Our History
where it all began
Camp Pinnacle was founded in 1898 as the "Young Women's Bible Training Movement." Founder Harriet Christie had a desire to help young women lift up the name of Jesus Christ, to develop Christian character, and to give them a happy and wholesome vacation. She asked the young girls in her Sunday School class if they would like a place to get away during the summer. So was born the first summer camp in America founded exclusively for girls, providing recreational and spiritual challenges for young women as far away as New York City. By 1909, the camp was serving 800 summer campers!
From that small beginning grew a missionary training organization that sent missionaries all over the world called the Albany Bible Institute, a beautiful retreat center located on 880 acres, and a summer camp that offers exciting programs for both girls and boys.
ALBANY BIBLE INSTITUTE
The history of the Albany Bible Institute is inarguably intertwined with the history of Camp Pinnacle. After the death of her husband in 1896, Mrs. Harriet Christie was left a young widow without children. The following summer, she visited her Sunday school teacher in the suburbs of Chicago.
One evening while sitting on the porch, Harriett said to her friend, “Do you suppose I could ever do anything to help girls who are worse off than I am?” Her friend did not say, “No you’re young,” or “No, you haven’t had the experience,” or “You are not well enough,” but she said with assurance, “Yes, of course you could!” And there the seed for camp and the Albany Bible Institute was planted. ...
ARCHIVE OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
FROM AND RELATING TO THE MINISTRY OF CAMP PINNACLE
July 1925 – A newsletter from the “Young Women’s Bible Training Movement” (the title used to encompass the ministry of both Camp Pinnacle and the Albany Bible Institute) written by the founding women. An inspirational read, revealing the ever-present need for God’s help as we work to bring Him glory in all that we do. Some things truly never change.
“How a Bible School Grew Out of a Girl’s Camp” - An early recount of the history of Camp Pinnacle, an outpouring of the founding women’s hearts and desires for the ministry, descriptions of the needs and prayer requests of the time, reports of answered prayer, a list of graduates, historic photographs, and a challenge to faith.
