Marannook means “God’s resting place.” The mission of Marannook is “knowing Christ and making Him known through the vehicle of camping.”

One night in 1972, Charles Kendrick-Holmes was thinking about some land he and his wife, Barbara, owned in Alabama. He was a pharmacist, but he felt the Lord leading him to do something else. Then it hit him. A camp. Why not use our land for a camp?

Meanwhile, Barbara was out of town on a retreat. She met a man who had a camp and she asked him many questions. Then it hit her. A camp. Why not use our land for a camp? A few days later, Charles met Barbara at the bus station.
“I have something wonderful to tell you,” he said
“I have something wonderful to tell you, too.”
“It’s a camp isn’t it?” Charles said. And they were both scared out of their wits. They began to dream about a Bible training center for college students and a camp for children.

In 1975, Marannook celebrated its first summer. There were six staff members and the only buildings were a woodshed and a big-top circus tent. Since that time, Marannook has trained in the Scriptures more than 400 college students and ministered to over 9000 campers. The principles of God’s Word are interwoven into all activities and children discover the true reality of living a life for Jesus Christ.