History

Inspiration Ministries is a resident community for physically challenged adults. It is located on 155 acres near Lake Geneva outside the community of Walworth, Wisconsin.  With a resident building, four resident apartment buildings, a resale and coffee shop, retreat center, camping sites and trails, swimming pool, workshop and about 50 caring staff members, residents enjoy a warm, home-like community where people with disabilities are encouraged and enabled to enjoy maximum fulfillment of their lives.

Inspiration Ministries is not owned by any church or individual, but is under the direction of a Board of Directors composed of men and women from various occupations.  Board members and administrators desire to provide the leadership necessary so physically challenged residents have opportunities to maximize their potential within an environment that encourages them to experience lives that are joyful and productive.  

Inspiration Ministries is open to residents of all races and religious backgrounds, and operates financially from resident fees and the gifts of friends, businesses, foundations and congregations.

In 1946, while a pastor of a small country church, Charlie Pedersen was touched by the positive attitude and message of a physically disabled member of his congregation.  Deeply moved by the faith and message of this person, Charlie immediately wondered how he could help others have this same outlook on life enjoyed by this disabled man. In 1948, a Board of Directors was formed, and the ministry was incorporated. The Christian League for the Handicapped, which today is known as Inspiration Ministries, became a reality.

In 1950, the ministry established a summer camp on a piece of property on Lake Geneva calling it "Camp Hope". In 1953, a piece of property with several buildings in the Village of Walworth was purchased and work began to make it accessible and convenient as a residence for people with disabilities.  On October 26, 1954, the facility was opened with three residents.

The summer camping outreach continued at rented facilities each summer.  After the initial year at Camp Hope, property was rented in northern Wisconsin for camp.  

In 1959, a farm was purchased as the new home of the Christian League.  Without resources to build everything right away, Charlie and the Board of Directors decided to construct a workshop as the first building on the site and a first of its kind in the nation.
This decision was not only based on economics - the workshop being the easiest and least expensive building to construct - but also on a founding principle of the Christian League.  From the beginning, it was stressed that work is a way of life ordained by God.  It also offers a strong warning against willful inactivity.  That is why the Christian League has always sought work opportunities for residents so they can have the chance to become as self-supporting as possible.

In 1962, the workshop was completed and with a steady flow of assembly and packaging
jobs from area businesses, residents experienced the excitement of earning a living - most for the first time in their lives.  Today, this aspect of the ministry continues with about half of the residents involved in work programs.

In 1964, the "occupational residence", another first of its kind, opened.  It featured two wings designed for people with disabilities and offered housing for up to 64 people.  In addition to the rooms designed for two people to share, the residence contained a family room, a television and fireplace, and a dining hall where three meals a day were provided in an atmosphere of love and acceptance.

The residence was constructed separate from the workshop, contrary to the traditional thinking of the day.  Since virtually everyone else leaves home to go to work, the leaders reasoned the residents should not be any different.  Bundling up in winter and enjoying God’s beautiful summer days on the way to work is part of what makes this a special place.

In 1963, adjacent property owners offered their land as a site for a campground.  While many did not think that camping and disabilities go together, an accessible campground had always been one of Mr. Pedersen’s dreams.  Why should nature hikes, fishing, rope courses, climbing trees and campfires be only for the able-bodied! 

In 1975, while still under construction, the first pioneering camp session was held at the new Inspiration Retreat Center, and in 1978, the facility was completed.  The facilities now include a completely accessible 125-bed summer camp and retreat center with a lodge and six cabins.  Recreational opportunities abound featuring the basketball and wheel chair volley ball court; softball field; sand volleyball court; paved, scenic nature trails; platform tent camping area, low ropes challenge course, and an indoor game room.  The ministry has also acquired 35 wooded acres to permit further development and outdoor activities.  The center is made available to churches and other organizations for retreats when it is not to be used for disability ministry.

Through the years, summer camping outreach and retreat center programs were added so that more and more non-resident people with disabilities were able to enjoy the facilities and be touched by God’s inspiration.  In fact, in 1997, the decision was made to greatly expand the outreach of Inspiration Retreat Center.  As a result, attendance at summer camping programs rose 60% over 1996.  Expanded activities were offered, new ministries for youth with disabilities were initiated and autumn, winter and spring respites to help families effectively deal with stress were offered.  Inspiration Retreat Center remains today one of the few camps specifically designed for people with disabilities.     

In 1984, Charlie Pedersen retired.  He and his wife Mary left behind a heritage of land, buildings and people being served.  But, his most lasting legacy was love.  Because of the way he went about fulfilling the vision he was given, there remains a tender spirit of love flowing through every part of the ministry that gives it real and lasting meaning.  While human tributes can never truly honor such accomplishments, the Board of Directors renamed the main residence building the Pedersen Center as a lasting reminder of what God can accomplish through His servants if they allow themselves to be used by Him.

As is the case with everyone, our bodies deteriorate as we age.  But, when such deterioration takes place in the lives of residents of Inspiration Ministries, they may no longer be able to meet the requirements of living independently.  So when Inspiration Ministries recently decided to remodel one wing of the original residence, care was taken to create one-bedroom apartments that meet the requirements of a new state program called Assisted Living.  Because of this new program, ministry staff can provide other more important daily tasks that individuals are increasingly less able to do for themselves, and some state reimbursement is available to help keep residents from having to move to a nursing home.  By adding Assisted Living, Inspiration Ministries continues to show its leadership serving people with disabilities.

Within 100 miles of Inspiration Ministries there is a population of 10 million people.  Of these, one million have disabilities and probably 100,000 have severe disabilities.
 
Many people with disabilities live in nursing homes, sub-standard situations or homes of relatives, which often can impose very difficult and taxing situations on family members who care but are not financially, emotionally, or physically prepared to care for such a person.

The programs and facilities provided by Inspiration Ministries are giving residents and guests a sense of significance while at the same time allowing families to go about their lives without the concerns of the daily needs of a loved one with disabilities.  In fact, there is no other program in the United States that offers the unique combination of three levels of assistance to people with disabilities that Inspiration Ministries does.  In addition to its unusual services, the ministry provides over $100,000 annually to help residents pay for their care.      

Three strategies have emerged for reaching out with this message of love, hope and purpose.

(1) Residence Ministry:  Housing is offered to individuals on a permanent basis. Every       effort is made to maximize the freedom of residents as they learn to live independently       with dignity. 

(2) Disability Outreach Ministry: Inspiration Retreat Center reaches hundreds more people with         disabilities on a short-term basis through high-energy summer camps, weekend/full week      disability retreats, and outdoor education programs aimed particularly at youth.

(3) Community Ministry: Inspiration Place resale and coffee shop offers the community a place to browse for quality pre-owned household items like furniture, decorations, books, other useful items. There is also a coffee bar and a seating area where shoppers can sip on a cup of tea or coffee.  In addition, everything within reason is done to involve residents in the greater community. Whether it is through the workshop program, loaning our vans so residents can attend local churches, opening the swimming pool for community use, encouraging community participation in the annual auctions, community volunteers, or using the community residents as speakers and entertainers at residents’ programs, the goal is to encourage the community to become a part of the ministry and residents to be part of the local community to the fullest extent possible.

With an average resident stay at Inspiration Ministries being twenty years, we recognize the impact quality programming and facilities have on the fulfillment of the lifetime goals of our residents and their enjoyment of a full life.  We strive to provide the best of both while operating with fiscal responsibility and keeping resident fees as low as possible.