By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — While many summer camps around the nation have increased their prices, the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is doing just the opposite.
In hopes of giving as many children as possible the opportunity to attend the TBMB’s three camps — Super Summer Camp at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center, and Impact 1 and Impact 2 at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center — prices have been substantially reduced.
TBMB evangelism event specialist Jay Barbier hopes the decrease in rates will lead to an increase in attendance.
“With camp season quickly approaching, I recently noticed that we still had a lot of room available for churches to join us and be a part of our TBMB camps,” he said. “One of the things I heard from many different churches was the struggle to pay for or raise money to bring students to camp. So, I talked with several of our staff members at the TBMB and we made a decision to lower the price.”
The price for this year’s summer camps is $200. Last year, Super Summer camp was $295 and the Impact camps were $315. (Visit www.tnbaptist.org for camp dates and more information).
“By lowering our price we are doing whatever it takes to try to help meet our first objective — which is to see children and youth come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ,” said Barbier. “Our camps are centered on communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we challenge our campers to respond. So, we want as many churches as possible to become involved in bringing kids to camp.”
Barbier said he has seen the dramatic impact that attending camp can have on young lives, with life-changing decisions being made on a daily basis.
“Camps make a life-long difference in the lives of all who attend,” he said. “Camp is where many followers of Jesus heard the call of salvation. Also, many ministers of the gospel received their calling at the camps.”
Barbier said his personal experience with camp is the reason he feels so passionately about encouraging those in youth and children ministries to make camp a top priority.
“Camp is a must, in my opinion,” he said. “It left an incomparable mark on my life as a student minister. Some of my greatest memories are with my students at camp.”
Barbier said one of most appealing aspects of camp is that it allows students the rare opportunity to truly “unplug” from the normal distractions of life.
“The time away from the everyday hustle and bustle of life at camp gives you opportunities to build relationships and friendships that last a lifetime,” Barbier said. “Ministers and leaders from churches have the opportunity to spend more time with their students at camp than they have over several months at other times of the year, when they only get together one or two days each week.
“Camp helps produce times of gospel conversations and it provides fellowship,” he said. “The benefits are enormous.”


