One of the most famous parts of Echo Ranch’s origin story is how a pulp mill tried, to no avail, to buy the Allen McMurchie’s homestead that would eventually be signed over to Avant Ministries and become Echo Ranch Bible Camp. But even though we’re all thankful that Allen didn’t sell, the truth is that Echo Ranch wouldn’t be what it is today if that pulp mill hadn’t sought out the land.

One of the surest signs that spring is on its way is when the days switch from the darkness outpacing the daylight, to the two being equal, and then the ratio switching in favor of the light. Living in northern Minnesota for most of my life, this springtime change has always been a welcome relief from our cold, dark winters…

The Fourth of July, 1964 – the first day of Echo Ranch’s first summer camp. The prior three years had been full of preparation for this day, as several new Gospel Missionary Union (today known as Avant Ministries) missionaries and volunteers from around the country worked hard to get Allen McMurchie’s homestead ready to welcome dozens of campers.

The month of March means different things to different folks. For the basketball fanatics, especially if you have history with one of the 68 teams who are represented in the tournament, mid-March is the time when you are glued to the TV, watching who is winning, who is losing, and which team lies in the way of your team getting to the Final Four, then on to the championship.

Many people who have spent time at Echo Ranch - or simply looked at some of our merchandise - could tell you that ERBC was founded in 1964. But the beginnings of Echo Ranch go back farther than that - all the way to Wisconsin in 1901, with the birth of Allen McMurchie.

In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson declared February as American Heart month. Presidents after him continued the tradition of spotlighting the important life-giving organ…