GOD

We believe in the one living and true God, eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is infinitely perfect in holiness, goodness, wisdom, justice, mercy and love. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power He created and sustains all things. By His design and according to His character He reigns with providential care over all life and history. (Genesis 1:1-2:4; Exodus 20:2-3; John 1:3; 1Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16-17)

The living God is worthy of all reverence and worship, and every aspect of our ministry must be conducted as humble service joyfully rendered to Him. Everything taught and as well as the facilitation of camp activities will point to God and give Him the glory deserved as creator of all things.

God has chosen to make Himself known, intentionally revealing His existence, character, and power. The scope and complexity of nature, man’s conscience, and history all point to His eternal existence and divine power and leaves man accountable for submission to the one and only true God. (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1: 19-21; 2:14-15)

We value experiences in nature as opportunities to encounter our Creator. Setting aside technology allows us to focus on God, our hearts, and relationships with each other with less distraction. Space is created in the camp schedule to pause and reflect on God in this natural setting.

God has spoken most clearly to us through the Bible. He guided human authors so that every word was recorded exactly as He intended. Both Old and New Testaments are without error in the original writings, making known His will for salvation and life. These scriptures are the ultimate guide and final authority by which every aspect of human knowledge and life should be judged. It is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Matthew 24:35)

Scripture is central to all programming. We believe it, we read it, we study it, we meditate on it, we teach it, and we challenge each other to live in obedience to it.

MAN

Creation and Humanity

We believe God created human beings in His own image. The abilities to reason, strategize, plan, appreciate beauty, "create" in terms of literature, music, and art, and experience joy and heartache are all traceable to God's image stamped on each human being. These capacities enable men and women to fulfill roles unique from everything else in creation; unique in the capacity to fellowship with God and honor Him through lives of submission and praise, unique in the ability to represent God to other people by reflecting His character and ways, and unique in responsibility to steward creation towards fruitful fulfillment of God’s purposes. As a result, from the moment of conception, each person possesses value and dignity and has the potential to honor God through life-giving relationships and meaningful vocation. (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:1-26; Psalm 51; Col. 1:28, 29; 3:10)

Fulfilling our role in God’s design is a significant focus of all camp programming, whether formal or informal, spontaneous or planned. Teaching, conversations, and facilitation promotes glorifying God as the purpose for our existence, the highest value, our greatest calling, and the only means for genuine fulfillment in life.

Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and chose to disobey God. This rebellion brought upon all mankind guilt, condemnation, alienation from God (spiritual death), inescapable bondage to sin, sickness and physical death, and eternal punishment. God’s holy and just character cannot allow sin to remain unpunished, and the eternal judgment of hell awaits all who remain alienated from Him. Sin, therefore, is every human person’s most urgent problem, and each desperately needs to be reconciled to God. Out of love God has graciously purposed to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.  (John 3:1-7; Romans 3:21-31; 5:10-19; 10:9-13; I Corinthians 15:17; Titus 3:5-7)

The reality of our sinfulness and need for a Savior is humbly recognized. This leads us in repentance to Jesus as the only hope for forgiveness and change. It also leads to building relationships modeling humility, grace, forgiveness, and gratitude.

Creation and Sexuality

We accept the Genesis account of creation and believe that man came by direct creation of God and not by evolution. We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.  (Genesis 1-2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3)

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage.  (Gen. 2:18-25; I Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4))

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God.  (Matthew 15:18-20; I Corinthians 6:9-10)

A Christian camp experience is valuable for all children, youth and adults, therefore, we shall accept all applicants regardless of gender identification. However, boys will be lodged with other boys and girls will be lodged with other girls based on biological gender at birth. Gender-neutral restroom/showers will not be provided. The staff at Scioto Hills Christian Camp and Retreat Center holds the right to address and dismiss any behavior that is considered inconsistent with our Statement of Faith or as communicated in other documents, including any inappropriate sexual behavior.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Scioto Hills Christian Camp, Inc. as a ministry in partnership with the Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Scioto Hills Christian Camp, Inc. constituents and community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Scioto Hills Christian Camp, Inc. in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality. Groups that officially promote a position that is in direct conflict with these statements shall be encouraged to seek another facility for their event.  (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-16; I Thessalonians 5:22)

JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ took the form of man, conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Fully God and fully man, He revealed God to mankind through His sinless life, miracles and teaching. He then died as a righteous substitute for unrighteous people who deserved judgment for sin. Through His voluntary death on the cross he provided the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for sin and remains the only basis for any person to find forgiveness of sin and restoration to fellowship with God. His bodily resurrection affirmed that the sacrifice was sufficient to pay the penalty for our sin and secure salvation. Jesus then ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding as His followers’ advocate. (Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-14; 14:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-2; John 2:1; 5:20)

Jesus Christ is recognized as the only possible hope of forgiveness and salvation for a broken, sinful world. All are encouraged to submit to Him as Savior, follow Him as Lord, and seek Him with all their heart as the greatest possible treasure in life and eternity.

