Facing looming foreclosure on a large portion of the rustic Christian retreat, all summer camps at the Holy Spirit Ranch on Old Grandview Road have been cancelled for 2010.
But founders Joe and Virgina Betts say their Christian beliefs and desire to minister to youth remain solid.
Having a difficult time acknowledging the looming foreclosure, Joe Betts said Friday there remains a chance that the camp would be saved, but it would take a miracle at this point.
Even though the bank has not yet foreclosed on 14 acres of the 23-acre camp, the uncertainty created by the looming foreclosure lead the camp to cancel all camp plans for this year, Betts said. While they are still conducting small group activities, Betts said they could be asked to vacate the property at any time so decided to not make summer plans to host the inner-city kids who are normally brought here to get a dose of the Betts’ Christian goodwill in the woods of North Georgia.
In the past seven years, the Betts have hosted popular and well-attended camps with kids from Pickens County as well as troubled and poverty-stricken kids from the metro area. Betts said he believes at least 200 young lives have been touched at the rustic Christian retreats and 120 kids have become Christians since they began the youth ministry in 2003.
Betts is proud to point out the number of kids who have had their lives turned around by the experience at Holy Spirit and the fact that with hundreds of campers over seven years visiting the woods, stream and mountain terrain, not a single serious injury ever occurred.
The couple is continuing to weigh options for a smaller portion of the original camp, bought at a separate time, and will continue with ministry efforts that are conducted at other sites.
Betts said they are not behind on mortgage payments of the remaining nine acres the camp including a second camp home, he and his wife plan to move into.
Betts said the first thing he must do is shore up his own financial/business situation. Betts owns a successful hardwood flooring company, which he used proceeds from to fund his ministry. “For the past seven years, I poured everything into the camp and ministry,” he said. But, like so many people around North Georgia, his hardwood business has suffered with the real estate market’s drastic downturn.
Betts said he has a few ministry ideas that he may try at a later time on the remaining nine acres of the camp, including the possibility of opening a paintball venue which would provide some regular revenue, offer kids the chance to do something exciting in a natural setting and offer him a chance to deliver brief messages to those who come.
“We’re not giving up but it appears that we will be spreading the gospel in a different way,” he said.
Betts can be reached at 770-826-0202. More information can be found online at www.holyspiritranch.com.
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| PHOTO BY DAN POOL |
| DOWN BUT NOT OUT -- Holy Spirit Ranch founder Joe Betts said plans for camp at the Christian retreat have been cancelled for 2010 due to a pending foreclosure, but he will find other ways to minister to youth. |
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