Camp Sparta Under New Ownership
SEBRING, Florida -- On August 17, 2011, the assets, liabilities, and full ownership rights of Camp Sparta were transferred to The Master's Academy, a ministry based in Oviedo, Florida. For the last several years Camp Sparta had been running with a serious financial deficit, and was on the verge of closure. Sources close to the camp have called this transfer of ownership a “miracle” and a “new birth” for the ministry of Camp Sparta. Instead of closing a long-time ministry, the camp will continue to run and prosper. The Master's Academy plans to continue to run a camping program on the location while continuing the camp's well known name and mission to evangelize and disciple young people.
Camp Sparta, located in Sebring, Florida, has been a landmark in the Highlands County area for over fifty years. It had been a religious based camp long before it was purchased by the Sunshine State Fellowship of Regular Baptist Church (now known as the Sunshine Baptist Fellowship). These churches had been running a camp program for over a decade prior to this purchase, using primarily rented facilities for their summer ministry. In 1990, when Camp Sparta became available for purchase, the SSFRBC churches jumped at the opportunity to own a spacious campground that was centrally located with a beautiful waterfront. It was decided to keep the camp name as “Camp Sparta” because of its long history in the community, though the incorporated name remained as the “Regular Baptist Camp of Florida.”
Since 1990, four men have served as Executive Director of Camp Sparta – Scott Klingberg, followed by Ken Kraft, then Barry Kilmer, and finally Aaron Snyder. They were assisted throughout the years by numerous staff, summer counselors, and volunteers. The past twenty-two years has been a blessing to the hundreds – perhaps thousands – of young campers who have walked the campus, stayed in the cabins, learned in the chapel times, and developed lifelong friendships. Countless souls were saved as young people were pointed toward Jesus Christ year after year. Many campers started attending Camp Sparta as young middle school age children, and continued to attend every summer until their high school graduation. Some of those same students then came back to work on the camp summer staff to have their part in influencing the next generation toward Christ.
About ten years ago, the actual “ownership” of Camp Sparta was changed so that it became its own independent entity under the leadership of a Board of Directors (instead of being owned by the churches of the Sunshine Baptist Fellowship). This was in part to protect the Florida churches should a lawsuit be made against the camp (such as has occurred at other Christian camps). Efforts were made through the years to continue to continue to include the SBF churches in the camp ministry, including giving each church the opportunity to send a delegation to the annual corporate meeting. Since this change, however, many churches have ceased to have an active role in the ministry of the camp.
Camp Sparta has always had its share of financial ups and downs, but a major turning point seemed to come about eight years ago. At this point, the economy was still up, money was flowing, and the housing bubble had not yet burst in central Florida. Retreat groups from around the state were booking reservations at Camp Sparta so fast that some even had to be turned away. The camp finances were good, and there was even surplus that was being used to pay down the camp mortgage. In addition, several land developers had approached the camp director and board with offers to pay top dollar for the acquisition of the camp property for housing developments. The camp leadership seriously considered selling the property in order to pay off all the camp debts with a plan to rebuild the camp at another location debt free. In the shadow of this surplus, however, were approaching huge economic changes that the camp board did not foresee coming.
In 2004, Camp Sparta was hit by three major hurricanes within a three month period. Significant damage was inflicted on the camp property and buildings. Retreats had to be canceled until the cleanup could be done. Throughout the remainder of the year, a number of other retreat groups had to also cancel their reservations because of their own church expenses and other problems relating to hurricane damage. This began the loss of significant income for the camp. The next hurricane to hit the camp was not weather related, but damage from the economic recession that was hitting the entire country. Churches and ministries that had booked retreat groups for years were now ceasing to plan new events because they could no longer afford to do so. Many families could no longer afford to send their children to summer camp. Churches that had sponsored young people to attend camp in the past had to reallocate their funds. Also, many individuals and churches who had financially supported the camp for years had to respectfully withdraw from sending further donations. Since the housing bubble had burst, there were no longer developers who wanted to purchase the camp property. As a result, Camp Sparta and its directors were forced to try and run the ministry with a now serious income deficit.
In the past few years the camp board approved the acquisition of a line of credit to allow the camp to continue to function with the hopes that the economy would improve enough to allow the camp to regain a firm financial standing. This year, however, the board came to the grim realization that there was little possibility the camp could pull out of its ever increasing debt. With the housing market as it is now, it was likely that any selling price would be far below market value and would just be enough to pay off the camp debts without having much left over for rebuilding the camp ministry. Plans were being made for the closure of the camp and sale of its assets just to pay off the debt.
As a last ditch effort to salvage the camp ministry in Sebring, the camp board began talks with the Master's Academy in Oviedo. The Master's Academy is a large school with over one thousand students from one hundred sixty churches. The superintendent of the school is Dr. Bill Harris, a graduate of Cedarville University. Though it is not “baptist” by name, its doctrinal statement is very similar to the positions held by the Sunshine Baptist Fellowship. They already run a number of summer camp programs, and were looking for a central location to run future camp ministry.
After much discussion and prayer, the Board of Camp Sparta authorized the transfer of Camp Sparta over to the Master's Academy. The new owners have already paid off the outstanding debt that the camp incurred, and are beginning improvements on the camp facilities. A high ropes course is being built currently and a swimming pool is planned as well. Matt Pierson is coming from a regular baptist camp in Ohio to be the new Executive Director. Aaron Snyder, the former Director, has accepted a call to Freedom Baptist Church in Keystone Heights, Florida as their new Youth Pastor.
The Master's Academy plans to retain the name “Camp Sparta.” They also wish for the churches of the Sunshine Baptist Fellowship to remain a part of the camp ministry for years to come. In a letter sent to the SBF churches, the outgoing Camp Sparta board wrote this: “We commend to the churches of the Sunshine Baptist Fellowship this new beginning for Camp Sparta, believing we have lost nothing but have gained a faithful co-worker in ministry.”
Click here to the Baptist Bulletin article "Regular Baptist Camp Closes"
Click here to view the website of The Master's Academy
