Florida Campers on Mission largest national chapter

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Campers on Mission had a presence at the North Florida Fair and recorded 459 professions of faith in 2007 overall. COM will hold a rally April 16-18 at Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center in Marianna.

MARIANNA (FBC)—In campgrounds across the state, over 400 Florida Baptists participate in evangelistic outreach through Campers on Mission each year sharing their faith as they go.

“Many people ask ‘what is Campers on Mission (COM)?’” said Jim Clay, president of the Florida Campers on Mission. “Some jokingly say it is the best-kept secret of the Southern Baptist Convention because very few of our churches are aware that we exist or what our mission is.”

Sponsored by the Adult Volunteer Mobilization Unit of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board, membership is open to Christian campers of all denominations.

“Campers on Mission is a national fellowship of Christian campers who want opportunities to share their faith and love of Jesus while camping or participating in missions activities,” said Clay.

Nationwide 31 COM chapters boast more than 3,101 members with Florida as the largest chapter with over 400 members.

During 2007 Florida COM members volunteered over 43,000 hours of ministry service in roles that included construction, maintenance, fairs, festivals, campground ministries, youth camps, disaster relief and recovery and seamen’s ministries. As a result of these ministries 459 professions of faith were recorded in 2007.

One of their larger ministry projects is near completion. The Florida campers have been laboring to construct a new church facility for the First Baptist Church of Lloyd.

The Florida COM began working with the church in late 2001, following a request by the church building committee. Before construction could begin on the church, an existing building had to be renovated for offices and a septic tank had to be built. The campers worked six days a week to complete projects in their area of expertise. After many setbacks, construction began on the new sanctuary slab columns and roof system in 2007 to make way for construction crews in November 2007. The 10,000 square feet of new construction and 4,300 square feet of renovation are scheduled for completion this month.

The Florida campers hold two rallies a year, in the spring and fall, which is set April 16-18 at Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center in Marianna.

In addition to fellowship and worship, the rally features training seminars including one by Fritz Wilson, director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief and Recovery Department, who will teach a special seminar on the process of getting volunteers to do construction projects.

Annually in June a national rally is hosted by one of the state chapters. During these rallies campers have an opportunity to fellowship; worship the Lord; participate in seminars designed to enhance their witnessing, construction and camping skills; and to address other topics of interest to campers.

“During the national rally we also report on how the Lord has used COM to accomplish His purpose and learn about new and ongoing ministry opportunities,” Clay said. The next national rally is June 18-20 in Fort Smith, Ark.

Florida COM is broken down into nine regions so that campers can stay connected on a local level. Each of the nine regions holds mini-rallies during the year to plan regional projects and to fellowship together. For more information about Florida COM, how to join and what is taking place in your region, go online to www.flcampersonmission.org.