[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 101 (Tuesday, July 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING BOB AND ELLEN KORTHIUS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2004

  Mrs. MUGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to two of my 
very dear friends, Bob and Ellen Korthius of Roggen, Colorado. These 
individuals have dedicated their lives to serving others and through 
their gentle example and wise counsel have enriched the lives of 
countless men and women.
  Faithfully serving Christ has been the focus of Bob Korthius' life 
since he accepted the Lord at an American Sunday School Union Vacation 
Bible School near Golden, Colorado when he was 12 years old. Around the 
same time, 13 year old Ellen Nelson made a similar decision to devote 
her life to Christ when she attended an old fashioned tent meeting held 
in Beloit, Wisconsin.
  Both would go on to attend Calvary Bible College in St. Louis, 
Missouri, where they met and married in 1955. After graduating, Bob and 
Ellen moved to Cortez, Colorado where they became pioneer missionaries 
with American Sunday School Union in the Four Corners area, ministering 
to men and women in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. There, they 
planted churches, held vacation bible schools, started a camp and began 
a flying ministry to bring the gospel to men and women living in 
uranium camps.
  In 1970, Bob and Ellen, along with their four children, Bob Jr., 
Daniel Jon, Carolyn and Patricia moved to Denver, Colorado. While 
living in Denver, the Korthius family was instrumental in reviving many 
rural churches by flying students from area Bible colleges into small 
towns to serve as pastors and lay leaders. During the same time, Bob 
and Ellen directed Camp Salvation at North Lake, west of Trinidad, 
Colorado.
  Always full of enthusiasm and love for young people, in 1973, the 
Korthius family moved to Bailey, Colorado to take over the directorship 
of Camp IdRaHaJe, a tremendous undertaking, since the camp included 70 
workers and could handle up to 500 campers at one time. Camp IdRaHaJe 
had something for everyone, Frontier Town for the youngest children, 
Tepee Camp for the 11 and 12 years old, Ranch Camp for Jr. High 
students, and a High School Lodge Camp. Building forts, cooking over a 
fire, backpacking trips, horse packing trips, rafting, and bicycling 
through the mountains were all part of the unique atmosphere of this 
wonderful place.

  Every member of the Korthius family took part in running the camp; 
Bob serving as director and leading many of packing trips, Ellen, 
Carolyn and Patricia running the bookstore, sweet shop, and craft and 
ceramic shop, and Dan serving as the camp wrangler. Although he was 
older, Bob Jr. even spent one summer at the camp acting as the ``road 
runner'' making sure everyone had all the supplies they needed. Bob and 
Ellen Korthius gave their children a very special upbringing in the 
beautiful Colorado mountains, but perhaps more important was the love 
that the Korthius family gave in abundance to the countless children 
that came to the camp each year.
  After leaving Camp IdRaHaJe in 1984, Bob and Ellen briefly 
contemplated serving as missionaries in Alaska, but instead decided to 
move to Northeastern Colorado to work with American Missionary 
Fellowship. All of us in Northeast Colorado are glad they made that 
choice.
  My husband, Steve, and I had been campers at IdRaHaJe years earlier, 
and when Bob and Ellen moved to Northeastern Colorado, we began what 
has been a very meaningful, lasting friendship. Since 1985, Bob has 
pastored up to nine small, rural churches, including one almost 
completely filled with members of my husband's family. Bob and Ellen 
spent each week traveling to little places like Hoyt, Prairie View, 
Adena and Hillrose to spread the love of Christ to people in these 
communities.
  Despite their busy schedules, they always managed to find time to run 
Vacation Bible Schools in the summer, and in July and August, they 
would run Homestead Bible Camp at Kiowa Crossing. I have many fond 
memories of that place, where I served as a counselor and watched my 
children enjoy being campers.
  In 1996, Bob and Ellen began a tremendous ministry for abused and 
abandoned youth at Preston Ranch. This ministry has provided numerous 
children with the opportunity to grow up in a loving, stable family.
  Although they officially retired from ministry on March 31, 2004, Bob 
and Ellen continue to stay busy, leading Bible studies and encouraging 
others in the faith.
  Their story is truly a testament of the Lord's faithfulness and 
provision. It has been my privilege to call Bob and Ellen Korthius my 
friends, and it is my honor to pay tribute to their life of service on 
the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

                          ____________________