Emmaus School of Biblical Studies has its roots within the international missions organization Youth With A Mission (www.ywam.org). In 1981 Dr. Ron Smith and his wife Judy, along with pastor Dr. Earl Morey, founded the first School of Biblical Studies (SBS) at YWAM’s University of the Nations campus in Kona, Hawaii. The school was established with the single focus of getting Christians into God’s Word. Since its founding, SBS has grown to more than 34 schools in existence around the world. Dr. and Mrs. Smith currently reside in Lakeside Montana, where they lead YWAM’s SBS International (http://www.sbsinternational.org).
Years before becoming Executive Director of Camp Lurecrest Ministries, Inc. in 1997, Jerry Martin dreamed of starting a Bible school. In the Fall of 2001, Tom Phillips and Eileen Van Zee attended SBS at the YWAM campus in Lakeside, Montana (http://www.ywammt.org). During that year, the vision for starting a similar school at Camp Lurecrest was birthed. Jerry shared his lifelong vision with the future teaching staff, asking that they prayerfully consider starting a Bible school at Camp Lurecrest. Shortly thereafter, in the Fall of 2003, Bryan and Holly Norton attended SBS in Montana, with the shared vision of starting ESBS at Lurecrest. It was during this time that the name “Emmaus School of Biblical Studies” was adopted, based on the “Emmaus Road” story found in Luke chapter 24 (see "The Emmaus Story").
During the summer of 2004, the Camp Lurecrest Board of Trustees gave strong support for the founding of ESBS. The team continued to grow as Byron Hartzler, an SBS graduate from YWAM’s Turner Valley (Canada) campus, joined in the spring of 2005. During the summer of 2005, with the full backing of Camp Lurecrest and its Board of Trustees, ESBS was officially introduced to the staff of Camp Lurecrest and to the general public. The first ESBS class commenced in August of 2006! |
