About Us: History

Jack Murray was a student at Wheaton College when revival swept the campus between 1935 and 1936. He spent the rest of his life in itinerant evangelism. In 1941 he was a dynamic leader of the "Summer Bible School" movement (later known as AWANA). He was looking for a permanent summer conference home for the students of the program and friends of the ministry.  With God’s leading, He found the historic Harvey Cedars Hotel on beautiful wind swept, sun drenched Long Beach Island. Conference sessions began in August of 1941. The ministry broadened in outreach and nationally known figures such as Frances Schaeffer, Vernon Grounds, and Jack Wyrtzen frequently spoke here.

During this period the churches of America were struggling for their own souls. The Bible Conference was started to call the church back to its roots in Scripture, and back to the historic Christian faith. Harvey Cedars is a non-profit Christian organization with a ministry that is interdenominational. Over 500 staff alumni have gone out from the Conference to become missionaries, teachers, and pastors across the globe.

Al Oldham became the director in 1951 when Jack Murray resigned for health reasons. From 1951 to 1995, Rev. Oldham carried on the ministry. Through the years several buildings were added to the facility, including a dining hall, chapel, lodge, gymnasium and indoor heated pool. In 1994 the gorgeous 24 unit Bay View Lodge was completed. Jonathan S. Oldham became the third Conference director in 1995 and continues to greatly improve the facilities. The old Victorian Hotel has undergone extensive renovations. Many consider Harvey Cedars the most beautiful Bible Conference facility on the East Coast.