January 14, 2002
Deconstruction project builds up a Texas camp
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___CROSBY--It's a love story of sorts. Mutual admiration abounds, and a gift has been given.
___The gift is not gold, however, but lumber, air conditioners and insulation.
___"First Baptist Church in Crosby is a big part of the ministry here at Lake Tomahawk Baptist Camp," Director Bob Dent explained. "They are a huge supporter."
___Work groups from the church come to the camp several times a year to paint, clear trails and do general maintenance. That's a boon to the budget of the encampment that ministered to more than 3,000 children and youth last summer and witnessed more than 450 decisions of faith, including 82 decisions for a commitment to vocational ministry.
___It seemedonly natural that the church find a way to benefit the camp when it came time to renovate education space in the church's gym. But the gift the church wanted to give the camp was not easily given.
VOLUNTEERS dismantle a section of the gym at First Baptist Church of Crosby in preparation for donating the building materials to Lake Tomahawk Baptist Camp.
___One end of the gym contained a two-story structure with a kitchen and fellowship area in the lower level and education space on the floor above. When the church looked to enlarge the space and transform the lower level to classrooms as well, the architect said the most efficient thing would be to tear down the structure inside the gym and start over.
___The quickest way to do that would have been with sledge hammers and other demolition equipment. But the church decided to dismantle rather than demolish. All possible materials were taken apart for use at the camp.
___Texas Baptist Men volunteers faced a different job than the construction work they generally do. This time they were building in reverse.
___"It's a good thing the Texas Baptist Men showed up or we probably wouldn't have been able to get it out of there in a usable condition," Dent said.
___When the materials were taken to the camp, Dent found he had more than $10,000 worth of goods that probably will be used to build two cabins.
___The gift will allow the camp to do something that otherwise would not have been possible.
___"This project would have been done when we were able to get the money to do it, and quite possibly might have never happened," Dent said. "But with what Crosby has done for us, these cabins will be built this year."
___Giving the materials to the camp was not a difficult decision, Associate Pastor Jeff Holloway said.
___"We've had an attachment and love for Lake Tomahawk for a long time," said Holloway, who has been on staff at the church 14 years. "We immediately saw it was the right thing to do, and our congregation is just great about wanting to help the camp all they can."
___Pastor Russell Ellisor agreed. "We were happy to do it. Our church has always been very involved in the ministry at Lake Tomahawk and will continue to be."
___
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