SOTO: more than just a retreat!

The smell of grilled wild wings and giggles of teenage girls drift through the Buffalo Center Dining Hall. A group of schoolgirls gaze at stuffed wild game mounted high on the Centers’ four walls. Outside on a makeshift football field, the running back scores six points.

The 2011 Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries (ABCHomes) agency-wide retreat was underway at the Shepherd of the Ozarks (SOTO).
The ABCHomes’ group was taking part in the 8th annual retreat Nov. 4-6, at the 300-acre Christian retreat center  located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains near Harriet.

Retreat participants represented ABCHomes’ Baptist Home for Children in Monticello, Boys Ranch in Harrison, Promise House Maternity Home in Little Rock and three Emergency Shelters in Judsonia, Paragould and West Fork. ABCHomes staff and their families also participated in the retreat, as well as an ABCHomes’ executive board member and her family.

“The annual retreat is the only time of the year that our entire agency has the opportunity to fellowship and meet together,” noted Charles Flynn, ABCHomes program director. “Our kids enjoy spending time together, while our staff benefit from meeting, reuniting and fellowshipping with fellow staffers.”
Camp events included motivating and interactive messages by Scott Werntz, founder of Spoken For – International Youth Outreach – a Christian organization that serves young people living in challenging environments to provide them with spiritual, physical and emotional guidance.

Werntz was joined by worship band “Preservation Theory.” David Perry, ABCHomes executive director, led a break out session for agency houseparents.
Recreational activities included horseback riding, hiking, volleyball, football, Ga-Ga Pit Dodge Ball, the High Ropes Course Zip Line and the Cliff Hanger Bungee Jump. Each participant was treated to a hayride, which made stops at an animal arcade where residents petted and fed the animals. A hit among all was a Saturday evening fellowship.
A predawn Saturday morning “Penguin Club” dip, into the icy waters of the SOTO, creek attracted for a brief time  about two dozen swimmers. Shrills and shrieks accompanied most swimmers.

The retreat is sponsored, in part, by Al and Barb MacDonald, owners of SOTO. “We love ABCHomes,” said Al. “God called us to minister to young people a long time ago ... We feel helping ABCHomes is a way we can continue to do what God called us to do.

In an effort to “give back” to the MacDonalds, several Ranch boys stayed behind at the end of the retreat to pull up worn carpet in the dining hall that was replaced the following day.’

Several ABCHomes residents and staff say they look forward to the annual retreat.

“There are so many wonderful things about SOTO,” shared Erica, a Baptist Home resident. “I love the worship, food, activities, and the forever friends you meet! I always have an amazing time at SOTO.” She hopes to serve as a college intern at SOTO next summer.

Retreat guest Carson Cones, 8, of Paragould, said he enjoyed the retreat. “Learning to play ga ga ball was fun and the ropes course was my favorite ...  Square dancing with Mr. MacDonald was also fun.”