SALVATION

When a person repents of their sinfulness and calls upon Jesus Christ as the only hope for forgiveness, the Holy Spirit accomplishes a supernatural work in that person’s heart, described various ways in the Bible as giving sight to those who were spiritually blind, freeing from enslavement to sin, bringing to life one who was spiritually dead (regeneration), and restoring a broken relationship with God (reconciliation). This is never accomplished through a person’s actions, whether for sin forsaken or good accomplished. It is only accomplished by God’s grace and through faith, based on the merit of Jesus and His work on the cross. The forgiven person becomes a friend of God rather than an enemy and a son fully accepted as a member of God’s family, who is then empowered by the Holy Spirit for a lifetime of discipleship and service. (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:1-12; Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:3-7)

This gospel, or good news, is the primary concern for every person we serve, the focal point of our teaching and the starting point for a lifetime of worship and continued growth as a disciple of Jesus. It’s a fearful call to those who would reject but a glorious hope for all who respond. This message is intentionally presented frequently and routinely at every possible opportunity.

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; of the same nature and equal with God the Father and God the Son. He was active in creation and human writers of the Bible were guided by Him to produce an inspired text of God’s words. In relation to unbelievers He convicts the world of sin and its guilt and keeps evil in check until God’s purpose is fulfilled. In bringing people to salvation He bears witness to the truth of the gospel, through faith gives new life to lost sinners, and baptizes them into union with Christ and adoption into God’s family. The Holy Spirit lives inside all Christ followers, enabling them to break free from sin’s power and produce the fruit of Christlikeness. He gifts believers with empowerment for spiritual impact in the lives of others. At times in history He has provided particular gifts as signs to authenticate the validity of God’s revelation. Though these are not pursued as the normative practice for Christians today, the Spirit’s power is sought in Christ-like living and spiritually transformative ministry. Genuine believers are faithfully kept through His work and He serves as their assurance of eternal life. (John 10:27-30; 14:16-17; Romans 8:14-17, 28-39; 12:3-8; 1Corinthians 12-14; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

While thorough preparation and clear presentation of truth are necessary for campers and guests to know and understand the Scriptures, true life change and spiritual transformation only happens as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit.  Success will not be measured by numbers of decisions but rather by faithfulness to the Gospel, our mission statement and the Biblical themes being developed.  Focus will always remain on genuine Spirit empowerment for heart and life change rather than simply emotional responses.

COMMUNITY

Church

We believe that the true church is made up of all who have had their sins forgiven by God's grace through faith alone in Christ alone. The power of the gospel is demonstrated by this formation of a believing community, united by the Holy Spirit as the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. Local churches are covenant communities brought together in unity through a common commitment to Jesus and love for one another providing opportunity for worship, encouragement and accountability for growth, and equipping for gospel impact and service. Ordinances administered by the church confess and reinforce commitment to Jesus and each other. Baptism is recognized as an act of obedience by those who have turned from sin in repentance and toward Jesus in faith as the only possible means for forgiveness. It is a public confession of faith in Christ as well as a recognized step of entrance into membership of the church. The Lord’s Supper is a practice commemorating the death of Christ and celebrating unity in the Christian community.  (Luke 22:14 20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35 39; 1 Cor. 11:23-30; 1 Timothy 3; Col. 1:18 Eph. 1:22 23; 3; 4:1-16)

We exist in partnership with local churches as an extension of their work, sharing the gospel and strengthening the commitments of believers. As a general rule, the ordinances (communion and baptism) are entrusted to the local church for observance rather than being practiced in the camp setting. We encourage new believers to pursue church membership and current church members to faithfully support their local church community.

Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the good of society and that those in leadership offices are to be prayed for and obeyed except in things that oppose the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. Harassing behavior directed toward any individual is to be repudiated and is not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Scioto Hills Christian Camp, Inc. (Matthew 12:15-22; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31; Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 3:13-17)

All campers and guests shall be afforded the same respect and kindnesses.  Biblical counsel consistent with our beliefs shall be considered a loving action.  The staff at Scioto Hills will work hard to provide a safe environment for all campers and guests to enjoy and experience life change.

FUTURE THINGS

The final victory of God’s kingdom is assured. As promised Jesus will return in triumph for His people. At that time He will physically raise the dead and judge the world. Unbelievers will be condemned for their sin to a never-ending conscious punishment in the lake of fire. Believers will experience never-ending life in the presence of the Lord. This coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.  (Matt. 25:31 36; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Rev. 19-20)

We encourage all to look eagerly for the return of Jesus. For those not following Him   this produces legitimate fear and an earnest call to respond to the hope of forgiveness in the gospel. For those committed to following Christ this great hope leads to comfort in trials, holiness in living, and enthusiasm in sharing the gospel.