Fall 2011 Newsletter

THE BIG COUNTRY’S CAMP
A Look Back
Reprinted with permission from the January/
February, 2011 Issue of InSight Magazine and the
Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA)
CCCA Gives BCBA (free) International Recognition with this article:
Big Country Baptist Assembly
R
E
P
O
R
T
E
R
GROWING PAINS Pg 1
EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP Pg 2
MASTER’S PLAN ‘AMEN’DED Pg 3
BCBA HISTORY, Pg 4
This 1925 photo shows about 1,000 of the 10,000 people who showed
up for an event to hear George W. Truett preach at Big Country Baptist
Assembly (Lueders, Texas). In 1898, Truett became the pastor of First
Baptist Church of Dallas and remained there for 47 years. It became
the largest church in the world during that time. Truett was also
president of the Southern Baptist Convention (1927–1929) and of
the Baptist World Alliance (1934–1939). Truett Seminary at Baylor
University is named after him. Shown below is the registration
journal from this event as well as the Truetts’ signatures.
The tabernacle in the background of this photo was built in
1923 and torn down in 1973. Big Country Baptist Assembly
is now building a new worship center patterned after it.
Photos courtesy of Big Country Baptist Assembly
“GINORMOUS” NUMBERS, Pg 5
A Publication of Big Country Baptist Assembly, Po Box 248, Lueders, Texas
(325) 228-4542, Website: www.bigcountrycamp.com, Email: [email protected]
www.ccca.org
CCCA InSite
January/February 2011
31
THE BCBA WAY, Pg 6
WOW!
Summer, 2011
451 Saved
Fall 2011
Page 1
Our Purpose...
Page 6
BCBA is a special place to serve our Lord Jesus and to retreat as a camper. Staff here will constantly
strive to deliver superior quality and service to our campers that really makes a difference. We are
always searching for better ways to care for our campers. We put them first, which is our
primary,God-given, fundamental job description at BCBA.
... And What We’re Doing About It
'&!!!"
Campers
'%!!!"
Campers
'$!!!"
Campers
'#!!!"
Campers
'!!!!"
Campers
&!!!"
Campers
%!!!"
G
rowth is always very exciting. But growth is also always very inconvenient.
Overcrowding, construction debris everywhere, and programming logistical issues
top the list of ailments that come along with rapid growth. Will Rogers once said,
“You can be on the right track and still get run over”. Some issues are inevitable.
Some can be avoided with enough forethought. By God’s Grace, all of these issues
can be remedied quickly if we approach God humbly (James 4:6).
THE PAIN
THE PRESCRIPTION
•Upgrading and Building New Facilities
•Continuing Christian Camping
•STAFF IMPROVEMENT
Education for Staff
•Online Registration, New Website
•REGISTRATION ISSUES
•Proposing a New Swimming Pool
•LONG LINES @ REC POND
•Proposing Outside Professional
•PROGRAMMING ISSUES
Programming Help
•OVERCROWDING
Some of you may remember a Christian button that a lot of people were
wearing back in the late ’70’s that read “PBPGINFWMY”. When asked what it
meant, we would explain that it was an acronym for “Please Be Patient. God Is
Not Finished With Me Yet. Although we realize we have a rather large learning
curve still in front of us, we also know we’re learning fast. Please continue to pray
for your BCBA Staff during these days of rapid growth. - Larry Searcy
Campers
$!!!"Year ʼ04 ʼ05 ʼ06 ʼ07 ʼ08 ʼ09 ʼ10 ʼ11 ʻ12
#!!!"
Programming Needs a
Is BCBA Growing Too Fast?, Page 2
“Camp Change” , Page 2
!"
Our Camper’s Connection with Jesus is Our #1 Purpose
We believe that there is a real connection between “comfort” and “The Comforter” (the Holy Spirit).
Our job is to provide quality food and service, eliminate distractions, and create special, comfortable
places. We strive to create that atmosphere that’s most conducive to the moving of the Holy Spirit.
Open & Honest Communication
It’s our God-given desire and purpose to establish clear, open and ongoing dialogue with positive
intent, whether internally with staff or externally with campers. We readily and humbly acknowledge
that we have much to learn about being a top notch camp. We listen for God’s voice when you speak.
