DAVIS—Ice cold ICEEs fly out of service windows as fast as employees can make them. Frappuccino’s meet the lips of expectant, sleep-deprived campers. Music and free T-shirts fill the air on the Centennial Plaza. All in celebration and a part of 100 years of Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center.
Each Wednesday night at Falls Creek, a celebration takes place in honor of the 100th birthday of Oklahoma Baptists’ favorite encampment. Like any good birthday
2,000 cupcakes are distributed on the Centennial Plaza each Wednesday night.
celebration, there are also cupcakes, “It’s like a giant birthday party in the middle of the plaza,” said Falls Creek Director, Jason Langley.
“It’s become such a part of Oklahoma life,” said Falls Creek Program Director Andy Harrison. “I’ve been coming since 1974 as a camper, then sponsor, then youth pastor, then on staff and finally as program director. You just see over those years how people all over Oklahoma are connected to Falls Creek.”
Construction on Centennial Plaza finished just in time for camp season at Falls Creek, making for an ideal gathering place for all who visit Falls Creek.
“There are people under the pergola getting cupcakes, people standing in line for ICEES, people sitting by the fire pits just talking, people going in the 1917 Cafe, the bookstore, gift shop, and headed up to the mission center. You are able to reach everyone on that plaza because that area is so open,” said Harrison.
Following the celebration on the Centennial Plaza, 100 rounds of fireworks fill the sky. This rounds out the perfect birthday celebration for the ever-improving Falls Creek.
Langley explained the thought process behind the building of Centennial Plaza, “Once the buildings surrounding the old ICEE area were completed, it made us think about ways to improve the space. The completion of the plaza really helps bring the whole Mathena Event Center, Thompson Lodge and Jordan Welcome Center area together.”
As a century is celebrated, Falls Creek looks forward to the next 100 years of a Legacy of Faith, “We are celebrating 100 years in 2017, but we are also, in or minds here at the conference centers, launching the next 100,” said Langley.
As Falls Creek prepares for the next 100 years, Harrison says the focus remains on the Almighty, “Everything we do, even the sports in the afternoon, the breakouts, the materials we provide for in-cabin Bible studies, late night devotionals, early morning quiet times, all of that stuff points to the One for whom we do it all. So that’s the key.”
