It has been an amazing summer at Shocco Springs. Thousands of guests have walked our campus, and countless lives have been touched and changed. By every measure, it has been another record season in our history.
Standing here in 2025, I am humbled to realize we are living in the fruit of something planted long before any of this was visible.
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In 1947, a small group of faithful Baptists gathered with a dream — a holy place intentionally set apart for ministry, retreat and renewal. They planted the seed without 300 employees, 1,000 acres or modern facilities. What they did have was vision, faith and a willingness to give generously so the work could begin.
Branches of ministry
When I began my work here 33 years ago as a summer groundskeeper, I was assigned the task of planting a few small trees around campus. At the time, they were little more than thin saplings in the soil.
Today, if you walk to the chapel yard or up around Twin Lodge, you’ll see those same trees as towering oaks — branches stretched wide, offering shade, beauty and a place for people to gather.
In the same way, what you and others did in 1947 may have seemed small. But like those oaks, it has grown and become branches of ministry reaching far and wide, sheltering generations and bearing fruit beyond anything they could have imagined.
During the 2025 summer alone, we welcomed thousands of guests, hosted more than 300 staff members in countless roles, served 80,000 overnight stays and prepared over 200,000 meals.
We witnessed students making first-time commitments to Christ, baptisms in the lake, pastors encouraged, marriages strengthened and lives renewed.
Every person who walks these grounds experiences something that began with your faith, generosity and vision.
To the Baptists of Alabama — thank you. Thank you for your prayers for me personally, for trusting us to steward this ministry and for believing in God’s work at Shocco Springs.
Because of your faithfulness, we can continue planting today, confident that generations to come will sit in the shade of what God is growing here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was written by Russell Klinner, executive director, Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center.
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