By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
ALEXANDRIA – Louisiana Baptist camps throughout the state are experiencing spiritual and numerical growth and making major facility improvements.
“We have new decisions every week during the summer, and we have so many churches calling that many times our rooms fill up to capacity,” Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center Director Josh Bumgardner told the Baptist Message.
The spiritual growth is causing numerical growth which in turn is driving facility growth, he said. Bumgardner said renovations on his 123 acre Woodworth campus include: new signage throughout the property; repurposing a conference facility into a new dorm; giving a facelift to showers, floors and décor in one cabin; and, plans to repurpose at least one more building into a dorm while giving updates to other living spaces.
“Growth is happening in every direction, not just at my camp but all across the state. It is exciting because churches are bringing their students to hear the Gospel,” he said.
ACADIAN BAPTIST CENTER
“ABC is hosting 11 weeks of camp this summer with more than 4,000 expected to be in attendance,” Director James Newsom said. “Campers and counselors are excited about seeing construction on the new worship center. The slab has been poured and the building will be going up soon anticipating completion in time to use next summer.”
The much-needed 18,000-sq.-ft. facility will give the camp a dedicated space for worship, Newsom said. Currently, campers worship in the gymnasium, which he said is not ideal. More than $2.4 million has been raised in gifts and pledges. Additionally, the camp has signed up volunteers to augment the work performed by professional crews, he added. More than 1,000 people are expected to enjoy endless summers of worship at the camp, located in Eunice, once the new worship facility is completed in April 2020.
DRY CREEK BAPTIST CAMP
DCBC staff have instilled a bit of nostalgia for campers on its grounds.
Todd Burnaman, DCBC director, said an 8-acre man-made lake was finished before the start of the current camp season.
“Kids are out canoeing and just having a good time,” Burnaman said. “While we were seeking and praying for what God wanted us to do with 45 acres of land we purchased four years ago, we thought about the two biggest memories of camp for all of us, which were campfires and a lake. We now get to pass along those memories to the younger generation who we hope will attach it to the life-changing message of the Gospel they learned here at Dry Creek.”
The addition of a lake is part of a long-range vision plan that includes construction of new cabins, a chapel and a farm.
CAMP HARRIS
“We thrive off Psalm 46:10,” Shawn Kaffka, the camp director, said. “That’s our prayer when everyone comes to this camp. We want everyone to know Him and leave here realizing they got in touch with Him.”
Since Kaffka arrived on Harris Baptist Conference and Retreat Center in Minden in April 2018, he has coordinated multiple upgrades inside the gymnasium, installing LED lights, renovating the boys’ rest room and adding a wall to separate one large classroom into two smaller ones.
“I give God all the glory,” he said. “This is God’s camp and we’re just trying to help everyone know Him.
RICHLAND BAPTIST CAMP
Richland Baptist Encampment in Alto is sprucing up its campgrounds, one cabin at a time. Rhonda and Tom Hendrix serve as caretakers while the camp searches for a director. In the meantime, she said, churches are donating money and supplying volunteers to remodel each of the camp’s four cabins.
Alto Baptist Church donated funds for remodeling the first cabin, with volunteers from area churches offering to install new windows, update bathrooms, replace wiring and paint walls. Work on the remaining three cabins will begin as funds become available, she said.
“We are excited about building the camp back up and getting additional churches from Richland Baptist Association involved,” Hendrix said. “It’s encouraging to see so many churches willing to come out and help improve our camp.”
CAMP LIVING WATERS
Since December, volunteers have rebuilt a maintenance building previously destroyed by a fi re in April 2018; and, they recently completed a two-room cottage at Camp Living Waters in Loranger.
Scott Mercer, CLW director, said the future is bright, with construction underway on a bunkhouse that will accommodate 24 people. In the near future work will begin on a dining hall, contingent on raising the finances.
“Once we get a dining hall it will transform our camp altogether,” Mercer said. “Right now our meals are eaten in a nonair conditioned gym. Th is will open us up to more adult groups because it will provide a nice environment to enjoy meals for up to 250 people and have meetings for as many as 500.”
CLARA SPRINGS
Clara Springs Baptist Encampment in Pelican does not have a major construction project underway; however, its director is helping to build the faith of his summer camp staff. Director Bubba Mills and his wife Mandi lead their staff through Bible studies, each year, as preparation for leading hundreds of young people who attend the camps at Clara Springs.
This year, the staff participated in a study on the Baptist Faith and Message to learn more about the faith of Southern Baptists.
“We love to pour into our summer staff,” Mills said. “My wife and I both feel that the staffers need ministering to, just as much as the campers. We have seen many of our students later join together in Bible studies to grow deeper in their walk with Christ because of their desire to seek God and please Him.”
When received, information about Louisiana Baptists’ remaining camps will be added later at baptistmessage.com.
