God is My Desire

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26
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About Echo Ranch Bible Camp 

 

 “Echo Ranch Bible Camp exists to provide a camp experience that will inspire a personal commitment to love God and others, thereby impacting their community.”

 

The camp offers various summer camp programs that help to combine faith and fun in a way that make learning about God fun and exciting. Echo Ranch reaches out to kids ages 7-18 from all over Southeast Alaska. The camp also hosts retreats in the Spring and Fall that reach out to churches, special interest groups, families, and school groups.

 

Echo Ranch Bible Camp is a part of Avant Ministries and is funded through the generous donations of others. All full time and summer staff are supported by churches, families, and friends. This allows us to keep camp fees low so that as many kids as possible can come to camp. For some of our campers Echo Ranch may be their only exposure to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are blessed to be able to share this ministry and we would love it if you came and served with us. Visit www.echoranch.org to learn more

 

Brief History
Echo Ranch Bible Camp is located on 300 acres of land about 40 miles outside of Juneau, Alaska.
 
The land was once the homestead of Alan and Catherine McMurchie who obtained the property in the 1940's.
 
 
It was during this time that Gospel Missionary Union (now Avant Ministires) was actively church planting in Southeast Alaska. Alan McMurchie began to connect with the missionaries and expressed a desire to use his property for the Lord.
 
The missionaries suggested starting a Bible camp and in 1964 that dream became a reality. The first group of campers slept in the barn on beds of hay. Today the camp hosts groups of 40-140 campers staying in individual cabins. The camp may have changed over time but the mission is still the same: make an impact for the Lord using this camping ministry.
 
For a more complete history visit www.echoranch.org
Counselor Testimonies
 
“There are not enough words to truly share the incredible experience and impact God has had in my life through working at Echo Ranch. My passion and desire to follow his direction has grown each summer as I am faced with new challenges but ultimately seeing Children come to seek and understand the love of Christ.
I quickly learned that it didn’t matter how inadequate I felt because it is God in us that works through us, we just have to be ready and willing.” Sara
 
“My time spent out at camp, particularly my first year, will be something I can eternally look back on as a turning point in my Christian walk. I thank the Lord for using it to continually bring me closer to Him! The impact of this can also be seen closer to home, through inspiring young people with stories of the transformations seen at camp and creating in me a new found urgency for evangelism. So although the staff and campers may change year to year, our Lord remains the same and will continue to transform the lives of those at ERBC who seek after Him.” Caroline
 
“The summer I spent in Alaska was one of the best I've ever had. The staff is great and so much fun to serve with. The kids come in and are just so excited about just about everything the camp does. It's cool to see them look up to you and grow closer to God in just a few short days. I can only pray I had the same influence on the kids I counseled. Knowing that some came to Christ for the first time (including almost half my cabin one week), I know that's true. Plus, it's not altogether unpleasant to see the sun set over snow-topped mountains every night.” Dan