Here’s what one District Superintendent says about ROAM.

Rocky Creek Camp/Nazarene Conference Center
“Tabernacle Renovation Project” in the Louisiana District.

What a privilege and honor to have you and your team members with us for 2 weeks and some for 3 weeks. I have never in my 68 years witnessed a more unified and effective group of volunteers as all of you worked together to complete the Rocky Creek Camp/Nazarene Conference Center “Tabernacle Renovation Project” here on the Louisiana District in Pineville, Louisiana.

The Louisiana District Church of the Nazarene had been planning to enclose and air-condition our campground tabernacle at Rocky Creek Camp/Nazarene Conference Center, Pineville, Louisiana, for about 3 years. We were in the process of getting estimates on the plumbing, heating and A/C, and electrical and securing the finances when we received a call from a ROAM (RVs On A Mission) representative asking if we had any projects on the campground that team members could work on. Rev. Elgin Glendenning, our campground manager, excitedly responded with a resounding “YES!”

Preliminary visits were made in early winter, 14 ROAM volunteer teams agreed to come, and it was agreed that on February 6, 2004, they would converge upon our campground. Some asked if it would be agreeable for them to come a little earlier, so the previous week RVs began to roll in. The volunteers who came early removed the old lights, ceiling fans, and 2 large 48” fans in order to make way for the new fixtures.

In 3 days, the walls were framed and sheathed on the 3 open sides of the 80’ x 100’ structure. Electrical outlets and switches were installed, then the insulation was put in the walls, covered by sheetrock which was professionally finished by the volunteers. The siding was applied and the windows and corners trimmed. Finally, the outside and inside walls were painted, doors hung, and it was soon ready for the state fire marshal to inspect and approve. The volunteer electricians saved us about $18,000 labor and the drywallers, wall builders, siding hangers, insulation stuffers, and painters saved us another $10,000-$15,000, for a total savings of $33,000-$35,000.

These are saved and sanctified men and women from Oregon to New Hampshire, blending their talents and skills to accomplish a great task for God. Thousands of people, including children and teens, will bow at the altars of the tabernacle in years to come, seeking and finding forgiveness of sins and experiencing sanctification. And all of these dedicated servants will have had a part in it.

—District Superintendent, Gene Phillips