DAVIS—For almost 40 years, Associational Children’s Camp (ACC) has provided a spiritual emphasis for children who have finished 3rd through 6th grades. Offering two four-day sessions, May 26-29 and May 29-June 1, ACC also kicks off the summer camp season at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center.

Water relays are a hit at ACC.

“All of our children’s camps all over the state at all the different campgrounds are important. They fill an important role in the work of our churches,” said Preston Collins, director of missions in Union Association, who is in his second year of serving as ACC camp director. “Our goal here at Associational Children’s Camp is to clearly communicate the Gospel in a way that kids at this age can understand it.”

More than 2,500 campers from approximately 80 churches attended the first ACC session. The second session began after the Baptist Messenger’s press deadline

Keith Coast, left, uses a laser as an illustration of Christ’s love penetrating a person’s heart.

Keith Coast served as ACC camp pastor for both sessions. Collins said the ACC staff is pleased with how Coast communicates the Gospel with children.

“He felt called to this kind of ministry,” Collins said about Coast. “His focus is on understanding where kids at this level are, what catches their attention and how to utilize those things to point them to Jesus.”

During the May 27 evening session, Coast, an evangelist from Lawton, based his message on John 1, as Jesus being the “Light.”

“There is darkness, but Jesus is the Light of the world,” Coast said. “There is no light that is brighter. Jesus can shine the light of His love into your life, and you can get rid of that darkness. There is nothing too complicated for God.”

Coast used a light laser and balloons to illustrate how Jesus can penetrate a person’s heart.

ACC featured a children’s choir during the evening sessions. The choir was led by Wynn Anne Hook

One feature at both ACC sessions is the annual MissionFest. Meeting in Falls Creek’s Mathena Family Event Center, MissionFest allows campers to connect with different missions and ministry entities across the state and around the world. The two-hour event was a major attraction for campers.

Another ACC feature is the children’s choir during the evening sessions. Many campers attended rehearsals an hour before the evening session began and were led by Wynn Anne Hook, director of the Oklahoma Baptist Children’s Chorus (OBCC). Hook also offered auditions during each ACC session for those interested in joining OBCC, which features children across the state of Oklahoma.

Campers meet with missionaries during MissionFest

Collins shared that a church group from Western Oklahoma was able to attend the second ACC session, after the group experienced disappointing news.

“I got a phone call today from a lady in western Oklahoma,” Collins said during the first ACC session. “She was going to take the kids from her church to a children’s camp, but the camp they were going to attend is flooded. So she asked if she could get her kids here. She was already beginning to do the research and filing all the necessary paperwork. She had a cabin she can share with another church group, and I expect to see this group here for the second session.”

Collins said he believed the Lord worked it out for this church to attend ACC in spite of the flooding conditions. He also believes having ACC at the beginning of summer vacation is a great benefit for children.

“We think it’s a great opportunity to meet when school gets out,” he said. “It’s a first great opportunity to start off the summer. We love it that we can offer a spiritual emphasis at the beginning of a kid’s summer, so that could affect the rest of their summer as they are involved other activities. We are glad that we can put Christ first at the beginning of their summer.”

For more information on ACC, visit accok.org.