Collaboration
Leadership and teamwork are at the heart of BCBA's past successes and future achievements! We
firmly believe as adopted members of God’s family that it’s not God’s Will unless it’s God’s Will for
us all. Your group leaders and our BCBA staff will become one united team during your event.
Genuine Prayer & Concern
Every group that attends BCBA is prayed for by our staff each morning before we begin our
preparations for your event. We understand that if your folks don’t hear from God during your stay,
then all of the time and money spent towards this event has been wasted. Our love is deliberate, and
intentional towards our campers, just as Christ’s love is towards us.
Innovation
We will continue to respectfully challenge the status quo and we will encourage new ideas. We strive
to learn from our past as we consider new and challenging ideas for the future.
Dedication
It’s so easy to be dedicated to our work when we’re having fun. Most of the time we’re having a blast
serving our campers. Sometimes circumstances turn this into a real JOB. By God’s Grace we pray that
our campers never know the difference. Our dedication is fueled by His Grace, not our willpower.
True “Enthusiasm”
True enthusiasm (A greek word that literally translated means “God in you”) for this ministry is
fundamental to the growth that we’ve enjoyed here for several years now. “Christ in us” (and in our
campers) is indeed our hope of Glory. -Colossians 1:23-25
Bottom Line: Reaching Our Campers for Christ
Perhaps we are “the little camp that can’t”... but God certainly “CAN”. The BCBA focus is not on
us, but on “the Bride of Christ” whom He died for. Our question will continue to be:
“What can we do to help our area churches reach more people for Christ?”
Page 2
Page 5
“GINOURMOUS” NUMBERS Exciting Events Coming Up
451 Saved; 590 Rededictions; 189 Called to Ministry; 8104 Summer Campers
90 Churches Attend Associational Camps & 350+ Churches/Year
17,113 BCBA Campers Since 9/1/2011 (1 yr.)
Tuesday, September, 20, 2011
Annual Assembly Board Meeting @ Trott Dining
Hall, 6:30 PM. (RSVP BY FRIDAY, SEPT. 16)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Tabernacle Dedication @ New BCBA
Tabernacle, 7:30 PM
•ALASKA STRING BAND IN CONCERT
Lueders Light Show, 8:30 PM
(40,000 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS will be unveiled)
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
AFCC West Texas Cowboy Camp’s
702 Campers, 69 Youth and
31 PreTeen Saved!!!
Quantity is Here....
But Can BCBA Really Be a “Tier One” Quality Camp?
Some Have Said That BCBA Will Never Be a “Tier One” Quality Camp
“BCBA is too old and run down, a financially fledgling camp on the decline whose best days are behind
us, located in a dry, desolate region, with no mountains or lakes, too far away from metropolitan areas,
without major airports, part of an economically depressed community, with a declining population, not
loved or supported by enough churches... and the only churches that do love BCBA are primarily small,
country ones without youth ministers, modern technology, and are generally far behind the times”.
God’s Word Has Some Things to Say About Thoughts Like These:
What shall we say in response to this? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. (Psalm 118:22)
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the
world to shame the strong. (I Corinthians 1:27)
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the
more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (II Corinthians 12:19)
The first shall be last and the last shall be first (Matthew 20:16)
Some Declared BCBA Dead Several Years Ago
However, Jesus Himself Has Something to Say About Death:
I tell you the truth... unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.
But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24)
Many of us believe what God says instead of what “some” people say. He’s producing “many seeds”
here, even though “some” said it can’t happen. However, we do have “some” ways to go to become:
THE CAMP OUR BIG COUNTRY AREA CHURCHES NEED
Senior Adult Day @ New Tabernacle,
Registration @ 9 AM. Over by 2:30.
Individual cash or checks, $10/each.
(If your church RSVPʼs by Friday, October 7
@ 5 PM and brings one church check to pay
for everybody: $6/each)
•ALASKA STRING BAND IN CONCERT
BCBA PreTeen Camps
are “Built God Tough”
79 Campers Saved!!!
Tabernacle D-Day Fun
The Alaska String Band & 40,000 Christmas Lights
T
he formal dedication (“D-Day”) and
naming of the new BCBA Tabernacle will be on
Monday, October 10, 2011 @ 7:30 PM. This
will be followed by the lighting of BCBA’s 1st
Annual Christmas Light Show featuring 40,000
lights, flickering to the beat of your favorite
Christmas hymns. Admission is free, but you
must call the office to get your free admission
ticket (while they last) to attend (325-228-4542).
