Bair Lake Bible Camp

The information on this page was last updated 2/5/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Bair Lake Bible Camp is an independent, evangelical Christian, camp and retreat center located in southwestern Michigan. Founded in 1957, Bair Lake Bible Camp owns 90 acres of land positioned on Bair Lake.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Bair Lake Bible Camp
12500 Prang St.
Jones, MI 49061

Website: www.blbc.com

Phone: 269-244-5193

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 386088246

CEO/President: Drew Gardner

Chairman: John Beaghan

Board size: 12

Founder: Plymouth Brethren churches

Ruling year: 1958

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 09/30

Member of ECFA: Yes

Member of ECFA since: 2000


Purpose

Bair Lake Bible Camp exists to inspire this generation to encounter God.


Mission statement

Bair Lake Bible Camp provides a safe place for families, churches, groups, and individuals to come and experience the truth and love of God in an authentic community through Christian camps and retreats.


Statement of faith

- We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God.

- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

- We believe that God created the universe and everything in it. The culminating work of His creative activity was the creation of human beings, male and female, who are made in His image. Therefore, from the moment of conception until natural death, human life should be cherished and protected.

- We believe the Lord Jesus to be both truly God and truly man. We believe in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

- We believe that every person is fallen, sinful and lost. We firmly maintain that no one is saved by an act of his own will alone. The Holy Spirit brings about the new birth and works in the soul of the sinner, convicting him of sin, repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling a Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

- We believe that the Gospel should be proclaimed to every person on earth, and that it is the responsibility of all who hear the Gospel to repent of their sins and rebellion against God, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive justification and the forgiveness of sins.

- We believe that redemption is wholly by the blood of Christ; that salvation is by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that every true child of God possesses eternal life and will never perish.

- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; those who are in Christ will receive glorified bodies and dwell forever with the Lord in Heaven. Those who are spiritually lost will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment.

- We believe the marital relationship, instituted by God, is between one man and one woman only, and establishes the only proper pattern of sexual relations. Furthermore, we believe that gender is ordained by God and cannot be changed or altered by human will.

- We believe that the universal church, a living organism known as the body of Christ, is composed of all believers of every age since its inception at Pentecost. We believe that Christ is the head of the church and is Himself its Savior. We believe that local churches are composed of believers in any community who assemble in Christ's name.

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Donor confidence score

Show donor confidence score details

To understand our donor confidence score, click here.


Transparency grade

C

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Camps/Conference Centers

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating913 of 147923 of 37
Fund acquisition rating272 of 14798 of 37
Resource allocation rating1108 of 147927 of 37
Asset utilization rating1143 of 148030 of 37

To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.


Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
9%3%5%1%4%3%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
3%1%1%1%1%1%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
35%41%28%65%39%39%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
4%1%1%1%1%1%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
65%59%72%35%61%61%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
81%77%78%75%78%77%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
93%88%99%72%95%72%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
76%67%77%54%74%55%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
7%12%1%28%5%28%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
4%5%0%2%1%9%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
15%22%21%24%21%22%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
0.380.300.270.050.250.23
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
3.708.259.556.815.424.59
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.562.502.580.361.371.04
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
5.453.553.935.927.189.12
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.180.280.250.170.140.11
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
4.373.443.4727.837.5610.28
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20252024202320222021
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
7%6%7%8%3%2%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
0%3%5%5%0%0%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
256%310%343%1753%386%431%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20252024202320222021
Cash$614,466$499,251$785,740$900,250$1,065,039
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$53,586$46,593$42,205$43,083$17,598
Short-term investments$136,046$126,394$117,602$100,430$131,231
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$804,098$672,238$945,547$1,043,763$1,213,868
Long-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Fixed assets$5,832,293$5,744,324$5,490,295$4,609,188$4,082,405
Other long-term assets$0$0$0$0$273,459
Total long-term assets$5,832,293$5,744,324$5,490,295$4,609,188$4,355,864
Total assets$6,636,391$6,416,562$6,435,842$5,652,951$5,569,732
 
Liabilities20252024202320222021
Payables and accrued expenses$44,684$42,511$44,148$53,192$62,996
Other current liabilities$181,976$128,712$115,583$92,265$70,062
Total current liabilities$226,660$171,223$159,731$145,457$133,058
Debt$168,081$290,992$335,631$0$0
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$0$0$0$0$0
Total long-term liabilities$168,081$290,992$335,631$0$0
Total liabilities$394,741$462,215$495,362$145,457$133,058
 
Net assets20252024202320222021
Without donor restrictions$5,979,573$5,802,315$5,468,727$4,716,794$4,574,384
With donor restrictions$262,077$152,032$471,753$790,700$862,290
Net assets$6,241,650$5,954,347$5,940,480$5,507,494$5,436,674
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20252024202320222021
Total contributions$941,082$487,357$304,812$580,313$686,534
Program service revenue$1,306,574$1,221,989$154,115$914,979$759,086
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$18,689$18,340$8,841($19,673)$25,659
Other revenue$34,409$19,782$670$21,398$291,531
Total other revenue$1,359,672$1,260,111$163,626$916,704$1,076,276
Total revenue$2,300,754$1,747,468$468,438$1,497,017$1,762,810
 
Expenses20252024202320222021
Program services$1,543,554$1,348,743$252,712$1,108,476$969,314
Management and general$443,210$361,177$81,556$297,020$273,776
Fundraising$26,687$23,681$4,554$20,701$18,367
Total expenses$2,013,451$1,733,601$338,822$1,426,197$1,261,457
 
Change in net assets20252024202320222021
Surplus (deficit)$287,303$13,867$129,616$70,820$501,353
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$287,303$13,867$129,616$70,820$501,353

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Drew GardnerExecutive Director$77,109

Compensation data as of: 12/31/2025


Response from ministry

No response has been provided by this ministry.


The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/5/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

Established in 1957 by the Plymouth Brethren churches, Bair Lake Bible Camp has expanded to incorporate various evangelical groups in its leadership and constituency.


Program accomplishments


Needs

While one-time gifts are a huge blessing, we also have a need for consistent monthly gifts to help us plan and prioritize our budget. Regular monthly giving provides us with a predictable cash flow to fund future renovations and infrastructure upgrades. Please prayerfully consider partnering with us by joining the Bair Necessities Monthly Giving Club! We offer a variety of different options for your monthly gifts.