another group did something, a pastor would ask if we had ever considered something… and over time, it evolved into what it is today, thanks to the volunteers who built 90 percent of it. It’s evidence that God is in control, not us.” Besides the large group facility, Camp ToknowHim also has a small group facility called The Barn, an amphitheater, a soccer field and a lake complete with a floating iceberg and floating dock. There were more amenities, but on April 27, 2011, a half-mile wide tornado ripped through the camp leaving devastation in its wake. “Acres of forest were demolished,” Roy recalls. “Paths couldn’t be walked. Our small group facility was heavily damaged. We lost our ropes course, zip line, rope swing, waterfront, rappel site — all of our ‘toys.’ “God taught us something amazing in that time,” he continues. “We had groups scheduled to come. We were sort of embarrassed about the camp but grateful they would want to come at all. We told them there was nothing to do. But group after group came anyhow and they all said the same thing — it was the best retreat ever. The kids were so impacted by the destruction they saw all around. It made them realize just how powerful and fragile life is. Youth pastors said it made the worship and the teaching more meaningful.” Since its start in 2000, the camp has grown in size and scope. It now encompasses more than 200 acres, offers a wilderness program and extreme night hikes, a pre-Civil War cabin created especially for married couples, a retreat/conference facility for church leaders and more. Today Camp ToknowHim’s board of directors has seven members. “The camp began with Ginny, Rob and myself,” says Roy, “but the rings keep getting bigger. There is no organization behind us. All of this has been birthed out of one miracle after another. I’ve heard it said all my life that you can’t outgive God. We’re seeing evidence of that with the camp. We were faithful, and God has been more faithful.” n
One of the first things Roy and Ginny Nelson did to their property in Pisgah was put a cabin on it. “We found two men selling pre-Civil War cabins from the Tupelo Pike area of Scottsboro,” says Roy. They purchased one and had it moved to the property where they reassembled it. The cabin, named Pilgrim’s Rest, was a pre-camp labor of love for Roy and Ginny. It is nestled in the woods near a creek bank and only available to married couples who leave their children with a sitter and stay for at least two days. “With divorce rates over 50 percent for couples in church as well as out of church,” explains Roy,” we wanted to create a place that encourages married couples to make time together a priority.” Once, a couple staying in the cabin asked the Nelsons how much it cost to build. “They came back to us later with a check for that amount,” says Roy, “and said ‘we’d like to see you do this again.’” Three more cabins from the 1800’s were purchased and moved to the property. They are awaiting reassembly while camp workers and volunteers focus their efforts on rebuilding what the tornado destroyed.
Volunteers with the Buckeye B aptist Builders coming to the ca have been mp every May for a decade. M building at the ost of the camp has been done by volunt eers.
The
Melting Pot
During high school Roy Nelson and a buddy committed to go into business together when they graduated college. They were young and had nothing to lose. They started a little place they called The Melting Pot in Maitland, Fla. “Our first customer paid us with a $20 bill and we couldn’t make change,” laughs Roy. “I ran out the back door and down the alley to the 7-11, and bought a pack of gum with his money. I got the change, ran back down the alley to the restaurant and presented the customer with change at the table like we were very professional. That’s how poor and broke we were.” But six weeks later the newspaper’s mystery diner came in. They loved the place and wrote about it in the local newspaper. “They gave us the entire front page of the food section,” says Roy. For the next 18 months, the restaurant was so busy they had to turn away as many customers as they served each night. They opened a second location and over time began franchising. For the next 15 years they spent a lot of time on the road finding real estate, building restaurants and training franchisees. “Then we began to hate being away from home all the time,” he recalls. So the partners sold the business to three brothers, one of whom had worked in their first restaurant. “It worked out well and I’m proud of their success,” Roy says. “With more than 150 locations, they are The Melting Pot now.” Connected - May/June 2012 9