The Wilds Christian Association
The information on this page was last updated 5/13/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Changing lives to the glory of God
The Wilds Christian Association, Inc. is a global ministry that provides unforgettable camp experiences for people of all ages. Whether here or abroad, we especially focus on creating life-changing opportunities for young people to deepen their connection with Christ.
Contact information
Mailing address:
The Wilds Christian Association
P.O. Box 509
Taylors, SC 29687
Website: wilds.org
Phone: (864) 268-4760
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 576036401
CEO/President: Matt Collier
Chairman: Matt Collier
Board size: 21
Founder: Ken Hay
Ruling year: 1968
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 05/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2025
Purpose
The Wilds Christian Association uses the unique benefits of Christian camping, we serve people by presenting the Truth of God with the love of God so lives can be changed to the glory of God.
Mission statement
Before any construction began on the rustic property of our original campsite in Western North Carolina, the mission of The Wilds was clear: to give glory to God.
Statement of faith
We believe that God's Word is the final authority for every facet of The Wilds ministries. Our statement of faith has been written and sharpened by several generations of trained theologians. Many things in the world change, but the Word of God endures forever.
We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures are verbally inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21) and inerrant (Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:17-18; Matthew 24:35) in the original writings, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:22-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4).
We believe in one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7; 1 Corinthians 8:4), eternal (Psalm 90:2; Revelation 1:8), omnipotent (Genesis 17:1; Revelation 19:6), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12; Acts 17:27), eternally existing in Three Persons-Father, Son and Holy Spirit; one in nature, equal in attributes, power and glory (Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 2:18).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-21; Luke 1:34-35), and that He is true God (John 1:1-2, 14; John 20:28; Colossians 1:15-16) and true man (Luke 2:52; Galatians 4:4).
We believe that God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 11:7; James 3:9) and in a state of innocency (Genesis 1:26-27, 31; Ecclesiastes 7:29), but man willfully transgressed God's law and lost communion with God, becoming dead in sin, corrupt in nature, and incapable of pleasing God (Genesis 3:8, 24; Romans 3:10-13).
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3) as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice (Isaiah 53:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21), and rose again for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 4:25; Romans 5:1); and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood (Ephesians 2:13; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 9:14) and are saved by grace through faith wholly apart from human merit and works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:3-5; Galatians 3:26).
We believe that all who receive the Lord Jesus by faith are born again by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God and thereby become the children of God, possessing eternal life (John 1:12-13; John 3:5-7; Romans 10:9-10, 17; Titus 3:5; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 3:1-3).
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord (Matthew 28:5-8; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15), in His ascension into Heaven (Acts 1:9; Ephesians 1:20-21; Ephesians 4:10), and in His present life there for us as High Priest and Advocate (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:14-16).
We believe in the personal (John 14:3) and visible premillennial return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to reign upon the earth (Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 24:27-31; 1 Corinthians 15:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 19:16-20:6).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead; the saved to a life of eternal glory and bliss in Heaven with God (John 6:39; Romans 8:10-11, 19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:14); the unsaved to eternal judgment of conscious suffering and woe in the lake of fire (Luke 16:19-26; John 5:29; Revelation 20:13-15).
We believe in separation from all worldly practices (Romans 12:2; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:14; 1 John 2:15-17), in whole-hearted devotion to the cause of Christ (Matthew 6:33; Luke 14:25-33; Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 5:9, 14-15), in a high standard of Christian conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Colossians 3:1-4; 2 Peter 1:5-11), since such separation, devotion, and standard is the only scriptural basis for a useful Christian life (Luke 9:23; Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:20-21). For this reason we oppose all practices which hinder Christian growth and detract from Christian influence (1 Corinthians 5:9-11; Galatians 5:16-23; James 3:14-18).
We believe it is necessary to hold sound and aggressive scriptural convictions of separation from liberalism, apostasy, and compromise with unbelief (Romans 16:17; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).
