The Ohio Valley Bible Camp Association (“Association”) was incorporated according to the state laws of Pennsylvania on May 22, 1961. The bylaws were approved by the Ohio River Valley Conference of the former Eastern District of The American Lutheran Church on October 10, 1961. During 1963, the Association resolved, “We will endeavor to reach out to all communities and encourage all youngsters to attend Bible Camp.” Before the property was acquired for a camp site, the Association did Bible camping at Raccoon Creek State Park. The Association resolved early on, “Not to deny any child the opportunity to come to camp due to finances.”
In 1964, a farm (221 acres) was purchased from James McGugin to be converted into a camp. Mr. McGugin desired that the property would be used for Christian ministry. Until the property was ready for campers in 1966, camping continued at Raccoon Creek and Tomlinson Run State Parks. In 1967, an adjacent parcel of property (73.6 acres), once part of the McGugin farm, was purchased from the Locq family. A section of the property was sold in 1983. Today, Camp Agape has 257 acres filled with beautiful vistas.
Camp Koinonia located in upstate New York, nurtured the staff and programs during the early days of Camp Agape’s ministry. Over the years there was movement from tents to A-frame cabins and platform tents, and a shower house, a pavilion, and a swimming pool were added. With a boost from gas royalties, new modern cabins and many renovations have taken place to equip the ministry to provide year-round programs. With the help of Mission Builders, the Retreat and Learning Center was built in 2008. In 2018, a water system was established that now provides treated water to the whole camp. In 2020, Camp Agape added a commercial kitchen to the Retreat & Learning Center and a new duplex cabin (Alpha & Omega) which sleeps a total of twenty-four people with two bathrooms and four additional showers increasing modern cabin sleeping capacity to forty-eight.
Camp Agape broadened its curriculum from traditional Bible Camping to include programming dedicated to reading and math, arts and science, and music and drama. Many of these “theme” camps have become popular with our campers. In recent years, beekeeping, gardening, and maple syrup production have become part of the curriculum. The Maple Syrup Festival in the spring and The Fall Foliage Day in the fall have become major events at Camp Agapé.
In 1988, with formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Camp Agape became affiliated with its Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod. Today, Camp Agape is a member of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries and the American Camp Association. From 1961 to 2021, the mission at Camp Agape has always been “Bringing people together in Christ through outdoor ministry.” The word ‘Agape’ is a Greek word meaning unconditional love, God’s love for children of all ages and all creation.
Former Directors:
1966 – 1967 Maynard Atik
1967 – 1968 Alan Toby
1969 – 1971 Pastor Clifford Wood
1972 – 1976 Dave Thoreson
1977 – 1981 John Hushman
1982 – 1985 Dean Hauge
2003 – 2005 Thomas Reddinger
2006 – 2017 Lavinia Wingert
2017 – 2019 Pastor Wayne Harrison
2020 – 2022 Deacon Rick Frederick
2022 – Present Pastor Wayne Harrison