Northward
Christian Assembly, Inc.
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A Brief HistoryStarting with 33 students in August of 1941 on the family farm of Raymond and Bell Odor, Camp Northward found its beginning. That first year there were no buildings or physical accommodation except an outdoor privy. During the twelve years that our home was that Grant County farm, many improvements were made including; a shelter pavilion, dorms for both girls and boys, a dining hall and restrooms. A camp publication in 1950 stated: ‘ . . . more than one thousand campers have studied the Words of our Lord beside the waters of Fork Lick . . . more that thirty-six persons confessed their Lord and met Him in baptism . . . at least fifty-two young men and women, serving in special fields of Christian work today, were at one time students at Camp Northward.’ It was in May of 1952 that the announcement arrived of the generous gift of 7.53 acres in Falmouth, KY had been given to Northward by Miss Jessie Oldham. It is said of Miss Oldham that, ‘. . . in giving this land to Camp Northward I am fulfilling a dream of having a place to train young people in the Word of God.’ Plans began to move operations of Camp Northward from its family farm beginnings to her new home in Falmouth. Announcement was made in May of 1953 of official incorporation as Northward Christian Assembly, Inc. That first year on the Falmouth site saw three sessions of camp, Junior, Intermediate and Senior as well as two buildings to accommodate housing and dining facilities. Many improvements continued each year as growth followed. Plans were made in 1995 to begin a Capital Campaign to develop funds for a much needed Multipurpose Building. Those plans were detoured as the Historic Flood of 1997 devastated not only Camp Northward, but the entire city of Falmouth. The future of Camp Northward looked dim. However, church groups and individuals from all over Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky came to help. Through much hard work and dedication, Camp Northward opened, as had become, usual that summer. Praise the Lord! With a new focus and vision of the future, in December of 2000, the camp purchased property on Broadford Road, just south of Falmouth. Our plans are to move our entire camping program to this new property, as time and resources allow. We are excited about the Tree House Village and Hidden Lake that were built in 2004. They already provide a great home for our expanding Wilderness Program of camping. A large picnic shelter is planned for the spring of 2005 and will be another fine addition to the Camp Northward legacy. Prior to 1969, Camp Managers were put into place on a year to year basis just for the brief camping season. In June of 1969, Buford ‘Uncle Boots’ Odor was hired to be the first full-time Camp Coordinator. Along with his wife ‘Aunt Tillie’, Boots worked in this role until 1983, when ill health caused him to resign his position and take the new role as Maintenance Man. Mike Flynn and his wife Patti followed as Camp Coordinator in 1984 and after leaving for a full-time ministry, Joe Epperson with wife Diana joined the Camp as Coordinator in 1990. In 2003 Wayne Keith was hired to take on the newly created role of Director of Development with focus on Church Relations and Advancement of our Broadford Road development. Perhaps the most consistent part of the team has been Mary Cannon. Mary has served as Northward’s Secretary/Office Assistant for over 20 years -- beginning as an ‘on-call’ member of the team when we couldn’t afford any more to her current full-time position. With the blessings of the past to inspire us, we are excited about a bright future. We look forward to many more years of creating, 'memories that last a lifetime'. |
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Send mail to
campnorthward@email.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
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