Check this page frequently for activities, ministries and information about Indian Springs Camp Meeting!
Summary of Articles
General News
- Sign-Up for E-Mail Newsletters!
- Online Giving Now Available
- See 2012 Speakers
- See Winter 2011 Circuit Rider
Ladies' Fellowship:
Keeping in Touch with Camp Meeting
- Please Visit Us!
- Mission Trip to Honduras
- 2011 Run for Missions was a Great Success!
- Explaining our Camp Meeting Budget
- Camp Meeting Perspective from Sam Walton
- Papa Joe Lodge Completed!
- Butts County Honors Indian Springs
- Frogs of Faith
- Meet Mat & Iris Luce, Youth Directors
- Holiness Camp Meeting Directory
Cottage Holders News
Ladies' Fellowship Spring Retreat
Download REGISTRATION BROCHURE
Retreat Speakers will be: Beth Coppedge, Betty T. Smith, Joy Griffin, Rhonda Holton and Wanda Roberts. See REGISTRATION BROCHURE for biographical information on these dynamic speakers.
A Retreat Attendee shares her impressions about the 2011 Ladies' Fellowship Retreat:
"This retreat had everything to make it successful: beautiful weather, fabulous scenery with the extra song of the cicadas (some women had never heard them before!), a thought-provoking message, good food and fellowship with women searching for His will... all for such a small cost. The music was exciting and worshipful. The prayer time around each table was very meaningful as we prayed for each other individually. Thank you for putting it together!"
Our 2012 Camp Meeting will include programs for everyone and every age! Indian Springs is known for its enriching ministries which provide a foundation for living for all generations.
We welcome visitors from the various local communities and encourage you to visit this year!
Trip Dates: February 9-21, 2012
Team Leader: Rob Roy MacGregor
A deeply committed group of eight will embark on a challenging mission trip to Choluteca, Honduras, in early February. The team's activities will focus on building a home for a needy family.
Our Indian Springs Mission Team will interface ministry activities through WGM missionaries, Larry and Angie Overholt. The Overholts direct a vocational school that teaches refrigeration, auto mechanics and sewing. They also are involved in church plantings. Activities will include construction work, teaching and witnessing through health and wellness programs and participating in church services.
Special Request: A special request from Angie Overholt has been received about bicycles. There are six 'tweens who are challenged to continue school without transportation to their school which is about five miles away. A bicycle for each of these 'tweens would cost approximately $100 each.
If God leads you to help with this need, contact Angie at angieover@gmail.com or send a contribution to WGM, P.O. Box 948, Marion, IN 46952 (specify donation for Overholt-Bicycle).
The below forms are for the mission team members:
| Letter-Timeline | Informational Bulletin |
| Application Team | Background Check Consent Form |
| Donor Support Form | Sample Letter for Donors |
| Field Travel Agreement | Permission to Travel |
| Honduras Manual |
5K Run/Walk for Missions
2011 Run for Missions was a Great Success!
1st Place Winners:
- Benji Sparks – Male Winner
- Logan Wiley – Under 12 Winner
- Mary Howell Haffner – Female Winner
Initiated in 2010, the 5K Run/Walk for Missions has proven to be very popular with our Indian Springs family. Enduring a sweltering heat index and 100% humidity, 135 runners, walkers, baby carriages and one dog participated in this year’s event. An astounding $9,172 was raised for our missionaries.
This year, the 5K was even more successful due to several upgrades to the race. Participants were given runners’ race bibs and winners received real medals. An electronic race clock informed racers and spectators of end-of-race results.
Kevin Thompson, Race Organizer, felt the increase in participation stemmed from more camp-wide awareness. Enthusiastic cottage holders cheered the runners and walkers on from porches and the sidelines as the group ran the course. The Run/Walk helps to bring together a community of believers who might not otherwise have an opportunity to meet, while having fun doing something they enjoy. Most importantly, the missions focus really adds purpose to this effort.
