& MISSIONS M I N I S T RY
SPORTS & T MEN E N T E R TA I N
Falls Creek hosts 10th annual Fall TBack event with COVID protocols PLE & O E X P O B L O O R C H ON COVER CH /// U PREVIEWED
>> by Chris Doyle
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MANAGING EDITOR
DAVIS—Fall Back Weekend turned 10 years old as Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center hosted the annual event, Oct. 16-17. With 1,200 people in attendance, Fall Back was the largest event at Falls Creek since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Andy Harrison, director of Oklahoma Baptists Conference Centers, said Falls Creek prepared well in advance for Fall Back, making sure attendees followed a list of COVID protocols. “We required masks and social distancing in all indoor venues, which included the Tabernacle, 1917 Café and public restrooms,” Harrison said. “In openair locations and in cabins, it was recommended to wear masks and social distance. We also recommended that church groups wear masks while traveling to Falls Creek and talk to cabin owners to make sure that cabins were sanitized.” Harrison said Falls Creek leadership made sure no staff members had been exposed to anyone who had COVID. “All of us were COVID free,” he said. Fall Back featured three worship sessions in the Tabernacle. Worship through music was led by Rivers worship band. Christian artist Fedel also gave a Friday night concert in the Plaza. Wade Morris, a regular speaker at Falls Creek, was the preacher at Fall Back. He talked to students about going through the pandemic and handling school differently. “I have been praying that God would do huge things here,” Morris said. “I know that we live in a very weird time. I know we are in the middle of this pandemic.
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1) Fall Back speaker Wade Moore preaches on 1 John; 2) Worship band Rivers lead a time of worship through music at Fall Back. >> PHOTOS: CHRIS DOYLE
Some of you are in school. Some of you are in virtual school. Some of you are doing at the same I C EbitSoutboth V Oa little time. Everybody seems of rhythm, but in the end, Jesus has stayed the same the entire time. My hope and my prayer is not only that we have the chance to meet here, but that God would move in a way that when we leave we would say ‘Jesus is still good.’” Morris preached from 1 John in Fall Back’s opening session. He said John’s message was Jesus is the atoning sacrifice “not only for our sins but for the sins of the entire world.” The reason for John to write his first letter, Morris said, was to help Christ’s followers discern the true Gospel message against the message of false teachers. “John was writing to say, ‘The message I was telling you about Jesus 30 years ago is the same message that is true today, and it’s going to be the same message that is true for all time,’” Morris said. Harrison said many students did respond to Morris’ appeal for making decisions for Christ. He also appreciated Morris sharing the Gospel and encouraging students to respond.
“Wade always does a really good job,” Harrison said. “He’s gifted as an evangelist and able to stick to the Scripture, exegete it well and then ‘run to the cross.’” Each session featured times of invitation for students to make spiritual decisions. Youth pastors and church leaders stood in the aisles of the Tabernacle, as students would come to them for counseling. “Our prayers were always focused on having the event so that we could see the Gospel advance,” Harrison said. “Not having that throughout the year has been difficult. That’s what we are there for. During the first invitation and response time, there were several people who indicated they spoke to their sponsors about salvation. I heard from several group leaders who said they had kids who were saved and several made decisions.” Overall, Harrison and Falls Creek leadership were happy with the results of this year’s Fall Back. Falls Creek plans to host Fall Back next year and will continue to work with state youth pastors in planning the event. For more information visit fallscreek.org.
MISSIONS VOLUNTEER TIES
OPPORTUN
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OKLAHOMA
Ongoing opportunities for volunteers: Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, OKC and Community Food Bank of Eastern OK, Tulsa—both locations, call 405/972-1111 (Many Oklahoma Baptist churches receive food from them for local food pantries) Arms Around Broken Arrow—food pantry, clothes closet - 918/258-7714—hugh@armsaroundba.org Lake Texoma Baptist Resort Ministry—Pete Richards, Director, 580/579-1671 or thehelm2034@gmail.com
DISASTER RELIEF
Campers on Mission:
Campers on Mission is a fellowship of Christian campers who share their faith while camping or doing mission activities. They work on projects in Oklahoma and across the U.S. For more information email mvanzandt@ oklahomabaptists.org.
Cherokee Baptist Assembly, Cherokee—918/506-5482 or cba_tahlequah@yahoo.com
Pray for Oklahoma Missionary Seth Bevers Seth is Baptist Collegiate Ministries Director at Western Oklahoma State College in Altus. Pray that the BCM will continue to have an impact on the campus of WOSC.
Pray for International Missionary Albert Hesskew Albert and his family have served in Krakow, Poland since 2008 as International Mission Board missionaries. Pray for continued growth of the church in Krakow.
For Powerpoint slides of Prayer Guide, visit www.oklahomabaptists.org/cp
Missions & ministry | November 12, 2020 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com
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