Exodus 40:34 (ESV) states:

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

This last Saturday, we (the Strang FBC delegation, Jeane, and I) had the opportunity to travel to Falls Creek for the dedication service for our brand new tabernacle complex. 2007 marks Falls Creek’s 90th year as a youth camp. Falls Creek is the largest religious youth encampment in the world, and over 45,000 (somewhere between 10%-15% of the total youth population fo the state of Oklahoma) youth attend Falls Creek in any given summer. But it is a shame that the hallowed grounds were not being utilized the rest of the year. The building of the new tabernacle is the first in a series of steps of transition that is occuring as Falls Creek summer camp becomes the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center.

The dedication ceremony was a delightful and uplifting worship service in which the sacrifice of many donors (so far over 6,500 persons) who have helped make the renovations possible were recognized. However, the big purpose of the service was to proclaim thanks to God who has done this work through His people. I have a deep-seated belief that God does His work (including funding it) through His people.

The Falls Creek work has been a long time in coming. In fact, the last major tabernacle upgrade was around 50 years ago.

Here is the link to my flickr feed of pics of the event.

Dr. Anthony Jordan, Executive Director-Treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, brought the dedication message, entitled “Ever Changing. Never Changing.” In short, he noted that Falls Creek has been in constant change since it was started in 1917. We have changed methods, music, and means. We use different instruments. Campers dress differently. We do different recreation. We have, in fact, met in many structures, be they arbors, tents, or tabernacles. Falls Creek has always been in a state of change.

That said, some things about Falls Creek have never and will never change. Using the text of Proverbs 22:28 (NASB):

“Do not move the ancient boundary
Which your fathers have set.”

Dr. Jordan laid out four boundaries of Falls Creek which will remain unmoved.

1. The lost will always be welcomed at Falls Creek.

2. The message preached at Falls Creek will always be salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Jesus Christ will not be presented in a philosophical sort of way, as just a good option among any others. He will be preached scripturally as the King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Way, Truth, and Life, the only name given among men whereby they must be saved.

3. Christians will aways be called to live radically transformed lives wherein their walk matches their talk, knowing that one of the best arguments for the saving power of the Gospel is the regenerated lives of Christ’s followers.

4. God’s voice will always be presented through God’s word so that people will hear God’s call to Christian and missions service.

God grant that it would be so!

The buildings and facilities here (and in any ministry) are simply tools, morally neutral in their essence. Our prayer is that God will use these tools and our feeble efforts to glorify Himself and call the lost to salvation. In short, we ask God to hallow and dedicate this tabernacle and conference center for His use. In so doing, how could God’s glory not fill the tabernacle?