We believe that marriage is the original and foundational God-ordained institution of human society. In marriage, one man and one woman unite in a covenant of promise before God and witnesses to form an exclusive union, as delineated in God's Word, the Bible (Genesis 2:18-25). The marriage partners leave their own families and are no longer considered two, but "one flesh" (Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31). Marriage is God's example and picture of the relationship between Christ (the Bridegroom) and His Church (the Bride), made up of all who receive and trust in His Son Jesus alone for salvation (Ephesians 5:30-32). Marriage between a man and a woman is God's natural and righteous provision to bring children into the world (Genesis 1:27-28).
We believe God immutably created each person as a male or a female to be His own image-bearer. The two distinct, complementary genders, both to be treated with dignity and respect, reflect the creative, natural order given by God (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 5:1-2).
We believe that sexuality is a gift from God to be enjoyed within the bounds of marriage. We believe that no intimate, sexual activity should be engaged in outside of an exclusive marriage between a man and a woman (Exodus 20:14; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:3). We believe that any form of sexual activity outside of God's boundaries (including, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, or incest) is offensive to God and, therefore, sinful (1 John 3:4; Matthew 15:18-19; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 John 1:8-9).
We believe all men and women by nature are sinners who have been willfully disobedient to God's command of perfect obedience recorded in His Word (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:6-10). However, God loves mankind, whom He created. He has made a provision whereby men and women may receive needed forgiveness for all of their sins by trusting in Jesus Christ's sacrificial payment for sins on their behalf (John 3:16; Acts 4:12: Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Men and women can, by repenting, believing, and receiving God's free gift of forgiveness, be restored to fellowship with their Creator (Ephesians 2:8-22).
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Camps/Conference Centers
This ministry has not been rated.
Financial ratios
Financial ratios for this ministry have not been calculated.
Financials
Financials for this ministry have not been collected.
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Mr Matt Collier | Pres/Director/Executive Committee | $105,050 |
| Mr Steve Leatherwood | Treasurer | $91,924 |
| Mr Doug Gorsline | Secretary | $76,406 |
| Dr Rand Hummel | V Pres | $60,582 |
| Dr Ken Collier | Director/Executive Committee | $46,840 |
Compensation data as of: 5/31/2024
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 5/13/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
1969-1986: Early on in his ministry career, Ken Hay spent summers running youth camps. Even as he served full-time in Christian education, he felt a growing burden to establish a Christian camp in the American Southeast. In August 1969, he co-founded The Wilds Christian Camp in North Carolina with a supporting office in Greenville, South Carolina. Dr. Hay served as president of the organization and director of the camp for over 35 years before turning leadership over to Ken Collier, whom he mentored in the ministry from the beginning of The Wilds. The Wilds faced many challenges in those early years, including unexpected debt, difficult access roads, and ...rustic conditions (the origin of the name "The Wilds"-short for "wilderness").
1987-2009: In spite of all that, God allowed this ministry to expand dramatically, both in scope and in influence. The Wilds music ministry has encouraged thousands of families and churches in their personal and corporate worship of the Lord. From 1987 until 2004, The Wilds had an incredible opportunity to minister to over 35,000 campers through The Wilds of the Rockies located near Kremmling, Colorado. In 2001, CampsAbroad became the official missions arm of The Wilds, providing camp training and materials to ministries outside of the United States. We estimate that over 100 of these international camps continue to operate regularly, reaching over 10,000 young people annually. During our 40th year, the Lord answered nearly 10 years of prayer and opened wide the doors for us to begin a camping ministry in the Northeast. The Wilds of New England, located in Deering, New Hampshire, provides camps for teens all summer, as well as early fall weekend retreats.
2010-Present: We often hear comments similar to this: "Wow, this place has really changed since I was a camper years ago, but in some ways it's still the same place! Does that make sense?" Yes, it does make sense! A ministry that refuses to make any changes will quickly become obsolete, but we believe it is possible to make changes to stay relevant while at the same time holding firmly to our core beliefs and practices. By God's grace, The Wilds will continue holding firmly to our biblical philosophy of ministry while at the same time adapting to meet the challenges of each new generation.