By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
EUNICE – A million dollar gift to the Acadian Baptist Center has helped jumpstart construction on a much-needed new worship center, with camp leaders, board members and supporters breaking ground April 11 in a ceremony to launch construction and to celebrate how God has provided financially to build the facility.
“A man and his wife came to summer camp worship and saw the gym full to the brim, and couldn’t stop thinking about our need for a new worship center,” camp director James Newsom told the Baptist Message. “He said I don’t know how God speaks to you but I couldn’t quit thinking about your need for the worship center so my wife and I decided to help you get started.”
When completed in April 2020, the $3 million, 18,000-sq.-ft. facility will accommodate up to 1,000 people. More than $2.3 million has been raised in gifts and pledges. Additionally, the camp is signing up volunteers to augment the work performed by professional crews, he said.
“It’s really exciting to finally get this project started because it’s such a God thing,” Newsom said. “Attendance has increased to 3,000 for camp, and we are thrilled the kids will have a nice worship center to enjoy. So many people have given and participated just to be a small part of what God is doing at Acadian Baptist Center. It will make for a better camp experience and provide room for growth.”
Campers currently worship in the gymnasium, which Newsom said is not ideal. “When we have bad weather, the kids aren’t able to play inside the gymnasium because of all the worship equipment set up,” Newsom said. “We have just one more summer and then we will finally have dedicated space for each of these purposes.”
Many of the 110 people who have donated to the new facility are former camp staff, board members and parents whose children were impacted by the ministry. Newsome said that nearly 8,000 people have repented and placed their trust in God at Acadian Baptist Camp since it opened in 1975.
“The support has been phenomenal,” Newson said. “People see how camp changes lives and they want to invest in the next generation. They realize the youth who attend our camps will be the adults of tomorrow.”
Donations to the new worship center can be made at the camp web-site, abccamp.com.
