Lakeview Ministries began as an idea in the minds of just a few inidviduals. As the Lutheran Lake development was underway in the mid-1950’s near Waymansville, some of those involved realized there was the potential for this new lake and land to serve churches and children far and wide, not just those living there. The vision of a camp ministry took root.
In 1963, the South Central Lutheran Camp Association of Indiana, Inc. was established. This organization, better known as “Camp Lakeview,” acquired 120 acres of property adjacent to Lutheran Lake in Bartholomew County, Indiana. Cabins were built and the first summer camps were held in 1965. Camp Lakeview’s ministry had begun.
For over three decades, the ministry steadily grew as a children’s summer camp. In the mid-90’s, Camp Lakeview’s leadership developed a plan to expand the summer youth programs, and transform the camp into a year-round ministry, for guests of all ages. From 1997-2002, the “Pathways of Promise” campaign raised $1.1 million, and the Lilly Endowment contributed an additional $600,000 to help build a new year-round dining hall, two retreat lodges, three additional cabins, a shelterhouse, horse barn, roadways, bathhouse expansion, Site Manager’s residence, and an outdoor amphitheater.
In the years follwoing the completion of the “Pathways of Promise” expansion, the popularity of the camp continued to grow. Demand far outpaced capacity, to the point where hundreds of campers were being turned away each summer. To meet this growing problem, and to provide opportunities for more children to attend summer camp, Camp Lakeview’s leadership decided to create a new, additional site, on 70 acres of land just across Lake Road, called “Lakeview Villages.”
In July of 2009, camp launched the “Let the Children Come” campaign, and “Camp Lakeview” was rebranded as “Lakeview Ministries”. Over 1,250 households contributed to this campaign, rasing $2.5 million by the end of 2012.
Construction of the new Lakeview Villages site began in 2008 with the building of a 30-foot dam that would form a 10-acre lake (Lake Wehmeier). From 2009-2011, roadways, cabins, bathhouses, equipment sheds, a devotional area, and everything else a new camp would need, were built. In the summer of 2011, while construction continued on the main dining area, the Villages welcomed its very first campers.
In the summer of 2012, the Village Lodge was completed, along with the 4 Village cabin clusters, and Lakeview Villages was completely operational. This new site could welcome 80 campers each week during summer camp, along with a beautiful year-round retreat facility. In 2021, a 5th Village cabin cluster was completed, increasing summer camp capacity to 100 campers.
In 2016, Lakeview Ministries purchased an additional campsite, then known as Camp Cedarbrook, in Corydon, IN. It is our hope to make this property into family ministry site, purpose built for serving families as a whole, not just their children. Our current “A Place for You” campaign is focused on raising funds to develop this site, now known as “Lakeview Springs”, along with completing several large projects at both Camp Lakeview and Lakeview Villages.
While the buildings, people, and even the name of camp, have changed over the years, our purpose has not. Lakeview Minstries continues to exist so that campers and guests would encounter God’s grace, truth, and love through faith-filled experiences of growth, inspiration, and recreation. We hope that you will become a part of the history and ministry of Lakeview as well!
Past Camp Directors
Executive Directors
Virgil Linkert (1965-1970)
Ken Wentland (1972-1973)
Mr. & Mrs. Walter Merklin (1974)
Mark Burbrink (1974-1996)
Tom Franke (1996-2013)
David Vandercar (2013-present)
Camp Lakeview Program Directors
Matt Jung (2001-2007)
Tim Stair (2006-2013)
Ellie Lutz (2014-2020)
Brandon Hall (2021-present)
Lakeview Villages Program Directors
Matt Riley (2011-2013)
Danny Frastaci (2013-2022)
Facilities Directors
John Dobrinski (2001-present)