The Alaska String Band will be the
featured entertainment for the evening. They are
a concert group comprised of members of a
single family performing with guitar, twin
violin-fiddles, bass, mandolin, ukulele,
percussion and vocals. Their repertoire consists
of a lively collection of bluegrass, old time
gospel, swing, blues, and original music. Also
featured are vocal blends heard only in single
family arrangements. Audiences delight in the
youthful exuberance of the Zahasky Family.
Free tickets are required for admission. 325-228-4542
Free tickets are required for admission. 325-228-4542
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 10
40,000 Dancing Lights Show (Free tickets)
Alaska String Band in Concert (Free tickets)
Tabernacle Dedication (Free tickets)
Page 3
The Master’s Plan ‘Amen’ded?
Page 4
THE BIG COUNTRY’S CAMP
Modern Christian Youth Camping History, 101
“Christian Camping Wasn’t
Invented Here... Just the
Christian Youth Camp”
- Larry Searcy, Executive Director
The Fastest Growing AND the Oldest Christian Youth Camp in the World?
T
Now An Indoor Swimming Pool and a Pre-School Playground?
M
ay, 1957. That’s when the BCBA pool first
opened her gates to some anxious campers.
Through the next 54 years, she’s heard the
laughter and felt the splashing of untold
thousands. By the time you read this, it’s likely
that the last BCBA camper will have exited her
crumbling walls. The state inspector may say
she needs to go, but her memories will never be
replaced in the hearts of many.
With a unanimous “AMEN”, the BCBA
Executive Committee decided to motion the
BCBA Assembly Board to build a new 60’ x
100’ pool in between the Activity Center and the
old pool. She’ll have slides and volleyball nets
and basketball goals and giant “mushrooms” that
will “rain” on you. Could it be ready next
summer? Our Assembly Board will address this
at the Tuesday, September 20 Annual Assembly
Board Meeting @ 6:00 PM.
2011 BCBA Assembly Board Meeting
(Your Pastor and One Lay Person are Voting Members)
* Come and Eat if you RSVP by Fri., Sept. 16
* The Annual “State of the Camp” Address
* A New Indoor Swimming Pool?
* A Pre-School Playground?
* A Name for the New Tabernacle?
* A Name for the New Athletic Center?
* A Camp Programming Change?
* A Camp Registration Procedure Change?
hose who have read about the prophets of
old realize that there’s really nothing new about
Christian camping. Jesus himself taught us by
example that we all need to occasionally
withdraw to isolated, remote areas to seek God
without distraction. The earliest records of
modern Christian camping go back to the early
1800’s. Whole families would travel some
distance to “brush arbor” style revival meetings.
Due to the long journey back home, they would
stay and “camp” for the duration of the event.
However, the concept of focusing a
camping event on youth is much newer. As is
recorded in a Baptist seminary church history
textbook from 1936 (A Centennial History of
Texas Baptists, Broadman Press, 1936), “It
seems well established by the facts that the first
fruition of the youth encampment idea came in
west Texas; for on July 12-14, 1898, the BYPU
(Baptist Young People’s Union) of Haskell,
Albany, Anson, and Abilene met in a beautiful
pecan grove on the Clear Fork for a season of
physical and spiritual refreshing. During the
days of this first meeting, it was voted to effect a
permanent organization under the name of West
Texas Baptist Union.” Later the name would
change to Lueders Baptist Encampment, and
in 1973 would again change to Big Country
Baptist Assembly.
BCBA was founded by Christian youth
for Christian youth. With 113 consecutive
annual Christian Youth Camps documented with
newspaper clippings, photos, and even a Baptist
seminary history text book, many believe that
BCBA is the oldest continuing Christian
Youth Camp in the world. Some have
speculated that the very phrase “Youth Camp”
may have been coined here while the BYPU was
promoting those earliest camps.
Today Big Country Baptist Assembly
hosts over 17,000 campers a year with more
than half being 18 years of age or younger. It
could rightly be said that God has “reignited”
the youth camp flame over the last few of
decades. In fact, it was only 7 short years ago
BCBA was hosting 6,000 total campers a year.
So BCBA is not just the oldest Christian Youth
Camp in the world. This growth from 6,000 to
17,000 campers a year ranks BCBA among the
fastest growing camp in the world as well :-)