The David and Barbara Green family has committed to give $1 million to Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center for a pending construction project, announced Anthony Jordan, BGCO executive director-treasurer.
The Greens, founders of Hobby Lobby, Mardel Christian & Education Stores and the Hemispheres chain of home furnishings stores, previously provided $2 million toward the construction of the 7,300-seat tabernacle at Falls Creek.
“We are excited about being a part of the Falls Creek ministry of sharing the love of Christ to the youth of Oklahoma and beyond,” said family representative Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby and member at Bethany, Council Road. “Only Heaven knows the impact Falls Creek has had over the years. It would be hard to imagine the work of Oklahoma Baptists without this important ministry. Our desire is for this ministry to continue long into the future,” he concluded in a written statement.
In announcing the gift, Jordan said he was “. . . not only thankful for this most recent generous gift to Falls Creek, but I am also grateful the Green family operates their companies in a manner consistent with biblical principles and has been committed to using profits from their business to help ministries since its founding in the 1970s.”
He goes on to say, “Were it not for the David and Barbara Green family and their desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there are many ministries that would not be reaching as many lost people as they are today. In fact, several would not be in existence.”
Funds given by the Green family will be used toward construction of new water treatment and wastewater treatment plants at Falls Creek. The two plants have a combined cost of almost $7.5 million, and are mandated by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ).
The water treatment plant must be relocated out of the 100-year floodplain and equipment must be upgraded to ensure treatment processes are not overloaded during peak summer months while providing a minimum of two units for all treatment processes.
The existing Falls Creek wastewater treatment facility is comprised of a single partially-aerated lagoon constructed in 1968. The camp-wide wastewater collection system includes approximately 2.6 miles of sanitary sewer lines connected with 63 manholes. Inspection and line testing has identified numerous areas where significant repairs to, or replacement of, the 43 year-old clay pipe is required.
The BGCO was notified by the ODEQ that current standards require at least two aerated lagoons, in series, followed by one settling lagoon.
Construction of both new plants will begin this fall, and will be completed by the summer of 2014.
