What is Falls Creek?

Falls Creek is about young people! Nestled in the heart of the Arbuckle Mountains of southern Oklahoma, Falls Creek has become the largest religious youth encampment in the world. More than 45,000 young people will attend its seven weeks of encampment every summer.

What happens there is the work of God! Five thousand, two hundred and forty-three young people made decisions for Christ at Falls Creek in 2006. Of that number, 2,090 young people made professions of faith and 520 others made decisions of special service. This is only the continuation to what God has been doing at Falls Creek since its beginning in the summer of 1917.

Over the years, thousands have come to know Christ as personal Savior and thousands of others have answered God's call to full-time Christian service. Recent surveys reveal that 35% of Oklahoma pastors, evangelists and church staff members were saved or called to ministry at Falls Creek. Of Southern Baptist missionaries with Oklahoma ties, 21% received the call to missions at Falls Creek.

However, Falls Creek is more than seven weeks in the summer! It is a year-round conference center. Nearly as many people will participate in conferences and retreats at Falls Creek during other times in the year as attend the seven weeks of youth encampments. Last year, almost 42,000 people attended events such as the men's and women's retreats, the Baptist Collegiate Ministries weekend and the State Bible Conference.

Each August, Falls Creek hosts Native American Week, bringing together approximately 3,000 Native Americans from all over the United States and Canada. Children's Camp is also an annual event in June of each year.

The largest single adult conference in North America is held at Falls Creek in September. In addition to these conferences and retreats, many local church groups use Falls Creek facilities on the weekends for various types of meetings.

What is the purpose of Falls Creek?

Falls Creek is a special place where thousands of people, young and old, come together to hear God's Word proclaimed and to respond to the Holy Spirit's call to salvation or to full-time vocational Christian service, and to committed Christian living.

Because of a ministry of teaching and training at Falls Creek, Oklahoma Baptists are being better equipped to share their Christian witness with the world and to serve God through the ministries of their local church.

What are the current sources of financial support?

Falls Creek receives no Cooperative Program funds for its maintenance and operation. Falls Creek support is derived from the following sources:

Registration Fees and Rentals	60%
Concessions/Grocery/Cafeteria/Gift Shop	39%
Offerings and Endowment Earnings	1%

How does Falls Creek spend its support?

Falls Creek has operated with a small budget surplus for several years and is committed to sound fiscal management.

How did the Falls Creek master plan come about?

Messengers at the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma authorized the appointment of a special committee to research, evaluate and make recommendations regarding current and future use requirements of Falls Creek. Their findings and recommendations were presented at the Convention's 1999 annual meeting.

In an historic session, messengers overwhelmingly approved the proposed Master Plan.

Why do changes need to be made at Falls Creek?

Although the tabernacle has been expanded for increased seating capacity on several occasions, there has been no major renovation project undertaken on the tabernacle since its construction in 1929.

During the summer months, temperatures under the tabernacle often exceeded 100 degrees. In the fall and winter months, temperatures become uncomfortably cold for meetings in the open-air tabernacle. During three winter months, Falls Creek is closed to large group meetings because the tabernacle cannot be used.

The B. B. McKinney Chapel, built in 1964, deteriorated with age and has been removed. It will be replaced with a spacious, well-equipped conference area to meet the programming and training needs of a new generation of church leaders.

Over 90 years of use have taken a toll on the facilities at Falls Creek. At the same time, more and more conferences, retreats and seminars are turning to Falls Creek as an ideal meeting place because of its natural setting and overnight accommodations and food service.

Oklahoma Baptists must be willing to invest their material resources in the future of Falls Creek if it is to continue to have the impact that it has had in the past.

Will a new tabernacle lessen the ability for future generations to have "The Falls Creek experience"?

Over the past 90 years, nearly two million individuals have known the impact of Falls Creek during the youth encampments. That which we have come to call "the Falls Creek experience" is really the work of God's Holy Spirit in the lives of young people and others who have responded to the Word of God in message and music. Such times of inspiration occur when people come aside from the world to worship God in spirit and in truth.

