|
GRAND OAKS BAPTIST ASSEMBLY
2009 ANNUAL REPORT!
|
It has been a good year at Grand Oaks. Despite the challenges of the economy, we are pleased to report summer camp attendance stayed nearly level with 2007 and 2008. While that is down from previous years, the drop we were seeing seems to have leveled off. This summer saw 1527 campers, 585 workers, 43 pre-campers and quite a few “day” workers take part in camps. There were 78 decisions to accept Christ reported to us along with 50 or so other decisions. Once again, we saw good programs for the kids and most all leaving here wishing they could stay longer. In fact, at least one brother and sister did come two weeks in a row this summer. They had a great advantage the second week as the ones who knew where everything was at and what was coming up for dinner. On the other hand, they quickly learned that each week does things their own way and so it was like two totally different experiences for them. The girl was even able to become a better swimmer the first week and achieved the green band the second in the swim test.
In addition to the summer camps, there has been a wide variety, as always, of other events held here. Once again, the MBC and Mo. WMU sponsored three of their G.A. missions’ weekends here in March and April. We are honored to be the only campus hosting three of these events. Several churches held youth retreats and various other gatherings throughout the year. We encourage your church or group to consider Grand Oaks as the place to go for your special event. We have facilities available for multiple size groups with accommodations ranging from rustic to motel quality. There are two different venues for meal preparation and multiple options for catering in our area. If we can serve your group in this way, give us a call to schedule your event.
We have seen several improvement projects this year to the campus. Completed in June was a new ceramic tile floor and partial wall in one of the shower step out areas of the Retreat Center. We hope this will be a more permanent solution to serve an always-wet environment. We have hopes of completing at least one more this winter. Insulation has been added to the ceiling/attic areas of the old Lodge building. This necessitated a new ceiling in part of the main room. Volunteers helped with this and we think it turned out nice. When all is finished, those not familiar with the old may not notice any difference in this ceiling and the part put up in 1928. The builder’s crew of FBC, Macon are to be here in October to build a new deck and extend it around the back of the building. After that, we will finally be able to use the French doors on the west side of the building. It is exciting to see the old structure come back to life and be used once again. Deacons from FBC, Chillicothe, recently held a fish fry dinner there and yet this fall, an annual men’s group from Independence will be in retreat there as well as the annual day retreat of the Galt Baptist Church. The Hilltop Cabins have received additional work this year with the removal of the old attic fans and additional insulation. We hope to enlist a group to form and pour concrete pads on the front of each cabin yet this fall. The Riverview Cabins have been receiving a much-needed “tuck pointing” job from the good folks of Linneus Baptist church. While they are looking rough now, when the new paint job is done, they should look near new. Other continuing maintenance includes a new coat of stain for the dining hall’s west wall. That project is looking for volunteers, also. As you can see, much is being done to maintain your camp. It is our desire that Grand Oaks remain as well a maintained and inviting place as possible. It is always our goal to have people want to come back because it was a nice place to be. It is our prayer for those of you that conduct the programs here that the guests will want to return because this was a place they met God and heard Him speak to them. That is the partnership—with many involved in many ways—that has brought Grand Oaks to this point and will continue the ministry here for many years.
See you at camp!
DON BOYER, manager
Grand Oaks Baptist Assembly
9463 Hwy 190
Chillicothe, MO 64601-6370
660 646-1906
member:
Southern Baptist Camping Association
Christian Camp & Conference Association
| |