Plans are already underway for another exciting Run/Walk for Missions in 2012. Attention, all Runners AND Walkers: Get your running shoes ready!
Thanks to Kevin Thompson, his family & Cabin #34 Volunteers for organizing the race.
Putting the Pieces Together
Explaining our Camp Meeting Budget
Two ways to give:
- Secure Online Giving
- Mail Your Donation: Indian Springs Treasurer, P.O. Box 1742, Mableton, GA 30126
The annual budget of Indian Springs is $300,000 or approximately $25,000 a month. This may come as a surprise to many because in years past, the only budget mentioned related to the operational costs of the campground during the actual ten days of camp.
| FISCAL YEAR 2012 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS 2012 |
|---|---|
| Annual Budget: $300,000 ($25,000/monthly) | Pending Capital Improvements for 2012: |
| • Includes infrastructure additions and maintenance, insurance, utilities, repair, security and salaries. | Main Tabernacle Bench Renovation.......... $9,000 Repair the Pittman Building..................... $1,000 Repair the AC for the Cafeteria............... $2,000 Kitchen Annual Maintenance.................... $ 800/yr. |
| • Includes cost of running camp meeting, salaries, food & lodging for all ministry workers | Other Upcoming Projects: Re-roofing Mathews Memorial & Burden Building; repair of Caretaker’s Cottage and street repair. |
Our annual budget accounts for infrastructure additions, maintenance, utilities, repairs, security and salaries. It also includes the cost of operations during the ten days of camp meeting, plus the salaries, food and lodging for all workers involved.
This budget does not include capital improvements which are needed for repair and renovation projects. Funds for capital improvements may come from donations, special memorials and/or the Annual Budget.
Your faithfulness in giving throughout the year is vital to the on-going ministry and function of Indian Springs. However, monthly contributions greatly ease our cash flow.
Camp Meeting Perspective
Insights from Sam Walton
Three years ago, Sam Walton, a resident from Joelton, TN, began attending Indian Springs after a 25 year hiatus. He had experienced Indian Springs through his Fort Valley youth group many years prior. During a 2007 Men’s Retreat at his church, he met Dr. Tom Atkins, an Indian Springs evangelist, who shared Sam’s bond with camp meeting.
There was a sense of being ‘back home’ when Sam realized that the many familiar names on the cabins were indeed people he had known in the past. He found the friendliness of the attendees heartwarming and affirming.
Sam now realizes that the Holy Spirit had been preparing his heart for His presence for a number of years. “Indian Springs matures my walk as I seek the Holy Spirit’s power to become more like Christ”, Sam thoughtfully states.
A believer with great spiritual discipline, Sam experiences Indian Springs while diligently seeking to know what is God’s best for him and his family. He considers his time at Indian Springs as a form of “A Day Apart”, a time separate from the world to ask God the big questions in life and actually listen to His answers.
Sam stays in the Hotel where he finds the accommodations conducive for his own personal Bible study and quiet times. He acknowledges that the Hotel, Cafeteria and Snackateria are reasonably priced. He encourages young families to try a few days at camp, as it is an excellent investment of time.
The Parsonage Committee of Indian Springs has successfully completed the renovation of the Papa Joe Lodge. This year both first and second floors were open and every room was in use. The thoughtful goals of the Parsonage Committee for this project included space for workers’ planning preparation, teaching and resting.
Our various ministries require housing for the talented and dedicated workers who serve during camp. From single bedrooms, double bedrooms and family suites, this renovation provides sitting areas, work areas and a laundry.
All rooms have new lights, air-conditioners, windows, doors, rugs, and of course, a private bathroom. A second stairwell was built for convenience as well as safe fire egress.
This renovation was made possible due to the generosity and love of several hundred donors. The Parsonage Committee is grateful for your generosity and prayer in the support of this much needed housing which will accommodate workers and honor Joe Luce.
We will dedicate this undertaking as a memorial to Joe Luce during camp in 2012. It is named the “Papa Joe Lodge” to honor him for serving Indian Springs for over fifty years, in many capacities, including President for ten years. One of his many visions was the ministry for the “Tweens” program and tabernacle. Like Joe, we believe that our youth will be our future.
