Red Willow Ministries: Rooted in Faith, Growing in Christ

About Red Willow

Our Legacy

Red Willow Bible Camp Founded in 1926 and is alleged to be the oldest, continuously-operating Lutheran Bible Camp in the United States. It has always been humbling to do the math: if we figured conservatively on serving 1,000 youth for three quarters of a century, that's 75,000 youth that have come to the old camp. In the past--before young people had so many other options, and when attendance at bible camp before confirmation was mandatory--the numbers 25-30 years ago were in the 2,000 a year range.

Timeline

1926 - Luther League girls from Edmore camped on the shore of Devils Lake under the leadership of Pastor R.A. Ofstedal.

1927 - Fourteen boys from Edmore camped at Devils Lake for four days with Pastor Ofstedal conducting a study on the Lords Prayer.

1928 - The first camp was held at Red Willow Lake located just 8 miles north of Binford, ND in Griggs County. There were 35 young people in attendance. 

1940 - First tract of 20 acres secured for a camp.  Tents were the only facilities.

1949 - The camp Chapel was constructed from lumber.

1963 - First camp director hired.

1967 - Ofstedal Retreat Center was constructed.

1967 to Present
The camp has been further developed with a boys village of 4 cabins, girls village of 7 cabins, shop, outdoor swimming pool, water front, hospitality house, adventure course, girls bathhouse, and tipi village.  Today we have over 700 summer campers and have retreats, meetings, seminars, and social activities for all ages throughout the calendar year.  

Click here to learn about our mission...