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By Rachel Ortego, Regional Reporter
LOUISIANA – In 2011 the tables were turned on four Toledo Bend fishermen when they became fishers of men as well as of fish.
Because of a Toledo Bend Resort Ministry children’s project taking place during a fishing tournament, the four men made professions of faith and a chain of events began that is having kingdom-sized results.
Mary Gore, director of Toledo Bend Resort Ministry in Sabine Parish, said she was not surprised. As far as she is concerned, she explained, Jesus operated the first resort ministry. Gore remains emphatic about the impact resort ministries have in drawing people to Christ.
The world-famous annual B.A.S.S. Elite Series fishing tournament takes place each summer in Toledo Bend, home of the fifth-largest man-made lake in the United States.
“In 2011 our local tournament committee asked if we would coordinate children’s activities during the tournament,” Gore said. “While we were working with the children, the local pastor engaged some of the fishermen in one-on-one evangelism and four adult men made professions of faith. Then, in 2012 when the group returned, we discovered they had a chaplain. We invited the chaplain to help conduct a ‘Meet the Elite’ event at the church and eight men and boys made professions of faith there.
“Jesus called fishermen first,” Gore continued. “He went where people were fishing and he went into the mountains. He didn’t sit down in a synagogue. We’re doing what Jesus did and following His biblical ministry.”
Gore said there has always been some criticism of resort ministries because people say the un-churched should be in church.
“If they are informed and intelligent,” Gore said, “they’ll see that many people are not going to any church.”
The Toledo Bend Resort Ministry was established in 1972; Gore said they have established a presence there and earned the respect of the community. Many of the people they minister to, they may never see again, Gore acknowledged.
“For some, we get one shot,” Gore said, “and we never miss an opportunity to give the plan of salvation and an invitation. We need to make sure they get the gospel.
“When we make snow cones at festivals and the children ask for a rainbow snow cone we tell them there’s only one color per snow cone just like there’s only one way to Jesus,” Gore explained. “When they complain because it’s too hot or they want a cold drink, we explain they can get to a cooler place now and get a cold drink, but in Hell there’s no escaping. When we give free balloons or other items and parents offer to pay, we say this is our gift to you because Jesus loves you, and share with them there is no way to buy your way into heaven.”
Currently mission outreach opportunities in the Toledo Bend area exist in 30-plus parks, in marinas and in numerous low-income housing projects. Five Baptist associations and 126 area churches and missions are involved in the ministry, with the support of the North American Mission Board and the Louisiana Baptist Convention. “I’m amazed, that after 20 years, God still let’s me do this. He is so faithful,” Gore said.
Grand Isle
Also in Louisiana is the seven-mile by one-mile strip of land that is Grand Isle. Once frequented by pirates like Jean Lafitte in the 1800s, now fishermen rule the seas surrounding the island and come summertime, swimmers, sportsmen and tourists swell Grand Isle from its local population of 1,500 to more than 12,000 people.
Smack dab in the middle of it all is Lighthouse Resort Ministry, an outreach of First Baptist Church Grand Isle. Anything anyone could expect in a “seaside” resort ministry, they do here: fishing rodeo ministry, children’s camps, Bible school, and one-on-one encounters in an area that Pastor John Boss describes as “highly un-churched.”
Boss says the church and the resort ministry’s positive involvement and his history in the community has given in the community has given them an exceptional edge in ministering there. He learned to witness on the beaches here as a child.
“Our resort is the ‘go to’ place,” Boss said, “and we work closely with the mayor and the town. When hurricanes strike, or in situations like the oil spill, the disaster relief [Southern Baptists] provide is a great testimony.
“I see the resort as the future of everything we do because of our demographics,” the pastor continued. “But the main thing we do is specializing in helping people do special evangelism.”
The church and resort facilities are also used as lodging for mission teams, missionaries and staff retreats. Ministers who need to “get away” can do so at no charge here. The North American Mission Board helps with staffing of missionaries for summer camps.
“We see more and more people attending retreats here,” Boss said. “There are summer guests every weekend.”
Northeast
Research and experience has shown that resort ministry works because it’s easier to get people’s attention when they are at leisure and more relaxed and open, says David Abernathy, director of Rolling Hills Resort Ministries in northeast Louisiana.
“We minister to people who don’t go to church but are willing to come to an outdoor service,” Abernathy said. “We see our role as sowing seeds and watering seeds that have been sown.”
Rolling Hills has a set schedule of worship services at Lake D’Arbonne State Park in Union Parish, Lake Claiborne State Park in Claiborne Parish and Jimmie Davis State Park in Jackson Parish. They also have permission to hold services at Lake Bistineau in Webster Parish. Weekends are the times they make the biggest impact on the guests in the park and even larger groups camp out around the holidays, Abernathy said.
“We engage in relational, not confrontational, evangelism,” Abernathy said. “We visit each campsite, being careful how to approach guests. We are very laid back. We just visit with them and talk to them.”
In addition to worship services, they conduct day camps and family evening programs.
“We now have people in worship services who attended camp as children,” Abernathy said. “It’s generational.”
Rolling Hills also operates disaster relief and thrift store ministries.