Campers at Linden Valley Conference Center take a raft ride down the Buffalo River. The two Baptist Conference Centers, Linden Valley and Carson Springs, combined to host more than 5,600 guests this summer and attendance records were broken.
FRANKLIN — More than 250 individuals accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior during summer camps held at Tennessee Baptists’ two conference centers at Carson Springs Baptist in Newport and Linden Valley in Linden.
The summer of 2024 has been the largest in attendance in Carson Springs history, affirmed Kevin Perrigan, manager of Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center.
Carson Springs reported 2,971 guests from more than 60 different churches with 106 salvation decisions from six kids camps; seven youth camps, eight college/adult groups, and a one-day event.
“These children, youth and adults focused their attention on hearing God’s Word each week for nine weeks,” Perrigan said.
“It was a great summer here at Linden Valley as well,” agreed Jimmy Tucker, manager of Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center.
Linden Valley reported 2,703 guests, 157 salvation decisions, 44 other decisions (calls to ministry, missions, etc.) from six kids camps, five youth camps, one collegiate group and three one-day events. The majority of the campers came from Tennessee churches, but the total also included campers from six other states.
“This summer the Lord blessed us with a great spirit at camp all season long from the staff to all the guests. It was a wonderful summer,” Tucker affirmed.
“God used Linden Valley in a mighty way,” he said.
Campers at the 2024 All Nations Camp gather for a group photo at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center. Photos by David Dawson, Kimberly Chino and Marybel Sotomayor.
Perrgian noted that for the first time Carson Springs hosted a Centrifuge camp sponsored by Lifeway Christian Resources.
“I had been talking to Joe Hicks (director of Centrifuge) for a number of years in the hope of bringing Centrifuge to Carson Springs,” he said.
“I had heard from many youth pastors over the years about the Christ-focused and quality program that they put on,” Perrigan continued. “After seeing behind the scenes of Centrifuge firsthand, I was greatly impressed,” he said.
“I’m grateful that God is allowing Carson Springs to be a part of reaching students for Christ through Centrifuge camps,” Perrigan said.
Hicks said Centrifuge traditionally has not held camps with capacities for under 400 people, but “post-COVID-19 changed some of that thinking,” Hicks said.
Since summer of 2022, FUGE Camps has been running camp at a couple of locations that are as small as 200, Hicks said. “What we have found is that some of our smaller churches enjoy the smaller camp atmosphere,” he said.
“Another advantage we have found is that some of these smaller retreat centers, like Carson Springs, have some activities that the larger college locations do not have such as a pool, paint ball, gel blasters, and climbing wall.”
Hicks noted an added bonus was the overall friendliness of the Carson Springs staff. “Several of our Fuge camps’ customers commented on this specifically,” he said.
Hicks said Centrifuge plans to hold two camps at Carson Springs in 2025 (June 2-6 and June 30-July 4).
Linden Valley also is expecting another banner year in 2025, Tucker said. B&R
