A group from Baptist Prep takes a selfie at Camp Paron (Submitted)
PARON, Ark. – Camp Paron received a bit of a facelift this week as students from The Baptist Preparatory School in Little Rock spent their Missions Week sprucing up the camp.
According to the school’s website, Baptist Prep is involved in various local, national, and international missions throughout the school year, but their greatest opportunity for service comes in March during the annual Missions Week. Upper School students spend the week sharing the Gospel and loving others through acts of service.
Six students and two teachers from the school chose to spend their Missions Week at Camp Paron. Teacher Sonya Hodge said this is the second year she has taken a group to the camp.
“We go out and we serve. It’s been a really good experience for these kids,” she said.
Missions Week was the brainchild of Baptist Prep Upper School Principal Randy Goldsmith. Hodge said it was born out of his love for missions and is held the week before spring break.
“There is not a lot of productivity before spring break. Kids’ minds are already on the break. So, he thought maybe there is a better way to use that week before,” she said. That led to him creating this Missions Week. Rather than being in a classroom that week before spring break, they are out in the community serving and being productive.
At first, all the missions were local to the Little Rock area. It has since grown to include national and international missions. Hodge said they have had teams in in various states, like Colorado and South Dakota, and they currently have teams in Italy and Peru.
“His idea really blossomed and just went all over the world, and we’re planting seeds of the Gospel everywhere we can get it,” Hodge said. She said a verse they take with them when they serve is Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.”
At Camp Paron, Hodge’s team provided a variety of work. They raked leaves, painted, stained furniture and more. Camp Paron Manager Andrew Campbell touted the students’ work ethic. He said everybody on staff was impressed by the amount of work accomplished by the small group in such a short amount of time.
On Thursday, their final day at the camp, the students were also able to hear about Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief as Disaster Relief Coordinator Greg Hutchison and Director Randy Garrett shared a presentation.
