Our History

The thought of our church having a camp began like this: Bro. Ron Kendall (a deacon at Shawnee Baptist Church) and his wife, Peggy, had a desire to somehow be involved in camp ministry because Bro. Kendall’s life had been touched and changed at a camp in his youth.

Bro. Kendall went to the (then) pastor of Shawnee Baptist Church, Bro. Lonnie Mattingly, and told him of his and his wife’s desire. He expressed that he was willing to buy a camp ground and supply the buildings and facilities if the church was willing to run the program and supply the staff for the camp. After looking at several pieces of property, one of our deacons discovered that a beautiful campground named “The Lickford Valley RV Park,” approximately 300 acres, was for sale. The two of them along with other staff looked at the property, and everyone was very impressed. Through much prayer Bro. Kendall purchased the campground. Bro. Mattingly asked Bro. Reno Likins to develop the camp program and to direct the camp. It was renamed “Indian Creek Baptist Camp” and was now in its birthing stage. We began to build buildings, recruit staff and a cook, and opened it up for churches to come. We had the first official week, Teen Week 1, in June of 1996, with approximately 140 campers from Shawnee Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, Lewis Avenue Baptist Church in Temperance, MI, and Berean Baptist Church in Adrian, MI, and thus Indian Creek Baptist Camp was born!

The camp has had a few changes in the camp director position, and each man has helped it stay true to its course and made major contributions, for which we are extremely grateful. Indian Creek would not be Indian Creek without all of the great churches that trust its leadership, program, and preaching and also entrust us to pray and impact their young people for the Lord Jesus Christ! So, to write the history of the camp we would have to say a heartfelt “thank you” to all the churches that have come through the years of Indian Creek Baptist Camp!