Our Mission
Camp Joy's mission is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through exciting camping experiences, teaching campers that true JOY comes from serving Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last.
Our History
Founded by P.C. and Lillian Sorensen, Camp Joy first took place in 1939 at Lake Lida. It started as a small camp that was only one week long in the summer. The main building was the dining room, kitchen, and cooks' room. Boys slept in an old boat house, and the girls slept above the main building. If there was not enough room in the boat house or the dining room, some children would sleep in tents outside. Classes and services would take place in tents and the Sorensens slept in a trailer house.
It was in 1941 that Camp made a big move. A small strip of land was bought on Star Lake in Dent, Minnesota. The piece of land was so small that each end of the main building (the dining hall) touched the border of the land that camp owned. The boys now had to climb up the wall of the kitchen to get to their quarters, which they affectionately called "Tumble Inn" and "Cubby Hole Inn."
Water was heated for dishes over an outdoor fireplace. Campers would then wash and dry their own dishes in two tubs outside. There was also no food or mail delivered to camp, so Mr. Sorenson would drive to the local farm for milk every morning and pick up the mail that was dropped off in a box by the highway. There was no electricity, so gasoline and kerosene lamps were often used. However, lamps weren't permitted in the dormitories due to safety concerns, so flashlights were used instead. Some children still had to sleep in tents.
It was a small start, but the Lord blessed the early beginnings of Camp Joy.
From there, camp grew. In 1942, it was expanded to two weeks; one junior week and one senior week. On one of the opening days, there was such a large crowd that some of the boys had to sleep in a shed. By 1944, bread was delivered to camp by a truck from Fergus Falls. During the same year, 74 children registered for camp. Three weeks of camp were introduced in 1945, and by 1948 Camp Joy had electricity!
As God continued to bless Camp Joy, a chapel was built in 1955. By 1960, camp celebrated its 20th anniversary on July 10th with a service of 400 people.
P.C. had to retire from being director of camp in 1962, with David L. Pritchard taking his place. In 1965, Gustav J. Hansen was the next director. Camp Joy's 25th birthday was celebrated in 1965 with a cake and the Happy Birthday Song in the dining hall.
In 1968, Camp Joy's iconic song was written by Lillian Sorenson and continues to be sung every year since:
Camp Joy Song
(Sung to the tune of "Redeemed")
Camp Joy is the spot where we gather
Enjoy the best time of the year.
There isn't a place we would rather
Be spending our time than right here
Chorus:
Camp Joy, Camp Joy,
The greatest for each girl and boy,
Our Captain is Jesus,
In Him there is wonderful JOY.
If you've never trusted the Savior,
Receive Him right now while you may;
To all who would gain his blest favor
Take Jesus, the Life, Truth, and Way
Chorus:
Camp Joy, Camp Joy,
The greatest for each girl and boy,
Our Captain is Jesus,
In Him there is wonderful JOY.
What do we have all our staff, volunteers and speakers sign?
Transparency and open communication are key at Camp Joy. We believe the Camp Joy community should know where we stand and what we ask our staff, volunteers, and speakers to commit to when they decide to serve at Camp Joy. For these reasons, we have posted four important documents:
Camp Joy Doctrinal Statement
Camp Joy Position Statement on Life, Marriage, and Ministry at Camp Joy
Summer Staff Covenant
Standards of Personal Appearance
Camp Joy Doctrinal Statement and Position Statement on Life, Marriage, and Ministry
Doctrinal Statement:
1. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate and infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
2. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are equal in every divine perfection and execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation and redemption.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. We believe that man and woman were created in the image of God. Because of Adam’s willful disobedience, all humanity is born into sin and is, therefore, lost and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
5. We believe that salvation is based solely upon the sovereign grace of God, was purchased by the shed blood and victorious resurrection of Jesus, is secured by the Holy Spirit, is available to all who believe, and is received by faith alone in Christ alone apart from any human merit or ritual.
6. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling, illumination, guidance, conviction, equipping, and empowerment the believer can live a godly life.
7. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
8. We believe the true living Church is composed of all regenerated believers who are united by the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head. Its supreme mission is to bring glory to God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission as commanded by Jesus when He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
9. We believe that believers are to join in the fellowship of the local church for the purposes of worship, nurture, service, and participation in the ordinances of believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Position Statement on Life, Marriage, and Ministry:
“The Bible . . . is the ultimate and infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.” Camp Joy Doctrinal Statement
Because of Camp Joy’s belief in the ultimate authority of the Bible, we, therefore, affirm:
The sanctity of all human life from conception to death.
We believe human beings are created in the image of God – the Source of Life; therefore, all humankind has intrinsic value and significance from conception to natural death. We affirm the sacredness and dignity of all people in all states of life regardless of physical, mental, or emotional condition. We do not approve of any action that seeks to either destroy the life of the unborn (e.g., abortion) or unnaturally terminate the life of the unloved, unwanted, infirmed, or aged (e.g., murder, assisted suicide, euthanasia, genocide). We acknowledge with grief the human conditions that call for just war and warrant the capital punishment of convicted criminals whose actions have destroyed lives. We desire all humans to experience life as God intended. (Genesis 1:27 and 9:6, Exodus 20:13, Psalm 100:3, 119:73, and 139:13-16, Isaiah 44:2, 44:24, and 46:3-4, Jeremiah 1:5)
The sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman as long as they both shall live.
Believing that God’s ordination of marriage as the foundational relationship in society was established in the Creator’s original design and confirmed in the words of Jesus Christ, we reject all attempts to redefine marriage as involving anything other than the union of one man and one woman for life. Furthermore, we believe that the Bible teaches that all sexual relationships outside of the marriage of a man and a woman are immoral and unacceptable, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. Genesis 2:18-24, Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 18, Hosea 1-3, Matthew 19:4-5, Romans 1:18-31, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Hebrews 13:4
The personal dignity of those who disagree with our positions.
We acknowledge that many in our culture and communities hold positions on life and marriage that are opposed to our beliefs, as stated above. As illustrated in the life of Jesus and instructed in the Scriptures, we will always and in any way possible treat such individuals and groups with dignity and respect without compromising our beliefs. We will strive to love them unconditionally in word and deed, treating them as we wish ourselves to be treated and responding with grace when opposed. “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV)
Requirements for Camp JOY Ministry: Camp Joy staff (i.e. year-round core staff and hired summer staff) and resource personnel (e.g. speakers, teachers, and musicians) shall affirm these principles and be prepared to teach and defend them as required to fulfill their functions in representing Camp Joy and performing ministry functions at Camp Joy-sponsored events.