Butts County Honors Indian Springs
On September 12, 2011, the Butts County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing the history, legacy and various achievements of Indian Springs.
Indian Springs’ history is tied to Butts County through the friendship of Captain John Smith of Jackson, GA. Captain Smith had met our four Methodist founders in 1890 as they searched for suitable property for the campground.
Captain Smith was so impressed by the earnestness of these founders that he and other friends purchased the property and gave it to the Camp Ground Association.
On hand to accept the proclamation from Commissioner G.S. “Gator” Hodges was camp meeting spokesman, Matthew Gambil.
Frogs of FaithJacob Easley knew he had started a good thing when Indian Springs Evangelist Dr. Tom Atkins mentioned his efforts to raise money for missions in the Main Tabernacle. Each year Jacob and his friends enjoy canvassing the campground on their official "frog hunts."
One frog-hunting night was particularly successful in producing a box of approximately 25 frogs. Jacob’s younger brother, Ben, suggested they turn their expertise into a fundraising effort for missions. Jacob and Ben soon discovered that not many people shared their enthusiasm for buying frogs.
A couple of older folks gave Jacob a dollar for him to release a frog in their name. Jacob quickly adapted his sales strategy to be two-fold: Look-at-a-Frog and Release-a-Frog. He knew this approach was gaining momentum when a multi-aged crowd gathered around the frog box, checking out the little jumpers. Kids were thrilled as Jacob liberated a few frogs in a mud puddle and they swam around, entertaining the group.
As he wandered the campgrounds, a random person he had never met would say, "Let me look at your frogs”. Jacob was discussing selling frogs in the Bookstore with Darrel McGinnis, the Bookstore Manager, when Mrs. McGinnis promptly stopped that discussion! His final take was $15 which aided the ‘Tweens missions offering.
Developing a heart for missions is just one spiritual benefit our children receive during camp meeting. Other youngsters at the Glenn Tabernacle and ‘Tweens Tabernacle created different sources of revenue: selling lemonade and ice water; having yard sales; making crafts, jewelry, and hair bows; raking leaves and walking dogs.
Leslie Marie Easley, mom of Jacob and Ben as well as a Glenn Worker, shared her impressions of the group. "I was impressed by the hard work and effort, the entrepreneurial spirit, and the joy the kids experienced when they raised money themselves to give for God's work!”
Meet Mat & Iris Luce, Youth Directors
Directors of youth Program
This is the story of Mat and Iris Luce. Both were involved in the Youth Ministry during their teen age years. Not only did they meet Jesus at Indian Springs, they also met each other, fell in love and were married in the Youth Tabernacle in July of 2009.
Mat and Iris now live in Knoxville, TN, where Mat is a Latin teacher and the Administrator of Gifts & Endowments at the Knoxville Episcopal School. Iris works as a free-lance interior designer.
When the Padgetts decided to retire from the Youth Ministry, Mat & Iris answered God's call to them, and stepped in to provide the direction and guidance for the next generation of young people at the Springs. When asked what interested them in this responsibilty, Mat replied, "We are excited to be a part of continuing the Youth Ministry and to be involved as it emerges into new areas of growth and worship, not only for the Youth but for the camp meeting."
Evangelists:
Dr. Al Coppedge
Dr. Roy Lauter
Dr. Bill Ury
Bible Teacher:
Dr. Chris Bounds
Youth Evangelists:
Dr. Dave Ward
Holiness Camp Meeting Directory
Make camp meeting a part of your plans this year! A holiness camp meeting directory shows the dates and locations of over 20 camp meetings in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and more.
Check out this site to learn about other camp meetings that may be held in your part of the country. Of course, you are always welcome to visit us at Indian Springs, but if that isn’t possible, perhaps one of these sites will be closer to you.
Ever wonder how camp meetings began? Our web site gives an interesting overview on the history of camp meetings.