Our Story

Rev. Souter Hoople and his brother, Harry Hoople offered thirty-three acres of property to the Ohio Bible Conference, Inc.  The property was mostly woods and brush, except the area near Mount Hope Road, which was planted in Christmas trees.  There was.a partially finished cement block building, but had no windows, doors or floor.

As the existing building was upgraded with a concrete floor and the cistern cleaned and pitcher pumped hooked up for water in the new kitchen, the facility was used for mother and daughter banquets and weekend camps.  The first A-frame cabin (Queen Esther) was also built.

To help deter the incidence of vandalism, John Horrocks encouraged and helped construct the missionary house during the summer of 1973.  The founding missionaries, Dale & Belva Beery moved in September.  

The first full week of camp was held at Mt. Hope.  The facilities consisted of the A-frame and the upstairs loft for the girls as the boys were housed in a smaller A-frame cabin and large tent. Thirty-six girls and thirty-one boys attended this first week of Mt. Hope Bible Camp and 20 made confessions of faith in Christ that week.

With an increase in attendance, the Beery's were forced to add an additional week of camp with a total of 60 salvation decisions during that summer.

With attendance nearly doubling in two years, a third week of camp was added with a total of 206 campers attending.

The campers kept coming and a fourth week of summer camp was added to the programming.

Dale and Belva Beery retired after 41 years of missionary work, including 18 years at Mt. Hope Bible Camp.  A “Passing of the Torch” ceremony was held at the camp to honor the retiring missionaries and welcome the new missionary, Jody Stevens.  Later that summer, Jody married Beth Richardson from Vermont.

With attendance reading 386, the decision was made to add a fifth week of camp.

The 40 x 60 in-ground swimming pool was installed by David Wilson, including a diving board and slide.  The installation included a pool house consisting of eight showers, four restroom stalls, four sinks and a pump room for filters and plumping.

Projector manager, Jeff Hamilton and many volunteers complete the much needed Beery Activity Center, which included a commercial kitchen, dining area, pop stand, game and craft rooms.  

Brett and Sara Wilson become directors of Mt. Hope Bible Camp.

A day-camp for six and seven year olds was added to the programming.

A record high 515 campers attended summer camp with eighty-eight making a first-time decision to follow Jesus.

A new bridge to boys' hill, wired Ethernet connections to all main buildings, softball backstop and heating and cooling unit installed in the staff house were just a few of the renovations.

Aruba networking installed for increased wireless connectivity, which provided the capability of thermostats and thermometers to be controlled remotely.  All new PEX plumbing installed in boys' hill shower house and a complete remodel of the missionary house kitchen, living room, dining room and guest bathroom.