Earliest Days Maranatha now stands on land once occupied by the Ottawa and Chippewa Indian tribes. This area, known as Lake Harbor, is bordered by Lake Michigan on the eastern shore and a channel on the northern shore and nestled in surrounding sand dunes. The first while settlers appeared here in the mid 1850's.
1850's The first permanent structure to be built on what is now Maranatha was the Ferry Lumber Mill. This mill stood at the mouth of the channel and lumber was floated from the boats in Lake Michigan down the channel into an inland lake and transferred to the railroad cars.
1880's The lake's harbor became Mona Lake when the President of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad named a depot at the east end of the inland lake after his daughter Mona. Eventually the employees of the railroad began to refer to the lake itself as Mona Lake and the name stuck. By the mid 1880's this area known as Lake Harbor began to develop a reputation as a summer resort. In 1896 Edwin Swett purchased the Lake Harbor Hotel and made dramatic and famous improvements. The Lake Harbor Hotel became very famous and was second in reputation to only the Grand Hotel of Mackinac Island. It occupied more than 400 feet of channel frontage and accommodated 500 guests.
1890's The first known camp and denominational meetings were held on the property in 1892. It was known as the Hackley Park Assembly Grounds.
1918 The magnificent Lake Harbor Hotel burned to the ground and was never rebuilt.
1920's Paul Rader, a well-known Chicago evangelist, purchased 217 acres at this site to be used as a conference center where the Word of God would be preached. The Paul Rader Conference grounds had a 143 room bathhouse on Lake Michigan beach, a splendid nine hole golf course, a swimming pool on the beach, and six concrete tennis courts. A tabernacle platform was built in a natural "bowl" between the dunes (its footings are still visible at Maranatha) and thousands of persons sat on the hillside listening to Rader and many other famous evangelists of the day. A daily schedule of services was published throughout the Midwest and many were attracted to this "spiritual jewel" on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
Early 1930's Mr. Rader's health failed in the early 1930's and he was unable to continue the ministry. In 1934 and 1935 the conference grounds and meetings were run by evangelist Henry E. Burke. During this time the summer children's camp, Camp Chi-Co-Tab (sponsored by Chicago Gospel Tabernacle and Paul Rader) was renamed Camp Mi-Chi-Dune under the direction of Dr. and Mrs. Lance B. Latham. The Latham's were the founders of the AWANA ministry and they would relocate the camp to Yankee Springs, near Hastings, Michigan and rename it Camp Michiwana.
Maranatha, as we know it today, began with a vision and a need. Dr. Henry Savage, then pastor of the First Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan dreamed of a place where pastors, missionaries, and families could come together for growth and encouragement. His love of youth and their potential for Christian service drove him to look for a site where wholesome recreation and spiritual challenge could be combined in a unique and beautiful setting. In 1936 Dr. Savage put his vision into action by raising $40,000 to purchase the conference grounds. In addition to his own personal investment, gifts were given for the purchase by Scripture Press and the Sudan Interior Mission. The first two summers the conference season only lasted a few weeks.
In 1938 Maranatha "officially" opened its summer conference season on Sunday, June 27th the summer conference series was called "Maranatha." The name was later changed to become what it is today, Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference.
Dr. Savage challenged his music minister, Howard M. Skinner, to assume the full-time responsibility as director of the conference. Howard and his wife, Ada, both talented singers and keyboard artists, managed the property and led the ministry until his retirement in 1974. For years, Maranatha became synonymous with the music ministry of Howard and Ada Skinner. Hundreds of youth, men and women across the world owe their spiritual lives to the dedication of Howard Skinner.
Dr. W. Karl Steele was a part of these early years and continued for 35 years. His unique use of the art talents God gave to him touched the lives of thousands of persons at Maranatha and across America. Christian chalk artists through the years have acknowledged his unique ability through the media of chalk and lighting to simply present complicated Biblical messages.
Dr. Savage also called two unique women into ministry at Maranatha which extended for more than 30 years. Dr. Amy Lee Stockton, was one of the weekly Bible teachers and counselor throughout the summer seasons. Miss Rita Gould, musician and children’s worker, developed the summer children's ministry at Maranatha. She was active in music ministry but her dedication and leadership in the children's work is remembered by thousands as their lives were changed. The children's programs continue as a vital part of the Maranatha ministry.
Extended ministry began in the 1960’s when many guests wanted to make Maranatha their summer home, leased land was made available and many cottages and mobile homes became the summer home for more than fifty families. This began a tradition and now one hundred families come to their summer home during the summer ministry season. To honor Dr. Savage the Savage Memorial Prayer Tower was built and dedicated in 1969. The prayer tower is located at the highest point of the property, overlooking Lake Michigan, it is a focal place for prayer at Maranatha.
In the fall of 1973 Mr. Tedd Bryson, formerly Director of Youth for Christ in New York City was named to replace the retiring Howard Skinner as Executive Director of Maranatha. His years of dedicated service and ministry to guests and staff has been appreciated by all those who were fortunate to be a part of that era of Maranatha. His years also were characterized by extensive building programs. The Lodge, Dundside Apartments and Phase I of the Lakeside Condominiums were constructed. With the additional facilities Maranatha’s ministry now was expanding to twelve months.
Ron Busch was named as the Executive Director of Maranatha and began his ministry here in the Fall of 1988. He came to us from Winona Lake Conference Center. The spring and fall midweek conferences for seniors began under his ministry. Building expansion continued with the Israel and Jordan Apartments and the Family Life Center being built. The apartments provided additional housing for the summer and retreat seasons. The Family Life Center has provided rooms and recreation for summer programming and the retreat season.
Four years ago Scott Barger, a camp and conference director from The Salvation Army was named as the Executive Director of Maranatha. Scott, also a former Youth for Christ ministry director, spent a decade within the ministry of The Salvation Army as a regional music minister, youth pastor and director of two camp and conference centers.
2001 Maranatha Lodge Reconstructed and Lobby Addition - Guests arriving to check in for their summer week were greeted by a greatly expanded foyer and lobby in the Lodge as well as a completely refurbished lodge exterior. This beautiful addition includes an elevator to all three floors of the Lodge and a large-covered portico and circle drive in front of the building. The beautiful new entrance to the ministry of Maranatha welcomes all who enter these blessed grounds.
2002 Mother's Day and Father's Day Brunch ministries began under the ministry of Food Service Director, Ted Cerniglia, and his staff reaching out in ministry through this ministry to more that 500 people for the first event of this kind at Maranatha and continues to grow.
2003 Maranatha Teen Chapel formerly known as the Rec Hall receives a major upgrade and overhaul including media, air-conditioning and equipment to reach the emerging generations.
Maranatha Tabernacle receives major upgrades including a new sound and media system as well as windows, exterior siding and a new roof.
Maranatha begins a new fall conference ministry to strengthen marriages in partnership with Celebrate Your Marriage ministries.
2004 Maranatha begins its new low-powered radio station ministry, WMBC-LP, to the Norton Shores, Muskegon and West Michigan communities. Members Bill Dufendach and Martin Doorn are instrumental in launching and making this radio ministry a success.
