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Word of Life Fellowship, Inc. is an international evangelistic Christian youth ministry headquartered in Schroon Lake, in the Adirondack Mountains region of New York in the United States. It was founded on Long Island in the 1930s by John Von Casper "Jack" Wyrtzen and Harry Bollback. By 1940, Word of Life owned a camp and a conference center in Schroon Lake, and the first Bible Institute was founded in 1971. Today, Word of Life has active youth ministry operations in over 70 countries and is involved in a wide variety of activities such as youth camps, Bible clubs, evangelistic campaigns, and radio ministry. It also operates several Bible institutes, including two located in Schroon Lake, New York, and Hudson, Florida, in the United States. The current president of Word of Life Fellowship is Don Lough, Jr.
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Jack Wyrtzen
Jack Wyrtzen began as a street preacher on Long Island and began Word Of Life as a radio ministry targeted at Christian youth. Like Billy Graham, Word of Life was an out branch of Youth for Christ. Wyrtzen's career included many pioneering achievements, including his work on WHN television and radio. His preaching filled Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium.
He was offered the first presidency of Youth for Christ, and he led prayer breakfasts for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Wyrtzen's life and work, including his interactions with Billy Graham, Dawson Trotman, Harry A. Ironside and other evangelical ministers of the twentieth century, are documented in an extensive collection of papers and recordings that are archived at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College.
Jack Wyrtzen died in 1996. Although he and Billy Graham eventually parted ways theologically, they remained in contact throughout Wyrtzen's life. After Wyrtzen's death, Graham said of him, "Jack was a faithful proclaimer of the Gospel. He never gave up and he never compromised. He has had a glorious welcome in heaven! The last time I saw him we hugged each other and had a brief prayer together. I was deeply moved. I loved him very much in the Lord."
Teachings
According to their "Statement of Faith", Word of Life adheres to the teachings of biblical inerrancy, scriptural authority, the Deity of Christ, the bodily Resurrection of Christ, the triunity of God, the total depravity of man, and salvation by grace through faith alone. Word of Life also identifies largely with dispensational theology.
Camps
Word Of Life operates 45 camps in 62 countries.
US Camps
The Ranch The Ranch is a western-themed children's summer camp for ages 6–13 located in Pottersville, NY. Program elements include dozens of horses, a weekly rodeo, cowboys and a full western "main street". Every day, campers participate in team activities, cabin challenges, Bible teaching, sports, swimming and horseback riding.
The Island The Island is a 49-acre island in the middle of Schroon Lake offering week-long camps for teens ages 13–18. It offers a unique, Christian experience complete with fellowship every morning and evening, and has sports tournaments every day along with a high ropes course, tubing, paintball,swimming, rock wall and much more.
The Wild The Wild is a unique camping experience for students grades 6-8, with high-energy Bible teachers, music, and activities in the Adirondack Mountains.
The Pines The ministry also operates a Family Campground that is open to entire families. It contains facilities for tents, RVs, and travel trailers as well as lake view cabins and fully furnished cottages. The campground offers Bible study programs and other activities including swimming, miniature golf, basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and a life-size chess board.
Florida Youth Camp The Florida Youth Camp is an extension branch of Word of Life located in Hudson, Florida. The camp runs for eight weeks during the summer and ministers to both junior campers and teen campers. The camp offers activities such as a rock wall, paintball, a pool, basketball courts, and a new waterslide built in 2009.
International ministries
Word Of Life has branches around the world. In North America, the largest branch outside the United States is in Canada. In South America, the two largest branches are located in Brazil and Argentina. In Europe, the largest branch is in Portugal, and in the Asia-Pacific region, the largest is in Australia. Africa also has five smaller branches.
Canada
Word of Life Canada was incorporated in 1961. Today, over 20 full-time missionaries work to minister to French- and English-speaking Canadians. Word of Life Canada also operates summer camps and "snow camps", as well as Bible Institutes from their properties in Owen Sound, Ontario, and Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Word of Life Local Church Ministries in Canada offers Bible study for children and teens in over 30 Bible Clubs in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Conferences and training seminars for leaders are held throughout the year, and sporting events are used as evangelistic opportunities. All Canadian ministries are available in both English and French, known as Parole de Vie Québec.
Brazil
Word of Life Brazil (known in Brazil as Palavra da Vida Brasil), founded in 1957, was the first international outreach of Word of Life Fellowship. The first youth camp was held in Atibaia the following year. The ministry is based near São Paulo, but also has several other locations throughout the country. A center in Paudalho consists of a youth camping program, a one-year Bible Institute, and various evangelistic outreaches. A youth camp has been established in Curitiba. The Porto Alegre team recently initiated the Word of Life Bible Club program in local churches, regularly ministers in public schools, and is developing a youth camp property. A center opened in Belém in 1989 and includes a Christian Day School, a camp and retreat facility, and a Missionary Training Institute where students are trained to minister to the Amazon people who are accessible only by boat. A sixth ministry location has opened in the Goiás area with a conference center complex and plans to develop a youth camp.
Argentina
Word of Life Argentina began in 1971 when Joe and Melva Jordan went there as missionaries. In 1972, 30 acres (0.12 km2) of land was purchased in San Miguel del Monte, a small rural town about 62 miles (100 km) from Buenos Aires, and the ministry leaders built a camp there. Word of Life Argentina (known in Argentina as Palabra de Vida Argentina) serves as the hub for Word of Life's Spanish-speaking ministries in Latin America and the Caribbean. A Bible Institute campus serves students from all over the world and doubles as a youth camp in the summer.
Portugal
Word of Life Portugal (Palavra da Vida Portugal) began in 1976. The organization has a property near the town of Ericeira, in the municipality of Mafra, about 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Lisbon. Word of Life Portugal dedicates itself to church and outreach ministries and uses its property for annual summer camps.
Australia
Word of Life purchased a property of approximately 150 acres (0.61 km2) north of Sydney
Other international ministries
Word of Life currently has 695 missionaries working around the world. In addition to the countries listed above, the ministry is also active in:
Notable People
People who were employees of Word of Life, alumni of the Bible Institute, or otherwise closely associated with Word of Life Fellowship include:
Jack Wyrtzen (born 1913), founder of Word of Life, youth evangelist
Charles C. Ryrie (born 1925), biblical scholar, Christian theologian, author and professor
J. D. Greear (born 1973), author and pastor of The Summit Church
Sergio Cariello (born 1964), illustrator of The Action Bible