Updated Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Fort Caswell: versatile center on the beach

By Steve DeVane

BR Managing Editor

A 250-acre oceanfront tract that now serves as a quiet retreat center for church groups and a wide-open playground for youth groups once stood guard for Confederate positions in North Carolina.

North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell sits on the site of a former Civil War fort at the eastern tip of Oak Island, where the Cape Fear River flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

"It's definitely one-of-a-kind," said Brian Hemphill, Caswell's director of guest services.

Fort Caswell was originally built in the 1830s. In addition to serving as a defense for Confederate positions on the North Carolina coast, the fort also saw duty during both World Wars and was once a spa.

The Baptist State Convention (BSC) bought the property from the federal government when it was declared surplus and started holding summer camps in 1949.

The assembly is primarily used by the Convention to hold its programs, activities and retreats and to host events sponsored by BSC-affiliated churches, associations, institutions and agencies. Other Christian denominations, para-church groups, and nonprofit organizations with purposes and objectives not contrary to the BSC use the facilities on a space available basis.

Caswell has 24 classrooms that will seat up to 30; four classrooms with capacity of up to 60; four classrooms that can seat up to 150; Sherrill Chapel with a capacity of up to 200; and Hatch Auditorium for groups of up to 1,000.

The assembly also has an indoor gym and outdoor volleyball courts, a softball field, a horseshoe pit, a shuffleboard area, a tennis court, a fishing pier, a place for surf fishing, an 18-hole mini-golf course and paved streets for walking.

Caswell is best known for its youth weeks. Thousands of rising seventh through 12th graders gather at the assembly each summer for Bible studies, worship, recreation and devotions.

Young people can develop a stronger relationship to God and enjoy God's creation, Hemphill said.

"We have lots of summer staff alumni who still bring groups here," he said. "They fell in love with it as a youth, worked here during college and now bring their groups back."

One former staffer said, "If God has a summer home, it would surely be called Fort Caswell," according to Hemphill, who served on summer staff himself while a student at Kings College in Charlotte before coming to the assembly full-time 15 years ago.

The assembly plans to host a summer staff alumni gathering next year on Caswell's 60th anniversary as a camp facility.

"That's one way we're known is all the college students who work here on summer staff," Hemphill said. "It's a real ministry.

"It's definitely a friendship and bond that lasts a lifetime," he said. "Many staffers met their spouses here."

The 2008 youth weeks will focus on the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.

Summer youth week dates for this year are June 16-21; June 23-28; June 30-July 5; July 14-19; July 21-26; July 28-Aug. 2; and Aug. 4-9. More information can be found at www.bedotell.com.

World Missions Week from July 7-12 will focus on opportunities for involvement in state, national, and international missions. The week is coordinated by the BSC's mission mobilization and education team, which includes North Carolina Baptist Men, Partnership Missions and North Carolina Woman's Missionary Union.

Deep Impact Summer Missions Camp, which combines the worship experience of summer youth camp with the "hands-on" missions experience of a mission trip, is set for July 6-12.

A wide variety of mission projects will be available. The camp is only for adults and rising seventh to 12th graders.

Big Daddy Weave and Adam Robinson are scheduled to lead worship each evening at World Missions Week and Deep Impact.

During the spring and fall, groups with members of all ages come for retreats, conferences and meetings.

A number of Baptist leadership training events and inspirational retreats are set for this year at Caswell. They include:

April 11-13 - International Student Conference

April 11-13 - Spring Fling Youth Retreat

April 18-20 - Spring Fling Youth Retreat

April 25-26 - Men's Ministry

April 25-27 - Spring Fling Youth Retreat

May 2-4 - State Church Library Conference

May 26-30 - Senior Adult By The Sea I

Aug. 25-29 - Senior Adult By The Sea II

Oct. 31 - Nov. 2 - Fall Youth Evangelism Weekend I

Aug. 29 - Sept. 1 - Hispanic Youth Retreat

Nov. 14-16 - Fall Youth Evangelism Weekend II

Sept. 5-6 - State Sunday School Conference