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Over 100 volunteers drove up in a huge church bus along with several smaller busses to the grounds of The Mary B. Mullen Bible Camp this past week to assist with the much needed refurbishing efforts of its regular volunteers. The group, known as Unidiversity, is made up of various church mission youth groups including First Baptist Church of High Point, First Baptist Church of Greenville, SC, First Baptist Church of Goldsboro, and Park Road Baptist Church of Charlotte. They usually conduct a variety of fundraising events during the year which will promote participation in summer youth missions. At least 20 of the volunteers helped clean-up a section of the Rails to Trails project in Spindale in preparation for the fall visit of the Overmountain Men on the Overmountain Victory Trail.
Leaders of the group included Ben Vogler and Frank Smith who are leaders of youth and recreation in their respective churches. Having a passion for youth serving on missions and annually leading a large team of youth to other states for a mission project, they are both recognized throughout the state and community for their leadership in youth ministry. Through coordination of a variety of organizations, they are instrumental in providing a wide range of opportunities for local and global hands-on mission involvement. Video highlights of their mission trip to Farmville, Virginia, which took place last year, can be viewed at firstbaptisthighpoint.org. Fortunately, this year one of the places they chose to help refurbish was The Mary B. Mullen Bible Camp, Inc. a 501c3 charitable, nonprofit organization located at 1900 Freemantown Road in Lake Lure, NC.
Their refurbishing efforts at Mullen Bible Camp included: replacing the windows in the 70 plus year old chapel, doing repairs in the dormitory, repairing the office, painting all buildings inside and out, replacing the doors on all campus structures, refreshing the basketball court and repairing the 104 year old garage doors. Having 100 volunteers on the campus all at once, they were very organized and extremely well trained. They exited the busses and fell into formation like well-trained soldiers. They were courteous to one another and very respectful of their leaders. Camp president Yvonne Gordon, remained close by and could be found running errands for the group and taking pictures. She indicated that it was simply an awesome process to watch. "The fresh coat of paint on all the buildings makes the place look brand new," she commented.
It should be noted that the mission of the 104 year old Christian camp is to develop the entire property into a useful community setting which will serve the citizens of not only Rutherford County but neighboring counties as well providing a retreat/conference center, camping facilities, hiking trails, picnic grounds and/or pavilions where reunions can be held, park-like recreational facilities and a nondenominational chapel where special programs may be conducted. Their “wish list” includes items such as picnic tables, gazebos, financial donations, playground equipment, construction materials for cabins, grass seed, gravel, computers, and pedestal-style barbecue grills, etc.
Jess Parton of Gilkey Lumber Company generously constructed a beautiful new entrance road into the camp. He converted a single-lane road into an attractive two-lane road while tapering difficult road banks into smooth areas which will be easier to maintain. All in all, it was pure “team work,” comments president Gordon, on the part of the regular camp volunteers who sprayed for wasps, cut grass, and got rid of poison ivy in anticipation of the youth mission workers.
The Camp also plans to express their thanks again to all contributors of the camp at their Anniversary Celebration on October 9th while conducting a special “Gospel Singing On The Mountain!” under their new pavilion. Additional information on the celebration is forthcoming and all are welcomed to attend. For additional information, contact Board President Yvonne Gordon at 828-625-0966.
