EUNICE – Since becoming a camp in 1975, Acadian Baptist Center has experienced significant changes, both physically and spiritually.
The camp has seen an increase in attendance, from 3,000 the first year to 13,000 in 2017, and in staff, from three full-time members in its inception to six full-time, 25 part-time and many volunteers.
Gone are the days when camping was limited to mainly staying in tents or bunk houses. Amenities at its camp now include a motel and cabins.
The spiritual impact, Newsom said, has been even more significant. A total of 7,114 have accepted Christ as their personal Savior, 5,886 have recommitted their lives to Him and 581 have surrendered to full-time ministry.
“Camps and retreats historically have touched a lot of lives,” Newsom said. “When you get people away from their home environment with the telephone and TV and other distractions, and have preaching, and Bible study and fellowship, that has led to countless people across the country who have committed their life to Christ at a camp or surrendered to the ministry. It’s amazing what’s God’s done. It’s been a God thing.”