Officials at White Oak, the conference center near Winnsboro for South Carolina Baptists, are about to unveil the first phase of a new equestrian center.
A grand opening celebration for the equestrian center will be held Feb. 12-13. Check-in for the event begins at 10 a.m. Friday, with programs offered that afternoon and throughout the day on Saturday. Activities include trail rides, facility tours, equestrian drill team activities, and instructional time on topics such as how to use horses to work with physically and mentally challenged individuals.
Jeff Smith, a North American Mission Board (NAMB)-appointed missionary and director of the Cowboy Church Network, will lead breakout sessions on establishing and maintaining cowboy churches. Maureen Gallatin, founder of the Inspired By Horses ministry, will share about the 2010 World Equestrian Games to be held in Louisville, Ky. Representatives from Equestrian Ministries International, members of the eight South Carolina equestrian fellowships, and at least four South Carolina cowboy churches will also be present.
Ronnie Cox is an Acts 1:8 strategist with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and oversees statewide equestrian ministries. He said the new facility is the culmination of almost two years of planning. “Our vision is to develop this center as a gathering place for South Carolina Baptist equestrian ministries, and as a way to invite groups from across the southeast to visit White Oak,” Cox said. “We will welcome shows, rides, and meetings here so that our equestrian fellowships can provide worship services and share the gospel with these groups.”
WOCC director Tim Hughes said the conference center’s goal is to be a place where people – believers and non-believers alike – experience Christ. “The addition of the equestrian area fits perfectly into our efforts to expand the use of our facility and property for ministry. By providing various venues and activities, we increase our attractiveness to many types of groups.”
Until recently, about 40 of the 900 acres that WOCC owns have been actively used. As the new equestrian center has taken shape, volunteers have helped to clear five miles of trails that wind through several hundred wooded acres on the backside of the property. There are plans to construct horse stalls, campsites, recreational vehicle sites, an arena and a barn. In addition to the horse trails, a portable stable and about 15 campsites equipped with water and electricity will be ready by February. Plans are also underway to provide several youth equestrian camps during the summer months.
Horses will not be kept year-round at the new equestrian center, but Cox hopes the facility will be used in every season. “We will have equestrian ministry camps and plan to have horses there this summer to work with some children’s camps. The equestrian center will also be used by the South Carolina Equestrian Ministries Fellowship for an annual three-day ride,” Cox said.
WOCC plans to open the facility to national equestrian organizations. There are separate organizations for the different horse breeds and a variety of horse shows and trail rides. According to Hughes, having a place for South Carolina Baptists and other equestrian ministry groups to meet, ride, and plan ministry objectives will broaden the opportunity to impact lives for Christ.
“The possible use of White Oak by non-Christian equestrian groups provides contact and witnessing opportunities that otherwise might never happen. It is exciting to see God working and opening up these ministry opportunities. We are also very thankful for the support from the churches of the state convention to help make this happen,” Hughes said.
For more information about the equestrian ministry and the grand opening celebration, contact the missions mobilization group at the South Carolina Baptist Convention building at 800-723-7242, ext. 3800, or visit www.scbaptist.org/missions/equestriangrandopening.htm. For more information about WOCC, call 803-635-4685 or visit www.whiteoakconferencecenter.info. – SCBC