Report of
Pinebrook Bible Conference
Without a vision the people perish.
Proverbs 29:18a (KJV)
The above Proverb has been misinterpreted by motivational speakers, politicians and preachers and it is about to be done so again within this report. Both the New International and English Standard Versions rightly portray this vision as revelation or prophetic vision, respectively. Without the revelation of God’s Word there is no controlling authority and the people [will] cast off restraint. But it is also true in the misinterpreted sense that without clear vision people are often left misguided, leaderless, and can very well perish.
In 1933, seventy-five-years ago, God gave to Evangelist Percy Crawford a vision of a ministry to reach teens with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Via the radio and television, despite being in their infancies, and crusades from New York to California and with the troops overseas, Percy was able to reach out and affect thousands of lives seeing many make decisions for Jesus Christ. To assist with this outreach, acreage at the foothills of the Poconos was turned into camps (Pinebrook, Mountainbrook and Shadowbrook). Only Pinebrook remains to this day, but the vision that Percy had has not died.
Thirty-five years later, in 1968, God gave to Jansen E. Hartman, A.L.Seifert and the Annual Conference of the BFC the vision to use this facility as a replacement and continuation of the very effective evangelistic and discipleship outreaches in the tent-city known as Mizpah Grove, Allentown, PA.
The specifics of the vision may have changed over these seventy-five and forty years, but the overriding passion of seeing lives changed for the Glory of God, has not.
The present administration and Board of Directors have spent the year evaluating the mission, vision and core values of Pinebrook. It, too, wants to have a clear vision to lead us into the future with purpose and so that we can reach the lost. The mission and vision statements are listed below. The core values have been divided-up into “ministry” and “ministering” values. The latter are for our team as we work together and are too long for this document. A copy is available upon request.
Mission Statement: “Pinebrook Bible Conference & Retreat Center offers real hope to the real world by committing all of our resources for the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Vision Statement: Pinebrook will be the premier Christian conference & retreat center in the mid-Atlantic region. Phil. 3:13f.
Ministry Core Values:
1. We value glorifying God in all that’s done, thus our motto: “All to the glory of God.” – 1 Cor. 10:31
2. We value the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, the Bible. – Heb. 4:12; 1 Cor. 1:18-31
3. We value praising God through Biblically-based, Spirit-led expressions of worship. – Psa. 67:3; Eph. 5:19; 1 Pet. 2:9
4. We value the cross-cultural experience at Pinebrook Bible Conference.
5. We value the cross-generational experience at Pinebrook Bible Conference.
6. We value the relationship to our owners, the Bible Fellowship Church, and subscribe to the BFC Faith & Order.
It is hoped that the statements and values will help cast vision as they prepare us for the next seventy-five years of ministry as we “rescue those who are perishing.”
Pinebrook is presently in the fourth year of my administration. These years have been rather tumultuous from a financial perspective. Pinebrook’s indebtedness when we arrived was much greater than we had anticipated. We added to this with what the Board felt were necessary changes and improvements. Then we were hit with unprecedented cost increases in energy (from $5100 to $12,950 per month in fuel alone, not to mention electric) as well as natural disasters (floods, pestilence, and an aging facility). All of which has taken quite a toll and produced some fairly negative financial reports. We are grateful for loans from the Board of Missions and the Quakertown church helping us get through this quagmire. We are also thankful for the patience shown by Annual Conference as we have worked our way out of this ebb-time.
We believe, providing the economy stabilizes, fuel prices remain current and there are no major disasters, we have turned a financial corner. Retreat revenue is up. Thanks to our Sales Representative, Jim Herrold, more and more weekends are filling up. Donor participation is also up. A gracious matching gift was given during the middle of 2007 which spurred on gifts resulting in a 220% increase. We also received a large donation from a will. We are looking forward to great things from our newly formed Development Department which is being led by John C. Vandegriff, Jr. Our financial team which includes my associate, Errin Mulberry, along with Debra Kellerman, the watchful eye of our Board’s treasurer, Jay Fasnacht, and financial consultant, David T. Allen, is doing its best to keep the books in tip-top shape.
This past year we addressed and resolved a financial situation which plagued us for the last three years. Because of tight finances we were unable to meet our financial obligation to the summer staff in a timely fashion. Although the scholarship fund has been on paper for many years, the Board during its December meeting decided to open a special account. All monies donated to this cause are deposited weekly in this account with the hope that summer staff will be paid by mid-to-late September.
Pinebrook’s facilities are not quite 75-years-old, but are ancient in comparison to present-day standards. The sewage treatment plant, opened in the early 1960s, may need to be replaced soon. So, too, will energy-inefficient buildings. We are grateful for the work done by Jeremy Beichler and the maintenance /housekeeping staff. We are also very thankful for the many volunteers, some from the BFC, who help with chores around the grounds. We especially appreciate Nell Ruch from the Hellertown mission for the work she does in the Children’s Garden, and the Didden Greenhouse, Hatfield, for the flowers which have beautified the grounds over the past 40-years. And we’re grateful for the many RWRs (Retreats within a Retreat) for the work they do each weekend, serving our guests in the Dining Hall and Snack Shop.
