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>> by Chris Doyle

MANAGING EDITOR

DAVIS—Oklahoma Baptists look forward to summer every year because this is the time for youth camp at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center. Now in its 105th year, Falls Creek continues to be a cherished location because this is where many young people have made professions of faith in Christ, grown in their spiritual walks and where many over the years have surrendered to ministry and to missions.

Todd Sanders, Falls Creek program director, is looking forward to Falls Creek this summer with the theme of camp being “Choose.”

“We are going to explore spiritual disciplines,” Sanders said, mentioning camp’s theme Bible passage is Col. 2:6-7. “One of the significant aspects these verses address is a practical approach to spiritual life. We are to continue to live in Christ or walk in Christ. In that same manner, you are choosing that every day.”

Each day at camp this summer, Sanders said campers will focus on different spiritual disciplines of the Christian life, under the principles defined as “saved, set apart, solid and surrendered.”

“As God roots us in Christ, He is establishing us, but we are actively involved in this building up in maturity, becoming saved, set apart, solid and surrendered—looking at this idea in overflow of gratitude or thankfulness,” Sanders said.

Speakers at Falls Creek

Many of the camp speakers this year at Falls Creek are returning with a few being first-timers. Sanders said he is excited about the whole roster of speakers for this summer.

“There is a straightforward goal for us in that we want speakers who will deliver a clear Gospel message and deliver a clear Gospel invitation,” Sanders said. “We know these are guys who will do that.”

Zane Black is a well-known evangelist who is a regular speaker at Falls Creek. “Zane has a national ministry involved with Dare2Share ministries and has spoken at national events such as Winter Jam,” Sanders said. “This will be his fourth time to speak at Falls Creek.”

Brian Mills is another regular Falls Creek speaker. He is a former student minister and evangelist now serving as pastor of Yukon, Trinity. This is Mills’ third time to speak at Falls Creek youth camp.

“Typically, we do two state pastors (every summer),” Sanders said. “Brian will be a third state pastor for us this year. I don’t think there is any doubt that Brian can deliver a Gospel-centered message and be pro-active in moving people to the point of salvation and helping with follow-up on those decisions.” Ryan Fontenot will make his first speaking appearance at Falls Creek this summer. He is an evangelist who has been involved in Southern Baptist work in Texas. “Ryan has a ministry focused on reaching the next generation and preparing others to share the Gospel,” Sanders said. “I’m excited to have him with us this summer.” Jeremy Freeman is pastor at Newcastle, First. He and his son Caleb were involved in the Falls Creek Road Show in 2020, when camp was not meeting in Davis because of the pandemic. “Jeremy has an incredible story of faithfulness and how God has worked in their lives,” Sanders said. “We will be highlighting Caleb’s story (miraculous recovery from an auto accident) differently than when the Freemans were a part of the Road Show.” David Sons, last spoke at Falls Creek in 2017, which was his first time to be the camp speaker. He is a pastor in South Carolina. “David is a very strong, clear communicator in delivering a Gospel message,” Sanders said. “He is a popular speaker among students and the next generation.” Michael Butler will be speaking for the first time at Falls Creek youth camp, but he is no stranger to Falls Creek. The former youth pastor has been pastor of Chickasha, First for more than 11 years.

I love Michael and what he is doing at his church,” Sanders said. “He is a great communicator and leader.”

Scott Pace returns to Oklahoma as he previously taught at Oklahoma Baptist University. Now he is a

Zane Black professor at Southeastern Seminary.

Week 1—June 6-10 “Scott has been with us before and does an excellent job,” Sanders said. “He’s a great communicator who is very evangelistic in his preaching.” Shane Pruitt is not only a Falls Creek favorite, but he has been a regular speaker at many Southern Baptist events. He currently serves as the Next Gen evangelism director for the North American Mission Board. “I have been working with Shane on a lot of dif-

Ryan Fontenot ferent levels for the past two or three years,” SandWeek 3—June 20-24 ers said. “He’s just a great voice who knows how to connect with many different groups but especially with young people.”

Worship bands at Falls Creek

The Museum will make a first time appearance as a worship band at Falls Creek, but many are experienced at leading worship through music. These include So We May, Jared Wood, Craig Rigney, Rivers and More Than This. The last two weeks of Falls

David Sons Creek camp will feature Worship Collective, a praise

Week 5—July 4-8 band that will feature well-known worship leaders such as Cody Dunbar, Matt Roberson and Mike Romero. The evening services at Falls Creek will be livestreamed again this summer. Visit oklahomabaptist. org/youthcamp to find the livestream link as well as other information about Falls Creek Youth Camp.

Scott Pace Week 7—July 18-22 Brian Mills Week 2—June 13-17 Jeremy Freeman Week 4—June 24-July 1 Michael Butler Week 6—July 11-15 Shane Pruitt Week 8—July 25-29

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COST: FALLS CREEK YOUTH CAMP

>> PHOTO: CHRIS DOYLE Invitation time during the evening services at Falls Creek has a special meaning to many who have made spiritual decisions over the years.

Language Learning Fellowship reboots after pandemic protocols

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>> by Chris Forbes

STAFF WRITER

The Language Learning Fellowship, a ministry of Oklahoma City, Northwest, has seen a lot of changes over the 22 years of its existence, but nothing quite like a global pandemic. After months of closure, the school is back up and running and needing new teachers to keep up with the demand for their free language learning classes.

“When we were paused for COVID, the church got about 10 calls a week asking when we were going to start up again,” Richard Collins, the school’s director, explained. “We tried to start again last year, but then Delta (COVID variant) hit, and we needed to wait. Now we are back up and running.”

Collins and his wife Deborah have led the school of volunteer teachers since 1999. Throughout the years, the Collinses let their passion for ministry fuel them to learn Spanish and to build up the school.

Collins is not a full-time, vocational pastor. He owns Collins Copier Service and repairs most brands of copiers and fax machines by day.

The school offers free classes on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Northwest campus, located at 3030 N.W. 23rd Street in Oklahoma City. Free childcare is available and open from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

Among the most popular courses the school offers are English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship classes. There are also classes in various levels of Spanish, Arabic and Japanese. The school offers a course in biblical Hebrew. A new addition to the school’s curriculum is a class on American Sign Language (ASL). Another new addition to the curriculum came not as a response to the pandemic but because of global conflicts. The school has mobilized to help refugees from various places around the world. “Our Afghan refugees have been learning mostly in their homes and apartments,” Collins explained. “That’s because most of them don’t have reliable transportation yet.” Collins said language learning is the goal, but the school also seeks to advance the Gospel. “We see ourselves primarily as a seed sowing ministry,” he said. “We have had a few

>> PHOTO: PROVIDED Richard and Deborah Collins have led Language Learning Fellowship since 1999.