8749 Baptist Camp Rd. Elberta, Al 36530 (251) 987-5100
Camping for the churches of the Baldwin Baptist Association has been going on since 1941. From the rental facilities of Camp Glory to Mobile Baptist Assembly in Citronelle, to the purchase of the present property in 1956, camping has been a vital part of the Association’s ministry.
The first campouts were known as Baldwin Baptist Encampments. The vision for Camp Baldwin began in 1953 when the association recognized the need for a local camp facility where its boys and girls could go in the summer for a special time of worship, leadership training, crafts, outdoor activities and camaraderie. The association appointed its first Camp Committee in 1954 and stepped out on faith to look for land. By 1955, the first piece of land, 17 acres located on Wolf Bay in Elberta, Alabama, was purchased for $5,000.00. The first “Pioneer Camp” was held that very summer with 1 building, pup tents, the associational missionary, a cook and 63 campers and counselors. The theme for that first camp was “Pioneering for Jesus.” Some of the activities included cutting grass, clearing paths and clearing the land. The cost per camper, was $8.50 per person for the week of camp, however, the results were what counted. From that first seed of faith, there were 14 decisions made for the Lord. What began as a simple vision in 1953 has become a ministry retreat center about which its early campers could have only dreamed as they lay in pup tents nearly 50 years ago.
By the summer of 1957, the Baldwin Baptist Association, with the help of its member churches and many volunteer hours, had built its first dormitory and kitchen. Another dormitory and chapel, pavilion and pool were added during the 1960’s and 1970’s, and each summer Camp Baldwin hosted camps for the boys and girls of the churches of the Baldwin Baptist Association. The vision began to grow beyond the borders of Baldwin County, and the camp became an annual retreat facility for many area churches, both Baptist and other like denominations. New ministry opportunities arose as churches from other parts of Alabama and the surrounding states found out about the unique setting of Camp Baldwin.
Complete records were not kept in these early years, but the fruits of those labors are evident in churches and communities over south Alabama and beyond. There are countless pastors, youth and music directors, deacons, Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) directors and community leaders whose lives were changed because they were able to come to a place, apart from the world, to meet with God as children or teens at Camp Baldwin. By the mid 1980’s, churches were invited to bring groups out to spend a week at “Baldwin Baptist Camp”, as it was known then, for a rate of $44.00 per person. All reservations were handled through the associational office. Meals and sleeping facilities were provided, but groups had to bring their own lifeguard and recreational equipment. In April of 1986, a Camp Study Committee was appointed to look at the feasibility of upgrading Camp Baldwin. Architectural firms were hired to begin drawings, and job descriptions were written for camp personnel. Camp Baldwin was to grow beyond the walls of Baldwin county and to begin to minister to hundreds more children and youth each year.
As more children and youth came to camp, the need for additional land and facilities grew. God continued to provide the increase as His camp was used to bring hundreds into a saving knowledge of Christ every year. Records show that in 1993, more than 30 groups used the camp. At least 502 decisions were made including 227 professions of faith and three commitments to full time service to the Lord. Several generations of some congregations have grown up knowing that Camp Baldwin would be a part of their summers. Howardtown Baptist Church in Chatom, Alabama, for example, has held a church-wide, weeklong retreat for over twenty years at Camp Baldwin. Pastor Ernest Tucker is quick to say that 90% of his church members made professions of faith at Camp Baldwin.
In 1994, the Camp Committee sent out a call for hlp. The James Graham Brown Foundation offered the camp a gift of 36 acres of adjoining land with the condition that the association make a commitment to improve the property so that it could further the ministry of the camp. The camp committee asked for support from the local churches to raise $94,000.00 to build the first lodge in the development plan. In April of 1996, the new lodge, Pine, was dedicated with a 64-bed capacity and large meeting room. Every time that new facilities were added, there was a dramatic increase in camp usage and in decisions made for Christ. Almost as soon as new facilities were built, they were filled up and new opportunities arose. Not only did the churches of the Baldwin Baptist Association answer the call for large ministry opportunities such as lodging, dining and recreation, but also many individuals answered the call for items equally important such as pianos, pews, wagons, tables, easels, and furniture. Thousands of hours of volunteer time were spent building, painting, weeding and cleaning every area of the camp.
