Alaska did not become a part of the United States of America until 1959.  This means that today a person could walk down the street of almost any town in Alaska and talk to people who were the first to settle this land.  But it takes people to make a territory a state.  So, to get people to move to Alaska and live here permanently, the federal government passed the Homestead Act of 1950.  It gave 160 acres of land to an individual if they would build a permanent dwelling on the land and live there for five years.

Logger Allen McMurchie was one of many people who took the government up on their offer of "free land."  In the early 1940's, Allen homesteaded a piece of property 40 miles north of Juneau at the mouth of Echo Cove. 

He was captivated by the beauty and seclusion of the Berner's Bay area.  Despite the obvious economic value of the land he homesteaded, McMurchie dreamt that one day his land would house a full-time Christian institution, possibly a Bible college or a home for troubled youth. 

 It was a dream that would one day be challenged.

From his strategic location on Berner's Bay, Allen had easy access to Lynn Canal to move his timber and enough privacy to give a pioneering logger peace.  But he did not enjoy this land alone for long.  In 1950 Allen married a local doctor, Catherine Sherwood, and asked her to share in his life and in his dream.  Their dreams began to take shape in the 50's as they became acquainted with Avant Ministries, then known as Gospel Missionary Union, through the Minfield children's home and the church planting effort in Auke Bay.

The first involvement the McMurchies homestead had with Avant was in October 1961.  They allowed Avant to keep a herd of cattle on their farm to help supplement the needs of the Minfield home.  Out of this contact evolved the idea to have a summer youth camp held on the premises.  In the summer of 1964, the first camp was held on the McMurchie farm, with the site given the title, "Echo Ranch." 

Fifty-five campers attended this first two week camping experience and soon work began on a dining hall/kitchen complex and several cabins. 

An important resource during this building time was the McMurchie's own sawmill operation which provided some of the lumber.  Providing important leadership from Avant's side of the ministry were Jake and Hilda Hoffman, the first directors of Echo Ranch.

The most serious threat to the McMurchies dreams of a Bible camp materialized in 1969. At this time the U.S. Plywood- Champion Company announced plans to build its new $100 million pulpmill complex in the Berner's Bay area. U.S. Plywood offered the McMurchies hundreds of thousands of dollars for their property, plus a free ticket to relocate anywhere in the world they wanted to go.

 But God had other plans.  In the face of such a staggering economic opportunity, Allen and Catherine refused to sell, holding firm to the commitment of their dream.  The proposed plant never was built and the camp received an added blessing in the form of a road all the way to Echo Cove.  This allowed 4 wheel-drive access to the camp and reduced a 3 hour boat marathon to a 2 mile hike for summer campers.

As Echo Ranch Bible Camp developed, the McMurchies initially donated 16 acres of their farm for the express purpose of summer camping.  Then in 1973, they gave the entire acreage to Avant Ministries for the development of an extended Christian camping facility.  In return, Avant built the McMurchies a retirement home on the property.  The McMurchies never occupied the house.  It was, in Allen's words, "too big."

From 55 campers attending the first  two weeks of camp in 1964, Echo Ranch Bible Camp has grown into a ministry which accommodates about 3,000 people during three months of group retreats and 1,000 people during three months of summer camp.  The impact of Echo Ranch reaches far beyond the boundaries of the land homesteaded by the McMurchies.

During the other six months of the year when Echo Ranch is not in operation, the missionaries who staff the camp follow-up on the campers and challenge them in their personal walk with Jesus Christ.  This is especially important in Southeast Alaska as most of the communities have only boat or plane access.  This limits traveling to surrounding towns and the availability of churches.  In a way, the McMurchies dream has come full circle, helping those who are living a similar lifestyle to theirs.