Ask any child who has ever read the Bible and they will tell you it begins with the words, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
In the same way the Full Gospel Bible Camp of Kissimmee, Florida had a beginning. Born in the heart of a Salvation Army Major, Rev. W. W. Hinshaw of Pennsylvania, it began after he and a group of friends found some acreage a few miles out in the country.
A Holy Spirit filled, tongue-talking Pentecostal, Major Hinshaw, dreamed to establish a camp where those who shared his faith could worship the Lord freely. One of his most often repeated remarks after the Holy Spirit moved in those early camp meetings was, "Well, there's one good thing about our location. We're so far away from everybody that no one will be able to complain about us making too much noise.? Thus us being a place separated and set apart for the spirit of God to move among us.
Well, the old cow pasture across the road to the east in now a major housing development, and the woods just north of the camp was first turned into a gravel pit is now a beautiful man-made lake. Major Hinshaw might not even recognize the Full Gospel Bible Camp he left behind when he went to be with the Lord at the age of 99 and 1/2 years old.
Incidentally, Major Hinshaw was known for his dry sense of humor. One of his close friends once said to him, "Major, if you're not careful you'll live to be 100." To this the Major replied, "Well, if I don't, I'll die trying."
By the time Major W. W. Hinshaw passed away, his dream to establishing a place where anyone who loved the Lord and wanted to fellowship with others of like precious faith was finally established. And, I might add, through a great deal of hard work and personal sacrifice.
From the very beginning of Major Hinshaw's organizational efforts, something else was very apparent to this man of God and his close friends. If the Full Gospel Bible Camp was ever going to reach its full potential, they needed dedicated friends to join with them and help carry the load. In 1968 Major Hinshaw made a call for members and issued a membership card that read:
Spiritual Experience: Each candidate for membership shall be expected to give a clear testimony of having been born of the Spirit of God (John 3:5-8,) and of having received the Holy Spirit or to be earnestly seeking to be baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4,).
Water Baptism: It is expected that each candidate will follow the scriptural command to be baptized in water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16).
Word of God: The candidate must have a sincere belief in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God and the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
Return of the Lord: The candidate must have a hope and expectancy for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Growth: The candidate should develop the practice of daily prayer, Bible study, personal witnessing, and faithful attendance at worship and observance of the sacraments.
