About Us
Rough Acres is a nondenominational camp located on Irrigation Lake, 16 km west of Houston, BC approximately 2 kms off HWY 16. RABC was established in 1973 and has provided summer camps for over 30 years. We provide year round activities that include week long summer camps for children, teens, adults and families. We also provide weekend retreats and facility rentals to community groups interested in utilizing our facilities. We are located 50km east of Smithers and 11km west of Houston. We have a sign on the highway. Turn off of HWY 16 onto Barrett Hat Road, drive past Rock Nest Ranch, and then turn left off Parish Rd. You will see our gate on the left at the end of the road.
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Rough Acres Bible Camp - Philosophy and Purpose
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To provide an opportunity to disciple, lead, mentor, and provide children with an opportunity to learn about the love of Jesus in a fun, interactive, safe environment.
We depend on our supporting churches for prayer, counsel, workers, follow-up, leadership, financial support, ideas-in-action, promotion, and public relations.
In return, we see the camp ministry as an effective tool for Christian discipleship. We utilize education, Christian living, teaching by example, and the outdoor environment as an opportunity to disciple individuals to maturity in Christ. Campers experience 24-hour living in a group atmosphere where Christian leaders have an opportunity to share Christ’s love and forgiveness, to exemplify Christ through living, breathing, and walking in a manner that is pleasing to God. The leader gives example through his/her personal devotional habits – being grounded in the Word and committed to prayer, through his reactions to everyday circumstances, through time spent individually with campers, and by utilizing teachable moments and God’s creation to help campers experience Christ’s love throughout the week.
Our purpose is to disciple, which includes the teaching of salvation, but carries on to encourage growth and to edify – lift up Christian brothers and sisters for encouragement in their walk. We desire to teach how to live for Christ during normal, daily activities and fun, as well as during special times of worship.
Our Executive Director, MeLayne Helston, is better known at Rough Acres by her camp name "Novel". MeLayne's family has a deep history with Rough Acres and throughout the years, she's had many roles; including, camper, staff, cabin leader, cook, and now Executive Director!
Meet our Caretaker Family, Matt & Candle Dyck! They are also known by their camp names Fender & Tipz! They have previously been staff at camp and now live at Rough Acres year round with their children.
Faith Statement
We believe that the Bible (the Old and New Testament scriptures) are the inspired Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts, the complete revelation of God’s will in the Christian faith and life.
We believe in the Trinity: one God who exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit; who is Creator of all things and infinitely perfect.
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and genuinely human (i.e. both God and man) in one person forever. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the scriptures. He rose bodily from the dead, ascended into Heaven, where, at the right hand of the Father on high, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.
We believe in the total depravity of man- though he was created in the image of God, he sinned and became separated from God and was under the penalty of eternal condemnation.
We believe that salvation from the penalty of sin comes only through personal faith in Jesus Christ and that His substitutionary death on the cross is the only ground for justification, forgiveness, and eternal life.
We believe in the resurrection of the body, the eternal life of the saved, and the eternal punishment of the lost and in the personality of Satan.
We believe that the true church universal is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and, therefore, are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head.
We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit whose ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age, to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
We believe in the bodily, physical, and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
History of RABC
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We are a non-profit charitable organization created from the foresight of two men, Stan Rough and John Pousette.
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They worked together for the YMCA in Kitimat, and often voiced concerns that the Christian aspect of the YMCA was no longer a principal concern. Together, they envisioned a Christian camp for the North.
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In 1960, they raised funds and bought waterfront at Tyhee Lake, later selling that property and purchasing property on Irrigation Lake (Dunalter) jointly with the North American Indian Mission.
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The original buildings came from Granisle, with both camps sharing the facility until both groups needed more space.
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The property (160 acres) was divided in half; the Lord gave the Rough Acres Bible Camp Society the undeveloped half on the South East, and the Indian Mission (Rocknest Bible Camp) received the already developed campsite.
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Rough Acres Bible Camp then undertook the principles, ideals, tradition and name of the Society’s founder Stan Rough, to develop its present campsite. This camp has been the place where many people have had their first encounter with Christ and others have a time of recommitment and renewal in their lives. It is our prayer that this will continue to be the focus of Rough Acres Bible Camp. The Society is thankful for the miracle of having been able to operate debt free. This is a great testimony to the host of the Lord’s servants who have dedicated their efforts to this opportunity for Christian service.
