjoy a day at camp.

How about this Saturday?

Peniel Bible Camp relies upon volunteers to make camp happen. Volunteers staff our camping program. Volunteers give to the ministry. Volunteers clean and prepare the camp for use every spring.

There are 27 buildings that need to be cleaned in the next 10 days in order to be ready for the first camp of the season, the Father/Son Retreat on April 23-24. Would you help? There are jobs for young and old, jobs inside and outside. Bring along cleaning supplies (rags, cleaners, shop vacs, gloves, etc.) and a servant's heart and help us brush out the winter cobwebs and get things ready for another camping season at Peniel Bible Camp.

If you have any questions, contact Jerry Edinger at edinger@obf.net.

See YOU at camp on Saturday, April 17!


P.S. If you can't come on Saturday, but are available another day, just let Jerry know. We don't turn away willing workers!

Early Bird Registrations

The deadline for summer camp early registrations is approaching (April 1st). Be sure to get your camp registrations in the mail early next week so you can save money on your camp fee this summer.

The early bird gets the worm... or the early registrant gets a discount!

March 2010 Issue of PBC Focus in now available...

Click here to view.

Early Spring at Peniel

Spring is coming at Peniel Bible Camp! The snow has melted and with the warm days we've been having in central Ohio, we should see things greening up at camp soon.

The early registration deadline for the summer camps is coming up quickly. In order to save a few dollars, register before April 1st. Camp brochures for summer camps are available in churches and on our website (http://www.obf.net/~peniel/PBCreg/index_files/pdf.htm). Fill out the registration form and mail with deposit to the camp Registrar.


The first activity for 2010 at the camp is CAMP CLEAN-UP, scheduled for Saturday, April 3 and Saturday, April 17. We have around 25 buildings that need to cleaned before the first camp scheduled at the end of April. Lots of work, to be sure, but enjoyable when working with family and friends.

Bring your cleaning supplies and a picnic lunch and see what early spring is like at Peniel. Join the team to clean.

Contact the Camp Superintendent (edinger@obf.net) to schedule a time to come and to get your cleaning assignment. Help prepare your camp for the 2010 camping season.


(Workers of all ages welcome!)

Tweakage Summary

Thank you for praying for the Peniel staff who attended Tweakage Rendezvous 5 held at Ironwood Christian Camp in southern California February 22-24.

We are thankful for safety in travel, fellowship with others serving in similar capacities, and opportunities to share ideas. We came back with new projects, menus, and sources to check into - all which we will "tweak" to meet the needs at our camp.

Tweakage Rendezvous 5

The basic idea: hey, we "camp people" ought to get together and talk about camp...good idea! The basic idea was kicked around for several decades before the idea became a reality. In 2002, about 50 people (including nine from Peniel) got together for a fellowship at Camp CoBeAc. During those discussions, several folks mentioned how they "tweaked" a particular game or idea. Before long, everyone was sharing all kinds of "tweakage" they had tried. Some tweakage sounded like great ideas, and some made us glad we had not tried that tweakage personally.

Tweakage Rendezvous 5 will be held February 22-24 at Camp Ironwood in Newberry Springs, CA. This year they are expecting upwards of 180 camp people from 34 camps in four countries. Pray for Jerry and Cathie Edinger, Melody Peeler, Ken and Patti Perry, and Izaac and Kim VanderSchel as they fly to California for a profitable time of sharing with others serving in similar positions.

Church Presentations

Pray for the Edingers and the Perrys as they present the camp ministry in churches during the next several months.

2010 Camp Information

As we look forward to the 2010 camping season at Peniel Bible Camp, below is information to help you with your plans for the coming year.

• Camp brochures and registration information for all summer camps are now available online. This information is also being distributed to pastors and churches. Make your plans to attend! Get your registrations in early to receive a discount and ensure you have a place.

• Over 150 volunteer staff positions need to be filled each year. Staff applications for the summer have been emailed to prior staff (contact perry@obf.net if you did not receive one). They are also available online. Pray about possibly serving as a counselor, custodian, kitchen worker, or nurse.

• The Peniel Bible Camp website has been reorganized and a search tab added to make information more accessible. Sheet music for the Camp Song is also available.

• The camp blog currently features winter pictures of the grounds. It also has pictures from the past camping year.

• A new Facebook Fan Page has been created. You are welcome to join and show your support for this ministry. Events have been created for each of the camps. Campers and staff are encouraged to let others know what camps they will be attending by indicating their attendance. Of course, be sure to register for your camps in the normal way.

• A new video about the camp entitled What’s Going on Down There? has been produced and is being presented in many of our churches. Facebook users are encouraged to tag themselves if they appear in the video. Non-Facebook users may see the video here.

Winter at Peniel

Thought you might enjoy seeing some pictures taken at camp on January 2nd. Certainly a different sight than most of us are used to seeing at camp!

Couples' Retreat 2009

October 16 and 17, 2009 was an unseasonably cold weekend in Ohio with snow and freezing temperatures forecasted for that night. Despite the forecast, 26 couples enjoyed time spent together at Peniel Bible Camp's last camp of the 2009 season - the Couples' Retreat. (It did get cold overnight, but it did not snow!)The weather did curtail a couple outdoor activities, but campers enjoyed Fooseball, Ping Pong, Air Hockey and some board games in the Recreation Hall. There was even some competition as couples played the "Trulywed Game." Several bundled up and enjoyed Frisbee Golf Saturday afternoon when the sun broke through.

Pastor Josh Scheiderer from Bible Community Church brought 3 challenging messages to the couples.

Next year's retreat will be held on October 15-16, 2010 with Evangelist Todd Sivnksty as the speaker. Mark your calendar now and don't miss out on the 2010 Couples' Retreat.