Maranatha Bible Camp

We have day, weekend and week-long camping experiences for children, teens, young adults and families. These events take place in the cathedral of the great outdoors. We also offer areas for indoor activities. Our campers have excellent alternatives for lodging, food, and activity, all of which have a spiritual component and time spent with camp leaders. Maranatha depends on contributions from donors to keep costs for campers affordable.

Maranatha Bible Camp held its first session June 6-13, 1938, on a farm east of North Platte, Nebraska. Within a few years, it was obvious the camp needed a permanent home. Land was located near Maxwell, and a fundraising postcard was prepared. Interestingly, the postmark shows June 6, 1944, which turned out to be D-Day in WWII! Times were hard, but a number of Camp leaders in the area were supportive of the Bible Camp and attendance began to grow.

In the late 1960s, Interstate 80 was built, running through Nebraska.  The plan took it right through the northern edge of camp property.  The camp board made much effort to move the route, to no avail. A big concession was made when the highway department agreed to create the 40-acre Lake Maranatha by excavating fill sand to raise the Interstate roadbed up to a flood-proof height.  Additional land was bought at the time to make this possible. Our 30-foot-high Cross, lit at night with the words Maranatha Bible Camp, has become a nationally recognized landmark for those travelers who frequent I-80.

One of Maranatha's strengths over the years comes from the help of our many volunteers.