Staff/Oklahoma Baptist Messenger

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (BP) -- An emphasis of sharing the Gospel was made throughout the reports, presentations and addresses at the 109th annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. With 621 registered messengers from state Baptist churches, and numerous guests, attendees were charged by the annual meeting's theme "Connect>1" that focused on spreading the Gospel through individual evangelism.

DAVIS, Okla. (BP) -- While this summer has seen record temperatures across the country, records of eternal significance have been recorded in Oklahoma. [QUOTE@right@180="We have seen students deal honestly with what God has been telling them." -- Todd Sanders, Oklahoma Baptist student strategist ]A record 2,469 professions of faith were made by students attending camp at the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, along with 1,277 students who recorded decisions involving a special call to Christian service. In the last week of camp alone (July 23-27), 331 professions of faith were recorded. Overall, 6,595 decisions of various types were recorded this summer. "Those aren't just numbers, that's Kingdom impact," said Andy Harrison, Falls Creek program director and Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma student ministry specialist. Other decisions made during this summer's eight weeks of camp included assurances of salvation (287), restorations (2,014) and special needs (548), although full-time campers totaled 41,191, down from last year's 42,961, while total attendance slipped to 52,978 from 57,541. "We have seen students deal honestly with what God has been telling them," said Todd Sanders, Oklahoma Baptist student leadership strategist. "It is always exciting to see students respond to Christ in all areas of camp, whether through the short film 'Lone Pass' in our morning teaching times, in our missions areas, in the evening services, in their cabins, in small groups, in one-on-one conversations, at night or during the day," Sanders said. Camp leaders noted that the focus on prayer at camp this year made a key impact on students' lives and the decisions they made. During the morning tabernacle time, teachings revolved around the fact that God hears and answers the prayers of His people. Students learned about such facets of prayer as forgiveness, intercession, thanksgiving and requests. The students weren't the only ones impacted. Tanner Boswell, a member of the Falls Creek staff, said, "It is really amazing as a staff to hear all of the prayers of the campers and see the many struggles they go through."

DAVIS, Okla. (BP) -- While this summer has seen record temperatures across the country, records of eternal significance have been recorded in Oklahoma. [QUOTE@right@180="We have seen students deal honestly with what God has been telling them." -- Todd Sanders, Oklahoma Baptist student strategist ]A record 2,469 professions of faith were made by students attending camp at the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, along with 1,277 students who recorded decisions involving a special call to Christian service. In the last week of camp alone (July 23-27), 331 professions of faith were recorded. Overall, 6,595 decisions of various types were recorded this summer. "Those aren't just numbers, that's Kingdom impact," said Andy Harrison, Falls Creek program director and Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma student ministry specialist. Other decisions made during this summer's eight weeks of camp included assurances of salvation (287), restorations (2,014) and special needs (548), although full-time campers totaled 41,191, down from last year's 42,961, while total attendance slipped to 52,978 from 57,541. "We have seen students deal honestly with what God has been telling them," said Todd Sanders, Oklahoma Baptist student leadership strategist. "It is always exciting to see students respond to Christ in all areas of camp, whether through the short film 'Lone Pass' in our morning teaching times, in our missions areas, in the evening services, in their cabins, in small groups, in one-on-one conversations, at night or during the day," Sanders said. Camp leaders noted that the focus on prayer at camp this year made a key impact on students' lives and the decisions they made. During the morning tabernacle time, teachings revolved around the fact that God hears and answers the prayers of His people. Students learned about such facets of prayer as forgiveness, intercession, thanksgiving and requests. The students weren't the only ones impacted. Tanner Boswell, a member of the Falls Creek staff, said, "It is really amazing as a staff to hear all of the prayers of the campers and see the many struggles they go through."