Many have reported that the food at Pinebrook has never tasted better. Chef Doug Ryan and his team in the kitchen are to be commended for the superb job they are doing.
Pinebrook is a ministry of and to the Bible Fellowship Church. Yes, we minister to many other churches and Christian organizations as well, but we hold in high esteem our relationship to the BFC. The mission statement of the BFC – We, the BFC, seek to become an expanding fellowship of churches, united to make disciples of Jesus Christ – is being fulfilled, in part, with what we are doing here at Pinebrook. Although we may not be viewed on the front lines of this mission, the part we play is vital. Think of us as the den in a house. It may not be absolutely necessary to have it, but when finished it is sure nice to have the kids play there instead of at someone else’s house. Or, in a more churchly way, think of us as the denomination’s Fellowship Hall. A church can do without one, but having it allows for not only fellowship around the table, but a lot of other ministry that takes place. Pinebrook is that “den” or “fellowship hall” for the BFC. We offer a respite for pastors and missionaries, often free-of-charge. We provide retreats for all ages – teens and up. We provide a dynamic summer Bible Conference with BFC pastors and wives and great speakers and musicians ready to minister. We provide indoor and outdoor activities to challenge the body, soul and mind . . . not to mention the bumps and bruises from the tubing hill or welts from the very popular Paintball. In addition, we provide a facility for you to bring your people so that they can participate in our “expanding fellowship . . . making disciples of Jesus Christ”. We hope you will take advantage of your facility in East Stroudsburg. As someone said: “without people, the vision will perish.”
We hope that you will support Pinebrook in the following ways: (1) Prayer; (2) Help – labor, RWRs; (3) Encouragement; (4) Financial giving. As a 1.5 million-dollar ministry we are in need of your support. Approximately 16 percent of last year’s revenues came from donations. Token support from the churches is appreciated, but we could use much larger gifts as well. Consider taking a special offering for your conference center. And as always, I’d be delighted to come to your church to represent the vision we have for Pinebrook Bible Conference.
Wishing you Joy in Jesus,
Dan Allen
2008 – 2009 Dates of Interest (subject to change)
– Hymn Sings – April 4, May 2, June 6, Sept. 5, Nov. 7, Dec. 5
– Ladies Refresh♡Her (4/25-27) Speakers: Rosa Maria Faulkner, Anne Beiler, Worship Leader: Euanna Pigford
– Golf Fund Raiser (5/30)
– Flower Planting Weekend (6/13-14)
– Summer Staff arrives (6/15)
– Wk 1 (6/21-27) 75th Anniversary Celebration; Speaker – Brooke Solberg: Host Pastor – Jonathan Arnold
– Wk 2 (6/28-7/4) Concert & Fireworks – Calling Levi; Speaker – Jim Ayers; Host Pastor – Brian Cooper
– Wk 3 (7/5-11) Concert – Kings Army; Speaker – Steve Cornell; Host Pastor – Bill Schlonecker
– Wk 4 (7/12-18) Concert – Matt Blagg; Speaker – Wendell Calder; Host Pastor – Byron Widger
– Wk 5 (7/19-25) Concert -Gordy & Marie; Speaker – Ron Blue; Host Pastor – Alva Cassel
– Wk 6 (7/26-8/1) Concert – Katie Weiant; Speaker – Ray Pritchard; Host Pastor – Ralph Soper
– Wk 7 (8/2-8) Concert – Mark Cable; Speaker – Danna Weller; Host Pastor – Cal Reed
– Senior Saints Retreat (9/23-25) Speaker – Lynn Warner & Tom Taylor
– 75th Anniversary Cruise (10/12-19) Speakers – Ron Blue & Don Wyrtzen
– 75th Anniversary Banquet (12/20) Concert – Gordy & Marie
– BFC SnoGlo (1st three weekends of January, 2008)
– March Madness Men & Boys Retreat (3/27-30)
– Ladies Refresh♡Her (4/24-26) Speaker – Ruth Solberg
Board of Directors, Pinebrook Bible Conference, Alva C. Cassel, Chairman & President; Charles Cole, Vice Chairman & Vice President; Charles Bomgardner, Secretary; Jay Fasnacht, Treasurer; Carl Ackerman, Jonathon W. Arnold, Sr., Clyde D. Bomgardner, Jr., Brian H. Cooper, Kermit K. Gehman, LeRoy O. Herb, Gerald Schlonecker, Hans R. Waldvogel, Robert H. Zentz
Daniel P. Allen, Director; Errin G. Mulberry, Associate