Capernwray – A Global Impact for Jesus

Two summers ago, it was an 85-year-old Dutch woman swimming nearby that made the difference for Ruth – born in Germany. As they enjoyed the cool waters at Capernwray Harbour on Thetis Island in BC, they spoke of baptism and its significance. “I got immersed as an adult because Jesus did,” the woman said. That core truth overcame Ruth’s hesitancy and last year, witnessed by Bible week family campers, staff, volunteers, and onlookers, she took the plunge at the hands of a leader named Ben.

Torchbearers International (also known as Capernwray) is an interdenominational Christian ministry operating 25 centers in 20 countries. Campuses offer short-term Bible school programs, conferences, camps, and retreats and are dedicated to teaching the saving, indwelling, and transforming life of Christ within the believer. The Thetis Island campus can host 140 guests on its 97 picturesque acres of oceanfront, woodlands, and meadows. Family style meals keep the dining room an active place.

It all began in 1947 out of brokenness after World War II when Major Ian Thomas and his wife Joan returned to England and opened hearts and doors to European youth with their hospitality, Bible teaching, and a quest to know Jesus personally. German youth, who came, nicknamed themselves the “carriers of the torch” and so the name “Torchbearers” was born.

It was from youth like this that Ruth first heard about Jesus while in Germany. When she came to Canada, and got married, she looked up Capernwray and found the haven on Thetis Island – founded by Charlie Fordham in 1979. Ruth and her husband have shown up for teaching at the centre for 26 summers now. Their children have volunteered here when they came of age and they’ve made friends from all over the world. Last summer, volunteers from Egypt, Germany, Austria, Australia, India, England, and France, joined with others from numerous Canadian provinces and US states to serve.

Major Thomas states that “as a young evangelist, my love and enthusiasm for Christ as my Saviour kept me very, very, busy until out of sheer frustration, I finally came to the point of quitting. That was the turning point that transformed my Christian life. In my despair, I discovered that the Lord Jesus gave Himself FOR me, so that risen from the dead He might give Himself TO me…Instead of pleading for help I began to thank Him for all He wanted me to be, sharing His Life with me every moment of every day. I learned to say ‘Lord Jesus, I can’t You never said I would; but You can and always said you would. That is all I need to know.’ From that moment life became the adventure that God always intended it to be.”

Chris Fordham, son of founder Charlie, arrived at Thetis Island as a toddler while the property lay in abandonment and disrepair. People started arriving without invitation to study, build, share life, and serve. The family scrambled to welcome everyone in. Over 45 years now, the center never shuts down and he is seeing the third generation of families returning to serve, learn, and enjoy the oasis. “It’s all about God’s faithfulness through all ages and all generations,” he says. “We’re here to introduce people to the written word and walk with them toward Jesus…. There’s no magic here. It’s all about our unique focus on Jesus.”

Founder, Charlie Fordham, who was raised in India by evangelistic parents, is now blind, but he has developed the property and still takes guided walks twice a day. He personally checks out the shaping of the hundreds of shrubs and hedges on the property by feel. The learning centre started without fees or degrees and residents committed themselves to trust God for his provision. Sometimes it came from a man unloading a tub of fish, through anonymous gifts in the mail, or by volunteers coming to renovate or build what God had prompted them to do. Charlie has personally been to every Torchbearer site except for the ones in Greece, Albania, and Romania.

Steve Thiessen was the Bible teacher. He’s now a farmer, but in 1995 he came to Capernwray, stayed for leadership training in the second year, joined the staff for two years, married another student, took his honeymoon on the way to Quebec to launch another centre, and stayed 13 years. “For nine months we become the body of Christ in our learning, loving, and service.” He came back to Thetis Island for two years and now he’s been on his own as a farmer for the past eleven years. Last year he taught through Romans and his teaching, plus that of other teachers, can be found on the Capernwray website. Thiessen was inspired by Major Ian Thomas’s wife who, in bidding for the first Capernwray Hall, instructed her accountant to “Go a Little Further,” when their bid limit had been reached. Austria granted a Capernwray couple property to rehabilitate handicapped individuals after the war. Every site was started to meet a need.

Joan and Dennis have planned their vacation for 20 years so they can attend two weeks of Bible Camps in the summer. They love the environment and come to interact with old friends, newcomers, and staff. They’ve seen kids who were campers come back as volunteers and then as staff. Sophie Kern is one of those volunteers who first started attending at age 5 with her family. She founded her faith in this place and developed prized relationships with kids her own age. She “wanted a way to serve God in a place that had a big impact on her and hopes that others will be able to have her same experience.”

Chris Fordham says he thinks clearer in songs. “I Stand Amazed In the Presence of Jesus the Nazarene” is a recent favourite. “I’ve never been more aware of God’s faithfulness and never more aware of our need. Our culture has shifted but our message hasn’t.” Capernwray is international and interdenominational by nature.

Around 4,000 people per year take advantage of Capernwray’s services at Thetis alone, and that means over 170,000 have been impacted from the beginning (once families and friends are considered). 30-50 volunteers are on site at one time with 100 serving from around the world. They join the 30 Full Time staff. Chris Fordham is encouraged that God continues to send the right people at the right time. “I’ve seen the impossible become possible over and over. Guests experience living, working, learning, and fellowshipping alongside the global body of Christ.”

“Lives get transformed here and every story is a signpost to God’s faithfulness.”

Interested in Bible School, Volunteering, Conferences, or Bible Camps? Check out Torchbearers.org or chbc@capernwray.ca.