Bibletown

• • evangelical conference center founded in 1950 by Dr. Ira Lee "Doc" Eshleman (b. 1917 Manor, Lancaster, PA - d. 2005 West Palm Beach, FL), commended by three South Florida assemblies, and involved until 1967 when he became chaplain of the NFL, and founder of the pre-game chapel services that characterize the sport.
    • From his obit in the Palm Beach Post, Dr. Eshleman grad Moody. He also pastored Conley Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, MI, served as Worlds Fair Parson in NYC producing sacred concerts at the RCA Pavilion. He was also considered a pioneer of the city of Boca Raton, responsible for developing several hundred acres surrounding Bibletown of residential development, as well as the Paradise Palms community. He founded Sports World Ministries to help pro athletes share their faith, and over the past 20 years over 15 million young people have heard these athletes speak.
    • Doc was a son of Reeder H. Eshelman (b. 1881 Highville, Lancaster, PA - d. 1980 Lancaster, PA) & Annie Frey Shenk Eshleman (b. 1879 Manor, PA - d. 1966 Conestoga, Lancaster, PA). Reeder was employed +1910-1942+ by the Penn RR.
  • Later supported by Harold Walter Buirkle (b. 1920 Jersey City, NJ - d. 2014 Boca Raton, FL) of Boca Raton Bible Chapel, as well as Camp-of-the-Woods. Part of the grounds now owned by Boca Raton Community Church, an independent Baptist gathering. Harold was a son of George Buirkle (b. 1881 Brookly, N.Y. - d. 1953 Jersey City, NJ) & Anna M. Jensen Buirkle (b. 1886 Norway - d. 1966 Jersey City, NJ), married 1907 @ NJ. His paternal grandparents were Frederick Buirkle (b. 1853 N.Y. - d. 1910 NJ) & Louise Kauffinger Buirkle (b. 1864 N.Y. - d. 1956).
  • rebranded as Bibletown in 1960 by Billy Graham, rebranded again as Boca Raton Community Church by Jonathan Burnham in 2003.
  • John C. Ewing (1900-1973 Chicago, IL) attended Avondale assembly and Woodside in Maywood. Served on the boards of Pacific Garden Mission, as well as Bibletown.
  • Wayne Sorensen (1885-1986) was an elder many years at Norwood Gospel Chapel in Chicago, then in 1951 relocated to FL to help start Bibletown, and later the New Smyrna Beach Bible Chapel.
  • Tom Gray was the contact in 1964 for the nearby Boca Raton Apartments.
  • Anthony R. Lite (1906-1979) was in fellowship at Ebenezer Gospel Chapel in Montreal, QC and the Boca Raton Bible Chapel. Trustee @ Stewards Foundation 1964-1979, also involved with C.B.M.C., Christian Direction, Park of the Palms & Bibletown.
  • Robert Lyndon Conlon (b. 1890 Jersey City, NJ - d. 1969 Hollywood, FL) moved to Miami in 1911, and lived 1927-1969 in Hollywood where he assisted in establishing the assembly there. Active as a Gideon, CBMC, and a director of Bibletown. Successful real estate developer. Interested in the work of Florida Gospel Pioneers.