For the past 55 years, Shocco Springs has been the gathering place for spiritual transformation and renewal,” said Buster Taylor during his report to the state convention in Mobile Nov. 19.
“We will remember 2003 as an exceptional year,” he said. “We’ve completed our largest project in 10 years. Because of these additions, we’ll be able to impact more people with the good news of Christ.”
On Sept. 12, Shocco Springs dedicated three new buildings- Mountain Ridge Lodge, Rocky Ridge Lodge and the George E. Ricker Activities Center. The two new hotels, which opened in May, provide 60 new hotel rooms and will accommodate 292 guests, The activities center includes an indoor climbing wall, two full-size basketball courts, conference rooms and office space for the recreation department. It also functions as worship space for the summer.
“The name for the activities center was chosen to honor the faithful years of service by George E. Ricker, who was director of Shocco 1970-1989,” Taylor said. “He impacted so many lives during his time at Shocco and laid the foundation for what Shocco is today.
Taylor said one of the highlights of the year was the continued partnership with Camp Carabobo in Venezuela.
In a video presentation, Daniel Rea, a Venezuelan Christian student who joined the summer staff at Shocco this year, said he learned a great deal from the camp.
“I came to Shocco as an ambassador to learn and take new ideas back home. This is all about serving others with God’s love. I’m proud to be a part of this family,” said Rea.
Building security wall
Don Lotson, chairman of the board of trustees for Shocco, shared his experience helping to build the security wall around the campus of Camp Carabobo.
“We laid over 22,000 blocks to complete that wall,” he said. “The young people there demonstrated a real concern for development of the campus and learning new ways to reach out for Christ. When it was completed, we had a dedication service, thanking God for completion of the project.
“One of the young men was singing ‘When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder’ in Spanish as we were working. I recognized it and began singing it in English. When we finished he pointed to heaven,” Lotson said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
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