The need for a full time director and additional staff became evident in 1995 when Rev. David Payne became the first full time director. In September of 1997, the camp’s budget increased from $63,405.00 to $125,020.00. Volunteer hours averaged 440 per month after the receipt of monies for new lodging. The existing pool was enlarged by 50%, the original dining hall was air-conditioned and 1000 square feet were added to it. During this same time, the original girl’s dorm received a new roof and a 1000 square foot addition that also increased bed space in the dorm. The camp could now house 200 campers per week. Oak Lodge was built in 1997 through donations and thousands of volunteer hours from local churches, Campers on Mission, MMAPers (Mobile Missionary Assistance Program), and SOWER’s (Servants on Wheels Ever Ready). Completion of Oak lodge led to a 27% increase in camp usage. As each housing need arose, God provided the money, the land, and the volunteers to meet the need. When each new lodge was built, hundreds more children and youth were able to come to camp, and many lives have been changed as a result of those visits. The many prayer warriors in the Baldwin Baptist Association continued to petition the throne of heaven on behalf of Camp Baldwin and the ministry it had birthed.
One such prayer warrior was Mr. J. P. Reynolds, owner of Reynolds’ Ace Hardware. As one of the original investors in the early 1950’s, Mr. Reynolds continued to hold a place in his heart for the camp. In September 1998, Camp Baldwin received a $500,000 donation from Mr. Reynolds that enabled them to build a new 20,000 square foot combination gymnasium, kitchen and dining hall with attached conference rooms and offices and eventually a “camp store”. As an added ministry to the community, Hickory Hall was constructed to hurricane specifications so that it might be used as a shelter. The dining hall portion of the facility was finished in 2000 and will seat almost 300 per meal. With the completion of the gymnasium portion of the facility in 2003, the camp gained a state of the art indoor recreation facility that can also be used as a worship center complete with stage area. This enabled use of the camp by several large groups and several smaller groups at one time.
Camp Baldwin had served children and youth for almost 45 years, but its ability to serve adult groups was hampered by the lack of a motel type facility. Again, God had placed the vision on the hearts of His people. Magnolia Lodge, a 33-room motel type lodge has two wings completed at this time. With additional funding, the third wing and the large conference room will be completed this winter. To optimize use of this facility, it will be used as dormitory style housing in the summer with 8 beds per room and will be converted to motel rooms at the end of the summer camping season. Storage space is provided for out of season beds and furniture within the lodge itself. Adult groups already have booked it for every weekend during the fall. This versatility has reached from marriage retreats, to men’s, ladies’, and singles’ retreats.
The versatility of Camp Baldwin extends beyond the buildings and facilities. Perhaps the greatest versatility is in the groups who visit the camp. In the early days, campers were boys and girls from the Baldwin Baptist Association. The entire churches of the association then began to use the camp. From there, churches of other denominations found Camp Baldwin. In the late 1990’s, Camp Baldwin became camp home to several groups of deaf and hard of hearing students and adults and to several groups of international students and children. The Jubilee International Ministry and the Friends of Internationals have been coming to Camp Baldwin for four years and are both booked for this fall. This unique opportunity to serve different people groups is a blessing to the staff of the camp. New avenues of ministry are opening for us daily. One is a group who plans to bring boys and girls adopted from third world countries. This retreat will be an opportunity to bring these children and youth together in a Godly, peaceful setting for a time of growth and renewal. Camp Baldwin is also planning to spread its ministry beyond the borders of the United States.
Wayne and Jody Bailey, both on our Camp Baldwin staff, have been traveling to Mexico for twenty years to minister with Missionary Wayne Fleming. Reverend Fleming serves at a summer camp, much like Camp Baldwin, about fifteen miles outside the city of Allende in the state of Nuevo Leon. The camp hosts several hundred local children and youth from the city each summer. Other missionaries from around Mexico also hold camps here. On site are also a Bible College and a Children’s Home for unwanted children. Camp Baldwin plans to partner with Reverend Fleming in an exchange program with staffs from our program and his. Baldwin County has a very large migrant population, and the staff from Mexico will be a large asset to us. Our staff, with its vast experience and many areas of expertise will also contribute greatly to the Mexico camp. Plans are to also partner with a camp in the Ukraine in a similar manner. With these experiences our staff will continue to grow and will be better able to serve the increasing Hispanic and European populations which are moving into Baldwin County to work and to live.
An unexpected avenue of ministry has blown its way to us with the recent onslaught of Hurricane Ivan. Our area took a direct hit from this storm. Camp Baldwin has become home to several Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief chain saw crews, volunteer groups from churches all over the southeast including Bellevue Baptist in Memphis, Tennessee, and over 150 utility workers from all over the nation. We have also opened our facility to our community for showers, ice and other amenities. Being able to house groups like the utility workers has presented us with unexpected opportunity.
It is evident that God has had a design on this facility and camp for His Honor and Glory. There have been many decisions for Christ over the years and God willing with the increase in facilities, there will be many more in the years to come.
God has given Camp Baldwin a wonderful heritage. This exciting ministry exists because of those who, in past years, saw the vision and opportunity of touching lives for Jesus Christ through the ministry of Christian Camping. For those who have benefited from the ministry of Camp Baldwin, the rewards are eternal.
