Camp Tipton: A Little Camp Doing a Big Work for Christ
Snuggled securely in the Appalachian foothills in Maryville, Tennessee is a little camp with a big heart.

According to the Appalachian Regional Ministry webpage, the current site of Camp Tipton is the “result of a donation of property from the Tipton family and Mr. Tipton’s love for children. Between the mid 1970’s and 1980’s the Chilhowee Baptist Association built the pavilion and the recreation area, and local churches built rustic, eight-bed cabins to accommodate overnight campers. By the early 90’s a large bathhouse was added and in 2001, the multipurpose room was completed. Year-round housing and improvements were added to the multipurpose building in 2005."

Some of the various ministries supplied to the Maryville community through Camp Tipton are after school programs for local elementary schools, work with children through the Blount County Friends Club as well as the Knoxville Boys and Girls Clubs.

They also have an extensive home repair ministry that ministers to low income Blount County residents; usually widows, single parents, and elderly with disabilities.

They are also beginning a ministry to the motorcycle tourists who come to ride “The Dragon” and camp along the Hwy 129 corridor between Maryville, TN and NC.

Our Travelers

This trip, our ministry team included a few adult workers: our Youth Paster, Brother Philip Tyre, Mrs. Angel Rowland, Mr. Eric Buchanen, and Mrs. Angie Steedley.

In addition, we brought 19 youth with us. They were; Nathan Aldridge, Amelia Beaudry, David Bowen, Josh Deal, Chris Fowler, Holly Guy, Paige Hickson, Dylan Howard, Jonathan King, Scotty Lawson, Jeslyn Locke, Lydia Oakley, Michael Robson, Justin Sapp, Rachel Sauls, Lindsay Steedley, Travis Trammel, Dillon Turner, and Ross Tyson.

The groups intermingled with each other and with The Fisherman’s Crew throughout the week, but Bro. Philip and Angel were primarily responsible for 10-12 graders and Eric and Angie were responsible for the 6-9 graders.

The Fisherman’s Crew

The Fisherman’s Crew is a ministry of Summit Christian College in Gering, Nebraska. This year, they had the privilege of bringing 26 students and 4 workers to Camp Tipton during the same week that our campers were there. They’ve been doing Spring mission trips for over 20 years, and usually go to Mexico to help with home repair projects there. Because of political unrest in the usual destination, they came over to Tennessee instead. Little did they know that they’d encounter our students from Georgia who “talked funny,” acted goofy, and liked to eat grits.

Actually, one of the great blessings of the trip was intermingling with this group, sharing stories of how we say what we say and exactly how it is that you’re SUPPOSED to eat grits (no sugar, honey, or jelly, thank you very much). Our two groups did seem to blend rather naturally and I gained a great appreciation for their hearts for Jesus and for their tireless work ethic.

These students were great examples in faith and in leadership ability and our group thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and their love for all things circular. I’m sure that our students will enjoy staying in touch on Facebook.

Home Repair Ministry

The teams that went out in home repair ministry were busy indeed! On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, teams went out to replace aged shingles on roofs. Also on Monday, another team went to the home of an elderly woman named Virginia who needed a great amount of exterior work done to her home including cleaning the leaves off her roof and applying pitch so that it wouldn’t leak. At that same home we trimmed hedges, removed debris from behind her home, and replaced a piece of wooden siding that was rotting. She was so overwhelmed by the generosity of the workers that she asked, “Why?” “Why would you’ns give up your Spring Break and your time to come help an old widder woman? I’m very grateful, but why?” The only possible response was simply this, “Ma’am, it is our very heart to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet. . . We have come this week to let you know how very much your Savior loves you, and the easiest way to show you is by doing what our Savior would do if He were here do it Himself.”

There were many more projects, like painting the exterior of a home and cutting and hauling firewood but none made a greater impression on me than that conversation with Ms. Virginia.

The Baptist Mission

This team was brilliantly led on both Tuesday and Thursday by Mrs. Angel Rowland. Here is a little of what they did.

On Tuesday and Thursday, we went to the Baptist Center in Knoxville (next to the largest housing projects in the state of Tennessee with over 600 apartments) and helped all day doing the following: Passing out groceries at their market they do twice a week for needy families, helping pass out clothing and household supplies to needy families, Rachel played and we sang worship songs while people were waiting their turns for the market and to get clothing. We visited and shared Christ with some of the people who were waiting for groceries and clothing, helped people carry their groceries to cars and bus stops, helped with unloading of trucks with new food items for the Baptist Center, swept and mopped the whole Baptist center after Market. After cleaning the Baptist Center, we helped organize clothing and other donations in the rooms downstairs where the needy families get clothing.

