“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” — John 13:34–35
The purpose of our ministry is to encourage young Christians to apply biblical concepts to every area of their lives and to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Eternal salvation of the soul and body is by faith alone in Christ alone, and through His death, burial, and resurrection, there is complete forgiveness of sin and the irrevocable gift of eternal life. We will do this through teaching God’s Word, encouraging good works, and demonstrating and promoting fellowship and daily activities that are fun and physically challenging.
Check out the 2024 Camp Areté brochure.
We welcome all young men and women from the ages of 13 to 18, regardless of Christian creed, church affiliation, or salvation. We especially encourage young Christians who might otherwise be without like-minded fellowship in their local churches to come to Camp Areté. To this end we endeavor to:
- Demonstrate the love of Christ to these young men and women through our actions and speech at Camp. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 – “See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.”
- Encourage fellowship based on biblical truths. Romans 14:19 – “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another (by which we may build up/spiritually strengthen one another).”
- Encourage forgiveness and companionship. Colossians 3:13 – “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
- Encourage good works. Hebrews 10:24 – “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”
- Demonstrate that the body of Christ is comprised of believers from all walks of life and many different churches. Romans 12:4–5 – “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
- Provide sound, in-depth Bible teaching that will challenge young men and women to think. 2 Corinthians 10:5–6 – “For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
All teachers must adhere to the following concept of studying and teaching:
- Examine the truth of God’s Word through grammatical and historical exegesis, apologetics, and theology;
- Explain the implications of God’s work throughout history and His communication to mankind;
- Strengthen the faith of these young believers by exposing the speculative—and often outright deceitful—nature of anti-biblical traditions that control much of contemporary culture;
- Show these young Christians how to recognize God’s design and providence in every area of life.
- Sing songs and hymns both traditional and contemporary that are centered on Christ and suitable for a camp environment. Psalm 95:2 – “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”
- Provide daily activities that are challenging and fun.
- Encourage young men and women to embrace a biblical model of marriage as described in Scripture: a sacred covenant between one man and one woman. Genesis 2:20b–24 – “But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. The man said, ’This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman,” for she was taken out of man.’ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
We reserve the right to reject campers or staff that we feel may endanger the spiritual, moral, or physical welfare of fellow campers.
