Mrs.W.W. (Ota) Barrows was fond of quoting James 4:2, "Ye have not because ye ask not." Camp Jo-Ota was donated and founded by William and Ota Barrow along with the encouragement of Rev. Floyd Rigg and his wife Johanna. The camp received its name from Johanna and Ota and opened in 1953 as Camp Jo-Ota.
Many years of donated time, money, and labor have helped to develop the camp into a place of great spiritual value. It has become a place of heritage in North Missouri of bring numerous people , young and old to Christ. In the fall of 2014 The Camping and Retreat Ministries Board of the Missouri Annual Conference made the decision to discontinue residential camping on sites they own. Camp Jo-Ota was one of these sites.The Board recommended that property be sold and camping and retreat ministries be handled in a whole new way. With much thought, prayer, and guidance from God a group of area people worked towards a solution to keep Jo-Ota as a resident Methodist Camp. In April around 50 people met and agreed to form the Jo-Ota Methodist Association. A board of directors was appointed and with the support of 49 area Churches and a pledge of $50.00 seed money an aggressive plan was formed to petition Missouri Annual Conference to purchase the camp for $1 . With the power of prayer and God's blessing on the project , it was agreed at conference vote to sell it to Jo-Ota Methodist Association (JMA) for $1 per year for the first three years, and $30,000.00 per year the following four years.
JMA believes that GREAT THINGS are in the future for working to glorify God. We feel that there is a place for residential camping as well as mobile camping. Our plan is to be open year around for functions and Retreats as well as summer camping.
Many years of donated time, money, and labor have helped to develop the camp into a place of great spiritual value. It has become a place of heritage in North Missouri of bring numerous people , young and old to Christ. In the fall of 2014 The Camping and Retreat Ministries Board of the Missouri Annual Conference made the decision to discontinue residential camping on sites they own. Camp Jo-Ota was one of these sites.The Board recommended that property be sold and camping and retreat ministries be handled in a whole new way. With much thought, prayer, and guidance from God a group of area people worked towards a solution to keep Jo-Ota as a resident Methodist Camp. In April around 50 people met and agreed to form the Jo-Ota Methodist Association. A board of directors was appointed and with the support of 49 area Churches and a pledge of $50.00 seed money an aggressive plan was formed to petition Missouri Annual Conference to purchase the camp for $1 . With the power of prayer and God's blessing on the project , it was agreed at conference vote to sell it to Jo-Ota Methodist Association (JMA) for $1 per year for the first three years, and $30,000.00 per year the following four years.
JMA believes that GREAT THINGS are in the future for working to glorify God. We feel that there is a place for residential camping as well as mobile camping. Our plan is to be open year around for functions and Retreats as well as summer camping.