RBC's purpose is to inspire youth to treasure God's Word as stated in Psalm 119:11 “I have stored up your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
RBC began in 1939 and offers an entirely free Bible memorization program. As students memorize the Scripture verses as outlined in the RBC Bible memory pamphlets, they are awarded prizes for verses learned. The grand prize is a week of summer camp, held annually in the end of July and beginning of August. After learning 300 verses, (this usually takes 2-3 years), students may continue to earn free RBC camp by completing Bible lessons that are designed to help them study God's Word on their own as a correspondence course with RBC. They have the option to do this until they graduate high school. In the Bible studies, emphasis is put on salvation, dedication, and Christian growth.
Currently during the summer months, we attempt to reach more youth though our Vacation Bible School program which is conducted throughout Wisconsin. We partner with churches and help them hold a VBS in their community. We train VBS teachers to go out and teach these VBS's. We attempt to recruit young adults for the VBS ministry from our own program, churches, Bible Institutes, and colleges. We travel in the fall, winter, and spring months to these churches and schools to seek those whom the Lord may lead to help us. For the teachers who help, this becomes a home missions project for them. They work full time in the summer ending with our week of Bible camp, where they help out by being counselors, workers, and helpers.
In 1996, we began to hold teen retreats for the teenagers who come to summer camp. Through these retreats we encourage the teens to be a strong witness for the Lord and to be grounded in God’s Word. It is also a time of refreshment and Christian fellowship as some that come are the only gospel light in their school. We currently have two teen retreats a year, one in the fall and one in the winter.
Our weekends are busy as we travel to churches throughout Wisconsin seeking opportunities to present the ministry of Rural Bible Crusade. On occasion we will speak and fill in for pastors who are away from their pulpits. We also use this opening to encourage children and parents about the importance of memorizing Bible verses, and the convenience that Rural Bible Crusade provides for them to be a participant in our program.