Evangelical Covenant Church of America

"Where is it Written?"

Fun Fact: Peter Paul Waldenström, Lutheran minister, was one of the foremost theologians of the Covenant movement, most remembered for asking Covenanters "Where is it written?" Waldenström was well received by Midwest Covenanters during his inspirational speaking tours of the United States in the early 1900's, evident by the nickname of "Waldenström Pond" given to Hagerman Lake, on which Covenant Point is located. Covenant Point still owns an old pontoon boat that fondly bears the name "P.P. Waldenström."

Covenant Point is an institution of the Covenant Church, which operates some 700 churches around the nation, as well as 22 summer Bible camps, retreats and conference centers. The Covenant Church developed out of the Lutheran State Church of Sweden in the 1880's as a revival swept that country and the population of Swedish Lutheran immigrants here in America. The revival was driven by the desire for personal and intimate relationships with God and a faith that was intentionally based in scripture. The American revival solidified in 1885 as independent congregations came together in a "Mission Covenant", or association, which could give both support and structure to the various church missions at home and overseas.

As the Covenant Church had its beginning in informal home-based gatherings and Bible studies, close Christian community has remained an essential aspect of the Covenant. Two hallmark statements of the Covenant describe well the spiritual environment of the church; "Where is it written?" and "Are you still walking with Jesus?" Members attempt to base their decisions and lifestyle on Biblical passages, as well as encourage one another in their collective walk with the Lord. While emphasizing that members base their faith on scripture, the Covenant celebrates the freedom that believers have in Christ. Therefore, the church is deliberately "non-creedal," meaning that members are not asked to accept official doctrines, such as in regard to the specifics of baptism. "The doors of the church are wide enough for all who believe, and narrow enough for those who do not" is another early statement on this principle. The church administration is based in Chicago, as is the denomination's four-year college, North Park University.

Covenant Point Bible Camp

Tent Meeting 1928

Covenant Point is one of the earliest examples of the Covenant Church's summer camping movement, which gathered steam in the early 1900's and continues today. Established in 1926, the camp was created by the then very active Young People's and Sunday School Worker's Conference (YPC) of the Great Lakes District Covenant Churches. At that time, "young people" included any person in the church who wasn't married, with many people being in their 30's. The YPC served primarily the spiritual needs of young people, with conferences, tent meetings, and other activities.

As the need for a permanent site for these meetings grew, plans began in 1926 to purchase the Lindstrom Farm on Hagerman Lake as a site on which to build a camp. The YPC held its first conference there in August, 1927. In July of 1928, the week-long tent meeting reached a high end on the closing Sunday, as 600 people came to hear Prof. T.W. Anderson's final sermon on the book of Romans. The enthusiasm of the meeting was not diminished by a storm that literally "brought down the tent" earlier in the week, but it was clear that the camp needed permanent buildings. The first of these buildings, the Tabernacle, was built in 1930 with funds raised by the sunday schools and accomodates several hundred people. Covenant Point celebrated its 75th anniversary season in 2001.

Covenant Point has continued to build and expand, winterizing its facilities and offering more winter activities in addition to the traditional summer camping program. The camp is open year-round and can accomodate a maximum of 150 people for residential groups. The YPC is no longer active, and the camp is now owned directly by the Central Conference of the Covenant Church, which serves the churches of Upper Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri.

Covenant Point offers seven weeks of summer camp from June to August each year for grades 2-12 and families. The summer camp program includes both camps on site on our mainland and island facilities, and a trips program. In addition, we offer seasonal retreats in both the fall and winter for trailblazers (grades 4-6), Junior High, Senior High, Men's and Women's retreats. These retreats emphasize the camp mission to present the gospel message of Jesus to campers, to challenge them to take ownership of their faith, and to encourage them to grow as Christians. Speakers, activities, and games help create an atmosphere that is exciting and separate from the everyday world, an environment in which faith can be reflected upon and refreshed.

The rest of the year, camp is available to private groups and churches for residential retreats and day programs. Such groups have recently included quilters retreats, Michigan and Wisconsin deer hunters retreats, confirmation classes, homeschool associations, youth detention centers, a folk music and dance workshop, and church youth groups and family retreats. Check the Now at Camp page to see what's been going on lately!

Day and residential programs are also offered to school groups by Agents of the Earth, Covenant Point's year-round outdoor education program. These programs can be tailored to the school's need and are not spiritually focused unless requested by the school. Outdoor ed. programs are also offered to individual children on days off from school such as the opening day of hunting season, as well as some after school programs.

A word about our staff...

The staff at Covenant Point is united by a common love for Jesus Christ and a commitment to serve the needs, both spiritual and physical, of guests to camp, as well as other staff. In seeking employment at Covenant Point, one does not need to be a member of a Covenant Church, but should be a commited follower of Christ and have a healthy relationship with God regardless of denomination.

The remarkable young people who made up the Young People's Conference in the 1920's and made Covenant Point possible demonstrate a tradition of ministry evident today. College students, many from North Park University, serve in most of the 50-some summer staff positions. Other colleges represented in 2004 were Colorado State, Covenant Bible College, U. of Michigan, U. of Tennessee, St. Louis U., St. Olaf, Michigan State, DePauw U., Northern Illinois U., Texas A& M U., Bethal College (MN), U of Sioux Falls (SD), Dartmouth, and Western State College (CO).

In this aspect, the Covenant Point summer program not only serves the primary and secondary age campers who come to camp, but also gives the college-age adult staff hands-on ministry opportunities and life changing experiences. The result is a very vibrant Christian community for everyone involved.