Hot Chocolate Brigade/Laurel Falls Ministry

One of the great blessings of the trip, in addition to the opportunities to share the gospel in word and action was the fact that it was actually cold enough to snow. For students from South Georgia who rarely get the opportunity to see the fluffy white precipitation, it was like an extra measure of grace from our Savior.

An added benefit of the weather is that it provided additional ministry opportunities for our teams.

On Tuesday morning, one team went out to give out hot chocolate to tourists at a local park and had a great chance to witness to one of the park workers. That afternoon, that group combined with another to go up to the top of the Foothills Parkway to greet travelers who braved the weather to see the snow and to make the cold, strenuous hike up to Look Rock. We offered hot chocolate to these travelers and took an opportunity to share briefly share the gospel.

On Wednesday, another group went to Laurel Falls, a high-traffic tourist attraction in Townsend, and hiked the path to the cascade, offering trail mix and water to the cold, weary sight-seers.

In all of these opportunities, our adults and students were able to ask the most telling question of all, “In your opinion, what does it take for a person to go to heaven when they die?” In listening to the varied responses, students came to understand the great need for people to learn the Real Answer to that question, and how very much our world needs to know Him.

Preschool MOPS Program/ After School Program

On Thursday, while our 6-9th graders went back to the Baptist Mission in Knoxville, our older youth went to volunteer at the East Maryville Baptist Church MOPS program. According to their website, “MOPS (MOthers of PreSchoolers) is an international organization for all moms of infants to kindergartners (pregnant mommies, too). MOPS provides an opportunity to meet other moms in the area and enjoy the journey of motherhood together! EMBC MOPS is a group of 35-40 women who meet on a regular basis to socialize, share struggles, laugh, and learn how to become better mommies.”

While we were there, our students and adults served in each of the classrooms while some Rachel got do what she does best, traveling from room to room to share music with the children. It's great to have our very own troubador!

For the afternoon, Kurt, one of the Camp Tipton leaders, taught us the games and lessons that they use to share with an after school ministry at a local elementary school, then we went with him to help lead in those games. Our students had an opportunity to hone their leadership skills as they brilliantly led the students in the adventure based activities, that would ultimately lead them to make the connection between the games and their relationship with Christ.

The Great Smoky Mountain Amphitheater

On Friday morning, two teams awoke before the rest of us to go prepare and take meals to the disaster relief workers who were diligently searching for a missing boater. After their return, we all loaded up in the vans and headed back to Townsend, Tennessee to the Great Smoky Mountain Amphitheater.

It quit raining long enough for half of our crew to help set up chairs for the next day’s performance of The Great Smoky Mountain Passion Play while the rest of the group worked diligently on the inside.

In the main building, the upstairs prop and costume department had to be gutted and all sheetrock removed from the interior walls and ceiling. Our students worked hard and I was very proud of their cooperative efforts to accomplish this Herculean task. Their heart of service for their Lord is both abundantly evident and highly commendable. To God be the Glory!

Youth Testimonials:

“Totally eye opening to the abundance of opportunities to witness in our everyday lives” – Rachel Sauls

“The experience this trip gave me was amazing. It made me realize that there is so much going on outside of our sheltered little town. It also made me realize how much of an impact we can make on other peoples lives if we just try hard enough. God has really worked wonders in my life this week, and I hope he will do the same from now on in my life and on the next mission trip.” – Ross Tyson

“Wow! It was amazing what all God has shown me about life through this trip. He definitely showed me the greatness of His power. He has mended my heart, and He still is. Being a part of this trip was definitely a blessing. God has allowed me to have many amazing people in my life since this trip. He has put a passion in my heart for serving Him and helping others. He is just so amazing! (:” - Lydia Oakley

“The whole focus is on serving God! No one is superficial and everyone is very passionate! It made me realize I need to be this way all the time and I was very inspired by my experience with everybody at Camp Tipton! God bless!” – Josh Deal

“It was amazing and I learned helping people really makes a difference in the world little bits at a time...I also loved meeting everyone on fish crew and from Georgia! You are all amazing and I miss everyone!” - Melissa Rick (The Fisherman’s Crew)

"It was amazing!! The people and the passion at Camp Tipton are very real! I noticed how dedicated each person is and how caring every one is. The staff is amazing and the volunteers rock!! I loved it! & the food was heavenly!! I miss every one there & I hope ill be going back later this summer!!" - Annie Hopkins (The Fisherman’s Crew)