LINDEN — The second annual Royal Ambassador Camp-O-Ree, held Oct. 16-18 at Linden Valley Conference Center here, saw an increase of over 100 people this year with an attendance of 765, according to Mike Freeman, Mid-South RA and Camp-O-Ree director.
“We are very grateful for the financial partnership that was developed with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Mid-South Baptist Association, Memphis area, to develop and fund this RA event,” said Freeman. Last year was the first time that the event was held at its new venue at Linden Valley, he added.
This year’s event drew 632 RA leaders and boys and 119 volunteers and outside vendors representing seven states and 45 churches. The RA chapters ranged from Lads to Older Challengers from first to 12th graders. In addition to participants staying in the lodge, cabins and dorms, 400 people chose to camp out on the grounds. Four Texas Baptist Men also attended the event to research how the Tennessee RA team conducted a large and successful event with volunteers.
Highlights of the weekend event included: Missions Hall, Survival of the Fittest team obstacle course, Pit Stop car tire mounting race and Campfire Rally service. Guest speakers included Rob Carr, national RA director, North American Mission Board; and Tullahoma’s Nathan Dorrell and family, “The Dazzlin’ Dorrells,” who are jugglers. There were 18 decisions reported including some decisions for full-time Christian service.
“This year Missions Hall was a missions fair on steroids,” added Freeman. “Not only did the boys meet missionaries in person at the camp, but they were able to meet, talk and see missionaries from all over the world on Skype (a telephone and video Internet service). This was the coolest thing in the world.”
The participants met at least 20 missionaries in person at the camp including representatives from West Africa, South Florida, Maine and retirees. The missionaries available on Skype included representatives from Austria, Portugal, Columbia, Asia, Pacific Rim, Hungary and Chile.
The Mid-South Association’s disaster relief feeding unit provided meals to the groups as they arrived during the night of Oct. 16. The feeding unit was staffed by volunteers from Cherry Road Baptist Church, Memphis. The disaster relief shower trailer from First Baptist Church of Concord, Knoxville, was also in operation for the weekend.
