The Baptist Digest

Webster Conference Center - Much More Than Just Super Summer

September 2006

I remember the Monday night that I was converted to Christ as if it happened only yesterday, even though it was thirty-five years ago. I had never been to a youth camp before. I was no longer a youth, but I was willing to serve as a counselor for junior high boys.

We had a campfire service that night and, for the first time, I realized that I had no personal relationship with Christ. The Holy Spirit compelled me to go forward and confess Christ as my Lord and Savior. The camp was held in a state campground near Tishomingo, Mississippi.

Since my own conversion, I have been a proponent of youth camps and youth retreats. I have seen youth significantly challenged in their relationship with Christ through these experiences in every church that I have pastored or attended.

When I came to minister in KNCSB, we were still doing our youth camps at Rock Springs Ranch in Kansas and Maranatha Bible Camp in Nebraska. I remember when we transitioned to Webster Conference Center. Year after year my church sent groups off to Super Summer at Webster. Many were saved. Many made life-changing decisions for Christ. Each year my church looked forward to hearing the testimonies of those who attended.

However, Webster is more than just Super Summer. It hosts a number of events every year providing a setting where people can come and seek a closer walk with God.

My first personal experience with Webster was a marriage enrichment retreat that my church sponsored in 1985. Things were a lot more rustic at Webster in those days, but it was a great place for our retreat. We loved the grounds and the facilities that were available to us.

Through the years, we did staff retreats, youth retreats and other events at Webster. It became an ongoing part of our church culture.

Since I have come on the KNCSB staff, I have become even more involved in Webster Conference Center. It is extremely significant to our work. We do a number of retreats there during the year. This past year I had the opportunity to lead the Eagle Retreat which ministers to the children of those in ministry in KNCSB.

Thank you, volunteers from all over KNCSB who have faithfully put in hour after hour of service to make Webster our conference center. Thank you, churches, for your faithful financial support to keep Webster growing and for sending your church groups to Webster. Thank you, Terry McIlvain and those who work with you to make Webster the attractive retreat center that it has become. Thanks to all of you who have made a contribution of any kind to bring us to this 25th Anniversary of Webster Conference Center.

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I thought you might like this column I read at baptistdigest.com. "Webster Conference Center - Much More Than Just Super Summer" I remember the Monday night that I was converted to Christ as if it happened only yesterday, even though it was thirty-five years ago. I had never been to a youth camp before. I was no longer a youth, but I was willing to serve as a counselor for junior high boys. We had a campfire service that night and, for the first time, I realized that I had no personal relationship with Christ. The Holy Spirit compelled me to go forward and confess Christ as my Lord and Savior. The camp was held in a state campground near Tishomingo, Mississippi. You can read the rest here: http://www.baptistdigest.com/archive/column/webster_conference_center_much_more_than_just_super_summer/