Shocco celebrates past five years of growth

By Erin Webster

For Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center, the past five years have been ones of great change and growth, reported Shocco Director Buster Taylor.

Speaking to messengers at the annual meeting of the Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC) in Montgomery Nov. 16–17, Taylor said, “We have completed our first five years as your newest ministry, and as it continues to grow, God has continued to provide.”

Sharing the stage with Taylor were former chairmen of the board of trustees Don Carroll and Chester Jernigan and current board chair Don Letson. They shared the ways in which Shocco has grown since becoming an entity of the ABSC in 1999.

Carroll, who served as chair 1999–2001, said when Shocco became a ministry of Alabama Baptists, the trustees “set forth to develop long-range plans.”

The resulting master plan had four components:

1. Building a new worship center.
2. Building additional lodging.
3. Creating an adventure camp facility.
4. Building a recreation facility.

The intent was to give first priority to the worship center, but the needs for lodging and recreation were too great. So Mountain Ridge Lodge and Rocky Ridge Lodge were built, as was the George E. Ricker Activities Center.

A unanimous effort

Although more money is needed before construction on the worship center can begin, Jernigan encouraged those who had given money toward the effort. “Thank you to all of you who have contributed.

“This was a big step for the board of trustees,” he said. “We were unanimous in this decision because we were convinced this is God’s will for Shocco Springs.”

The camp’s partnership with Camp Carabobo in Venezuela is also continuing to expand. Taylor said future plans for Camp Carabobo include constructing a high ropes course, training camp leaders, holding youth missions camps and building a Missionary Learning Center.

Letson said he enjoyed the opportunity he and Taylor had to work on a security wall for the camp during a missions trip to Venezuela with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

“All these accomplishments will certainly enhance our worship and service to the Lord,” he said, noting they would not be possible without the support of Baptists.

“All this is made possible because you as the Alabama Baptist State Convention have supported the camp and staff through the years,” Taylor said. “We remain committed to our ministry purpose of providing a distinct Christian environment for spiritual growth.”