Our Story
Beth's parents, Coy and Sybil Bolton, began cleaning out the first chicken house when she was just a preteen. They dreamed of having a place where churches could bring their kids for an inexpensive camping experience and where Coy’s very large family (he is the 10th of 11 kids) could have their reunions right there on the Bolton family property.
Years later, Beth married Turk Holt, a youth pastor from Atlanta, who always dreamed of being involved in camp ministry, as he was saved as a result of a friend inviting him to summer camp when he was 17-years old. On a family vacation, Coy asked Turk what he thought about moving his little family (Beth and Turk only had one child at the time, Kala) to Millerville, Alabama, and running/managing the "camp" full-time.
So, Turk and Beth packed their belongings, moved to a little rental house in the country, and began to do ministry out of a chicken house! Since then, a dining hall was built, an 8-acre lake, a basketball court, and several renovations to the "Coop," which was transformed into dorms and a chapel.
The Holts have now managed the camp and ministered through Heavenbound Ministries for over 30 years. They raised their three children, Kala, Luke, and Isac, as "camp kids." Although Turk is also a pastor and Beth works as a paralegal, their heart still beats for the camp ministry.
As many other ministries have experienced, COVID changed everything for the camp ministry in 2020 and 2021. Despite the challenges of the last two years, Turk and Beth, their family, and their ministry partners are committed to the mission of Heavenbound Ministries and Coop Camp for 2022! Groups are being booked even now.
There was significant storm damage to the dorm roof this year (2021), and as a result, a brand new, shiny roof covers the Coop! In addition, the dining hall roof also had to be replaced recently. With the help of Beth's brother, Tony, and her son, Luke, and some other great friends, many renovations have taken place during this downtime.
Fundraising has been on the back-burner, but we are now facing a great need to replenish those funds, and we hope you will pray about helping us! Most of all, we are looking for as many prayer partners as we can gather! We hope you will join us and know that we would love you to come to camp! Book a weekend, a summer week, or an overnight trip...we will be glad to cook you a good meal, build a big campfire, get the kayaks out to the lake, and welcome you to the country!