The Christian Conference Center is “Holy Ground” – a place of ministry and education for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest … and beyond.

History

Congregations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest began to gather together for camping experiences at least as early as 1925 at the Iowa State Fair Grounds. In the 1940’s camp gatherings were spread out in geographic areas around the region. This produced a camping ministry that rented several different facilities in a variety of locations throughout the Upper Midwest. Camping ministry was organized and carried out between congregations in the belief that this ministry together would strengthen the whole church body.

In time, as the camping ministry grew, and a desire and need to have one facility to house the growing numbers and establish a “Common Holy Ground” began to be explored. With the donation of 212 acres from Ralph McCague (Member at Central Christian Church, Marshalltown, IA) the dream was given a firm foundation to grow. Those who had experienced the life changing relationships of their camping moments were the driving force in finding, establishing, developing and staffing the first camps at the Christian Conference Center in Newton, IA in the late 1960’s.

Our current location began its life as converted farmland and slowly, through the work of many individuals and congregations, developed into one of the highest quality camping facilities in the all of the regions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). With the ministry firmly implanted in the hearts and minds of the first visionaries, the Rustic area (now known as Chi Rho Country) was built up in a way to provide an exciting adventure for 11-14 year-old youth. Soon after, six cabins were built with the unique concept of including a bathroom within each cabin. The main lodge and other group-gathering space followed.

In the mid-to-late 1990’s a mix of those first visionaries and a few who had experienced camp only at the Christian Conference Center began dreaming that this common “holy ground” might become a connecting ministry for adults throughout the churches as well. In the fall of 2000, an addition of 12 hotel-style rooms and a large meeting room was added to the existing lodge. The addition of this facility and the continual support of generations of campers have helped to enable the Christian Conference Center to support who it does today: in addition to the 1000 campers who attend camp in the summer, another 4,000 adults experience the Conference Center with their Church groups, family reunions, or other fellowship groups.

This expansive ministry has helped individuals and churches throughout the region strengthen the ties that bind us Disciples Together.