DAVIS— Indian Falls Creek (IFC), the annual family camp for more than 50 tribal Nations across North America, was held at Falls Creek Conference Center on July 26-30.
This year’s IFC had 3,129 campers in attendance. There were 304 total decisions, including 76 assurances of salvation, 64 recommitments, five calls to ministry, 25 baptisms and 134 other decisions. An additional 47,000 people viewed the services online.
With family as the focus of IFC, church families can form stronger bonds amongst themselves and other churches. Cultural diversity among the tribal nations brings unique interactions, programming and fellowship moments to reach Native peoples.
“Our attendance this year is one of the largest in many years,” wrote Victor Cope, IFC Executive Director. “Our board worked extremely hard for each person who attended this year.”
Mike Keahbone, pastor of Lawton, First and member of the Comanche, Kiowa and Cherokee tribes, served as the camp pastor. The theme of IFC this year was “Love Kindness,” based on Michah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
“Pastor Keahbone did an outstanding job,” said Cope. “The invitation services in the morning and evening were amazing. God showed up during the hottest week at Falls Creek this Summer.”
Keahbone highlighted the importance of younger generations beginning their walks with Christ. On Monday night, he reminded campers that those who walk with Christ will face hardships, but when hardships come about, they must turn to Christ and put their concerns and hope in Him.
“You live in a world that is bombarding you with lies,” Keahbone said. “But I will tell you the Word of God, not only is it real and not only has it defended itself with powerful truths, but it is also giving you objective truth. Truth that is just true.”
IFC is entirely volunteer led. Everyone involved in the planning and management of camp activities are also campers who attend with their churches. To support churches and families that might otherwise not be able to attend, IFC hosts an annual Golf Tournament to raise funds for programming and scholarships.
Despite the intense heat, sometimes crossing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, campers enjoyed their time at IFC by participating in basketball, volleyball, ropes course climbing, dodgeball and more. IFC also provided morning classes for preschool, children and youth, along with breakout sessions.
On July 27 and 28, IFC held the annual Joyce Hansen Legacy Blood Drive. This year, 222 units of blood were donated from 291 donors. This total made this year’s blood drive the most successful one to date, earning IFC an additional $3,330.
Named in honor of Joyce Hansen, who passed away on May 12, 2025, and was one of the original organizers, the blood drive partners with Our Blood Institute to donate blood to those in need while honoring Hasen’s legacy.
At IFC, all ages attend and worship God in fellowship with other Native American believers. Throughout the year they’ll regularly attend other churches to support them during a revival or for special occasions, but IFC is the one time of the year where all Native American churches in Oklahoma and other states gather.
“It’s a family camp,” said Dr. Emerson Falls, Oklahoma Baptists Native American ministry partner. “We have a different culture than other churches. It’s centered on the group rather than the individual.”
Falls noted the significant increase in youth attendance which also led to numerous youths making decisions for Christ. Falls has estimated that 90 percent of the Native American population are not followers of Christ, so seeing the spike in attendance, especially in the youth, inspired him.
“The camp reflects what happens in the churches,” he said. “Churches today are being proactive and reaching out to younger people. That’s important to us.”
For more information about IFC, visit indianfallscreek.org.