The disciples wanted to preserve the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration by building three booths (tabernacles), one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Jesus. The Heavenly Father reminded them, "This is my beloved Son, hear him." Falls Creek is about the worship of God and hearing and responding to His word. It cannot be explained nor preserved in buildings.

The proposed year-round use of a new tabernacle will only enhance "the Falls Creek experience" and make it an experience for all seasons.

Will the proposed expansion and increased use of facilities require additional staff and an increased operating budget?

Yes, additional staff will be needed and budget increases will be required to operate and adequately maintain the new facilities. However, it is anticipated that increased income from greater usage will more than offset these increased expenses. There are no plans to increase Falls Creek user fees at a rate greater than the historic rate increases caused by inflation.

Will implementing the Falls Creek master plan significantly impact Oklahoma Baptists' mission and ministry?

No place on earth has had greater impact in touching lives for Christ than Falls Creek. Between 11% and 14% of the teenage population in Oklahoma attends Falls Creek each year. On the average, 10% of those in attendance will make some kind of decision for Christ.

During the past 90 years, there have been over 200,000 documented decisions. Many of these decisions have been in response to God's call to full-time missions and ministry. Falls Creek is one of the reasons that Oklahoma Baptists have more missionaries on the foreign and home mission field than any other state in the Southern Baptist Convention.

The implementation of the Falls Creek Master Plan should only enhance and expand the mission and ministry of Oklahoma Baptists.

Is the campaign for immediate cash gifts?

Immediate cash gifts will be gratefully accepted; however, pledge gift commitments afford donors the opportunity to make larger gifts and to spread the installment payments of the gift amount over a period of three to five years.

Gifts of marketable securities, real estate, life insurance and other gifts in kind will also be received by the Falls Creek campaign.

Additionally, deferred gifts through gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and bequests in wills or trusts will be received. Campaign staff members are available to assist individuals with planning deferred gifts.

What is the suggested pledge period?

Three-to-five year pledges are encouraged, but donors may specify a schedule for pledge payments in whatever manner most convenient and beneficial to them. Pledges may be paid in monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual installments, or at irregularly scheduled dates during the pledge period.

What are other ways to give to the Falls Creek, for the Sake of the Call campaign?

Donors may want to give marketable securities such as common stocks or government and corporate bonds. Donors who transfer securities that have appreciated in value to the Falls Creek campaign may avoid capital gains taxes as well as receive a charitable income tax deduction for the full market value of the donated securities.

Deeding real estate is a good way to support Falls Creek. A charitable income tax deduction may be taken for the fair market value of the property. If the donated property has appreciated in value, the donor may avoid the tax on the capital gains he/she would have otherwise paid if the property had been sold.

A life insurance policy makes an excellent gift for individuals who no longer need the benefits for which the policy was originally purchased. By transferring the ownership of the policy and changing the policy's beneficiary to the Falls Creek campaign, donors may take a charitable deduction for an amount approximating the cash value in the policy.

Other types of non-cash gifts include closely held securities and gifts in kind such as jewelry, collectibles, equipment, building materials, etc.

Are gifts to Falls Creek tax deductible?

Yes, donors may take a charitable income tax deduction for gifts made to the Falls Creek, For the Sake of the Call Campaign. Donors are encouraged to consult with their accountants or other professionals about the tax treatment of gifts made to the campaign.

May gifts be designated for specific purposes?

Donors may direct gifts toward any project within the Master Plan. Additionally, gifts may be made to perpetuate the memory of a loved one or to honor someone special. In particular, the construction of the tabernacle provides a number of naming opportunities for rooms and other facilities. Examples of such naming opportunities are the multipurpose room, conference rooms, lobbies, the choir loft, the platform and its furnishings, plaza, entryways, the audio-video control suite and the video studio. Home Page | Campaign | History | Save-A-Seat | Giving | Contact Us | Help