Shocco marks summer 2005 as record high

Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega hit a milestone in 2005 with the largest summer in its history, said Buster Taylor, executive director of the state Baptist assembly.
   
Taylor said more than 22,000 youth, children and adults attended various events at the camp this summer, resulting in more than 2,000 registered decisions. For the year, he said, Shocco Springs hosted more than 52,000 guests and saw 2,709 total decisions for Christ.
   
The camp had an unexpected opportunity to respond to needs resulting from Hurricane Katrina by providing housing, meals and other provisions to 47 evacuees. It also housed disaster relief volunteers from 85 relief teams as they traveled from states such as Virginia and the Carolinas down to the hurricane-hit areas.
   
Katrina also generated a partnership between Shocco and the Gulfshore Baptist Assembly in Pass Christian, Miss., Shocco’s counterpart in Mississippi, which suffered severe damage. “We invite you to join the Shocco ministry team as we extend a helping hand,” Taylor said. He noted the partnership will provide prayer support, tangible support and volunteer work.
   
Because of the hurricanes, Shocco had almost 950 cancellations, causing a dip in the assembly’s finances, Taylor said. But two large donations were given that made up the difference. “God knew and provided for our needs even before our needs were known.”
   
Shocco was also able to complete renovations to the Mt. Moriah hotel, the chapel and chapel annex, the dining room and a new warehouse, Taylor said. Because the state partnership with Venezuela will end this December, Shocco’s partnership with Venezuela’s Camp Carabobo is drawing to a close, he reported.
   
A major dream of the partnership was realized when Cory Horton, recreation facilitator at Shocco, led a team of five to Venezuela to build a ropes course at the camp. “Thank you very much for your support and allowing me to go and be a part of that,” Horton said. (TAB)