Dear friend of camp & retreat ministries,
It is my joy and honor to share with you that Glisson has received an incredibly generous gift – $1.5 million – to fund the expansion of our beloved Glisson chapel.
Coming on the heels of expanded lodging (additional cabins) and dining capacity (new dining hall), this largest gift in Glisson's history was given to keep that momentum going and growing.
More specifically, the gift was given to allow all of main camp to worship together – something that's been challenging for two decades and increasingly so in recent years as Glisson's summer attendance has increased by nearly 1,000 campers just since 2010.
The news of any possible change to the Glisson chapel may catch you by surprise – and I apologize if this is the case. Our staff and board of directors have been prayerfully engaging with the need for larger worship space at Glisson since our significant Master Plan Update in 2010. Back then our reaction to the consultant’s suggestion of the need for chapel expansion or replacement was “Not on our watch!”
As demand for Glisson's ministry has continued to grow, however, we’ve realized that our chapel situation is well past “pleasant overcrowding”. And without a plan for better accommodating worship during summer camp and retreat season, we risk having to abandon our sacred chapel space with its long history at the heart of the Glisson experience for services in the Holland Building, whose history as camp's gym is far more, well, common.
Our staff and board, joined by our partners leading annual conference retreats, have worked diligently and creatively, with the guidance of our architect, to design an expansion of Glisson's chapel capacity that works to preserve those aspects of worship there that make it unique and meaningful for so many...while expanding to accommodate the new max capacity of Glisson's main campus, thereby ensuring the chapel will continue to serve as camp's primary worship space for generations to come.
If interested, you are invited to attend a listening session to hear more about the plans to extend the life and use of the Glisson chapel and about future potential Glisson projects: Saturday, March 10th @ Chamblee First UMC (
More Details & RSVP
). Or, if you are unable to attend in-person that day, feel free to call (706-864-6181) or email me directly (
[email protected]
).
Again, it's an honor to get to share this exciting news with our extended camp and retreat ministries family, and to join together in praising God for this generous gift and incredible opportunity.
Grace and Peace,
C. Russell Davis
Executive Director
North Georgia Camp and Retreat Ministries
