In the mid 1940’s, several churches decided to develop a summer camp program for the youth in their congregations. One of the main reasons that this venture started was a national movement to try and get the youth to consider going into the ministry and choose bible college over secular colleges.

Western Buckeye started in 1946 and we rented a boy scout camp (Camp Wakonda) outside of Sidney, Ohio. In the mid 1960’s we wanted to find land that could be purchased so we could have our own campgrounds.

In 1966 we moved to our current location (1/3 of the property was donated & 2/3 was purchased). The purpose of the camp was to equip camper to help understand their purpose and calling in life as a Christ follower.

In 1999 under new leadership, it was decided that our facilities needed to be available year-round. We wanted to have our churches get a better understanding of the camp ministry by utilizing the facilities that they support.

It was also determined that we needed to make our facilities available to outside groups as well. With the income of outside groups renting the camp, it would help reduce stress on our general budget. After the economy crashed in 2007, there was more focus put on our dining hall as our main retreat building. Upgrading the facilities is an ongoing focus to this day.

Our focus at camp is to provide a safe, clean, spiritual, and judgment free place for all who come. Our focus being on summer camp programming, reaching youth.

Proverbs 22:6 
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Its amazing to us as we look back over our history, How God has always provided for this ministry. From looking for property, the economy crashing, and covid. God has always provided, not only financially, but with vision and guidance.

We continually seek Gods guidance threw prayer. We are excited for what God has in store for us in the future. We know that we are in His hands and the mustard seed is in ours.

Mark 10:13-16 
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Southwest India Christian Mission began in 1977, when John and Moni Mathew left America and returned to their home state of Kerala, India. The focus of the mission was to take the Gospel to the people of their state, especially the poor. The mission has grown to include five main ministries in two geographical areas of Kerala. About half of the mission's churches are located around the city of Tiruvalla, where John and Moni live. This is where they grew up and where they have family support. The other half of the churches are in an area called the Hi- Range, about 100 miles northeast of Tiruvalla. The Hi-Range is a mountainous area similar to the Smokey Mountains, and the people of the Hi-Range are poor, even by Indian standards. The five ministries include Leadership Training and Church Planting; Bethany Childrens Home; Community Outreach; Evangelism through Home Visitation, Evangelistic Meetings and VBS; and Christian Literature.

John and Moni came to the United States separately, but they both came with the intention of staying here and enjoying the blessings shared by Americans. By the time John earned his second master’s degree from Cincinnati Bible Seminary, they met and were married. After the idea of returning to India as missionaries had been suggested to them, they prayed about it and started making arrangements to go. They were considered foolish by friends and relatives in India and especially by those that had hoped John and Moni would help them gain entrance into the United States. However, because of their choice a large number of people have come to know the Lord.

The work in India has become more difficult since about 2014 when the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) became dominant nationally. This party believes that India should be an exclusively Hindu nation, so anyone that is not Hindu is not considered a real citizen. Their leadership has resulted in violent acts against Christians and it has influenced the general attitude of the people in a negative way. In Kerala, twenty years ago, baptisms took place openly in streams, rivers and lakes, but they are now conducted in private places. John Mathew and the mission’s preachers go to neighboring villages on a weekly basis with tracts to share with the people as they go from door to door. Sometimes they are met by a group of men that stop them from entering the village and these men have even taken their tracts and burned them. However, although conditions in India are far from optimum, our Lord is powerful, and the mission has eighteen established congregations of 40 to 75 Christians. These Christians must be “…as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves…” (Matthew 10:16) but they can still share Jesus with their friends and relatives.

We are grateful for the generous and faithful support provided by your congregation. The money is used to pay the salaries of both the preachers and the people that care for the girls at Bethany Childrens Home as well as all the other types of expenses churches in general experience. Thank you for partnering with Southwest India Christian Mission as we strive to take Jesus’ message to the people of Kerala.

Our Story

Lakeview Bible College and Seminary (formerly Madras School/College of Evangelism) was established in the year 1977 and has been training leaders ever since. Over the years LBC&S has gone through various changes to become more effective and relevant to the challenges we face in these changing times.

Some of the major changes have been: Constructing a new campus (1998). Adding women students (2001). Offering two Masters-level majors: Leadership and Christian Counselling (2002). Cross cultural Internship for all students (2003). Foreign faculty for Master-level major specializations (2004). Extension Centres in Chennai and beyond (2008-2019). Construction of Berea hall – a multipurpose facility (2011). Video production and training in our own studio built on campus (2012). Admission of Foreign students (2013). New Master-level major in Christian Mission and Media (2014).

Since 2015, we have been consistently upgrading our facilties and progams to provide more opportunities for innovative models in marketplace ministry. Some new steps in this direction are: Two major specializations: Media Communications (2017) and Business Entrepreneurship (2018) Ground floor (2015) and first floor (2018) of the Daum Residence (men’s hostel) constructed to accommodate more students From 2020 all programs offered on online platforms due to CoVid From 2021, a new dual Bachelor degree, an Integrated Master-, and a fully online Master-level degree offered Four major streams offered in 2021 in both Bachelor and Master degrees: Christian Studies, Psychology and Christian Counselling, Media Communications, and Business Entrepreneurship. We are confident that our faithful God will equip us to carry out our vision through these uncertain times by adapting to any challenges that come our way.

By the grace and power of God, since 1976, Pinehaven Christian Children’s Ranch and School has been helping youth in need find answers for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Pinehaven is an 1,120 acre “kid and cattle” ranch located in Western Montana, about an hour’s drive north of Missoula. Our school has been in operation since 1984. We take kids from all over the United States and even from other countries.

Pinehaven is a residential, year-round, adjunct ministry of the First Christian Church of Saint Ignatius, Montana. Our structured and controlled environment allows us to help young people more effectively since they are not distracted and hindered by many of the things — whether actual, physical items or social situations and people — that contribute to their difficulties.
Money is never a factor in determining which young people get to come to Pinehaven. While we do want the families of our kids to be financially involved in the support of their own children during their stay at Pinehaven, our ministry is funded almost entirely through the generous contributions of individuals and churches across the country.

Why does Pinehaven succeed? At Pinehaven we acknowledge that God is the one bringing about changes in the lives of these young people. Directed by His leading, our program is based on five fundamental principles:
1.   It is established on a foundation of Scriptural faith. “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” (Psalm 127:1) In the security and warmth of a true family environment, young people go to church, worship God, participate in family devotions, and much more.
2.   The program builds self-esteem. This is accomplished through the learning of skills and seeing tangible results of hard work. As they learn, the kids in our program develop self-confidence because the emphasis is on “What I can do” rather than on “What I have.”

3.   Sound, old-fashioned values provide the necessary atmosphere for success. Our kids learn to help each other and focus on others’ needs. Honesty and integrity are stressed as they learn how to meet their own needs. They learn skills which can help them obtain future employment. We teach them to appreciate the simple pleasures of life in a breathtaking setting provided by our Heavenly Father.
4.   Personal responsibility. We don’t subscribe to society’s notion that anything wrong with your life is someone else’s fault. Young people need to learn to take responsibility for their own actions and choices.
5.   A firm hand, a fair mind, and a warm heart. When discipline is necessary we deliver it, as fairly as possible, but always with love. We correct them not because we are angry, but because we care for them.