Our History
Our Story
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In June 1891, two men, D. S. Warner and Noah Byrum, set out from Grand Junction, following the railroad tracks with fishing poles in hand. As they ventured toward Lester Lake, they passed through a stunning grove of towering maples, beech, hemlock, and pine trees. Despite evidence of past forest fires—blackened trunks and charred stumps—the area remained alive with the morning songs of birds. Pausing to enjoy the natural beauty, Warner remarked, “Do you know, Brother Byrum, since enjoying this beautiful spot, I have been thinking what a wonderful place this would be for a camp-meeting ground.”
By February 1892, his vision began taking shape when a notice in The Gospel Trumpet announced the purchase of 60 acres of land south of Lester Lake. On-site preparations started in early March. By May 29, 1892, workers and community members had gathered to view the progress. Arranging seats near the uncompleted buildings, they sang hymns, prayed, and heard devotional thoughts from Birdie Fink, marking the first-ever religious
service at what would become Warner Camp.
Warner Camp emerged from the American Camp Meeting Movement, often described as “Methodism’s harvest time” by Francis Asbury. The Church of God, which became central to the camp’s identity, had arrived in the Bangor area through the revivals of J. C. Fisher in 1882. The first official camp meeting in Bangor occurred in 1883 on the Harris Farm.
In 1886, the Church of God relocated The Gospel Trumpet publishing ministry to Grand Junction. Warner’s July 1 report described how a business meeting during the Bangor camp meeting was divinely inspired, leading to the unanimous decision to move the publishing office to Grand Junction. This relocation connected the ministry to a vibrant local community of saints.
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The first camp meeting at Warner Camp’s current site began on June 14, 1892. The event drew such large crowds that it required a tabernacle, a large tent, and additional facilities to accommodate simultaneous services. During this historic gathering, nine individuals were baptized in Lester Lake, a tradition still observed at the end of every camp meeting and youth camp today.
A Growing Legacy
For 12 years, Warner Camp served as the cradle of the Church of God Reformation Movement, hosting gatherings that shaped the national identity of the Church of God. Over the decades, it transitioned from a 60-acre meeting site into a year-round ministry hub spanning 192 acres.
Today, Warner Camp hosts summer youth camps, retreats and conferences, family camp and our historical Camp Meeting. Warner Camp’s story reflects a commitment to its founding principles while embracing opportunities for growth and renewal. Through over 133 years of worship, song, prayer, and community, it has remained a place where lives are transformed and faith flourishes. As we honor the legacy of those who came before us, we look to the future with a servant’s heart, ready to provide life-changing experiences to all who step onto these sacred grounds.
