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| ABOUT US |
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A BIT OF OUR HISTORY Piatt Lake Bible Conference Association began in the hearts and minds of a small group of Godly men and women, seeking to serve their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by being obedient to His command to "Go Ye into all the world and preach the Gospel." The year was 1937, when Rev. Arthur and Florence Glen devoted full time to church planting missionary work in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. They organized this work into the Hiawatha Land Independent Baptist Mission (HLIBM) and began a search for a conference grounds for encouragement and edification of the group during the summer months. They discovered that a Mr. Clyde Saunders of Sault Ste. Marie had a lodge at Piatt Lake. They contacted Mr. Saunders and in the summer of 1937 the first conference was held at Piatt Lake, using tents and trailers for housing. The conference continued to meet at Piatt Lake through 1942, by which time they had outgrown the facilities, From 1943 through the summer of 1945, the conference, by then called the Blessed Hope Bible Conference met at Clear Lake Forest Camp, about twenty miles southeast of Munising. However, this camp became too small and the group remarked what a wonderful spot, if only Piatt Lake was available to purchase. To their surprise they learned that it was available! On October 26, 1945, members of the HLIBM met to discuss the feasibility of buying the property. The association chose the name Blessed Hope Bible Conference Association. Articles of Incorporation were received from the State of Michigan on November 21, 1945. The name was subsequently changed to its present name, Piatt Lake Bible Conference Assocication (PLBCA), in 1948. The original tract of land consisted of 3260 acres purchased for $20,000.00, just over $6.00 per acre! The original By-laws and Lease Agreement were prepared and in the winter of 1945 the sale of leases was advertised in a number of Christian publications. On July 4, 1946, a dedication service was held on the shores of Piatt Lake, with Arthur Glen as the speaker. By October, 1946, sixty-one lots had been leased at a cost of $250.00 per lot. Today, there are 169 lots under lease. HIAWATHA CAMP AND CONFERENCE MINISTRY In 1963, the 500 acre conference grounds on the east end of Piatt Lake was leased to Hiawatha Youth Camp under the leadership of Billy Walker. Weekly teenage camp programs and Adult Bible Conferences are offered throughout the summer as well as musical concerts and celebrations. The facilities include 18 cabins, 7 staff cabins, an infirmary and nurses quarters, the Candy Cove, the Sweet Shop, Recreation Hall, Fellowship Hall and Miracle Building Conference Center. This center provides counseling areas, offices, a bookstore, library, restrooms, a spacious lobby overlooking Piatt Lake, dining facilities for over 400 and a 1000 seat auditorium. Hiawatha is serviced by a staff of 45 dedicated people. For further information regarding the camps and conference programs, contact: Hiawatha Camp, Box D, Southgate, MI 48195. Telephone: (313) 284-0200 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The Piatt Lake Bible Conference Association is an organization whose members must be born-again Christians committed to Jesus Christ and the spreading of His gospel, who have incorporated for the purpose of providing a location where its members, their families and guests can be encouraged and renewed in their Christian commitment through a summer Bible conference program, recreation, worship, and fellowship. The association also purposes to conserve its resources which are recognized to be:
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