Updated Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Roberts Retreat offers place to get away

By Dianna L. Cagle

BR Assistant Managing Editor

Stillness. Peaceful.

Greater Gaston Baptist Association's Sandra Tate said these words describe Roberts Retreat, part of the association's efforts to offer retreat options for its churches.

Tate has been a secretary at the association since before the retreat's 104 acres of land were acquired about 20 years ago.

"It's very peaceful out there," Tate said.

The site was a dream of Forrest Roberts Sr., who was Tate's boss at a petroleum company more than 30 years ago. When the land became available, Roberts, along with individuals and churches, donated money to purchase it.

"His desire was to have a camp where local kids could go," she said.

While there is no formal place to sleep, Tate said Royal Ambassadors use the site for special events involving camping and at least one Baptist Women's group brought sleeping bags and stayed on the floor in the conference center.

"We've had as many as 200 people on site," Tate said, especially in the summertime when the association as well as some local churches host day camps for area children.

Tate said the association's day camp drew somewhere between 75 and 100 children last year, and costs are kept low so money will never be an issue.

"A lot of churches use it for outings, for vesper services," she said. It has also been used for staff and secretary retreats.

"It's been a good experience for our churches to have something of that nature," she said.

The conference center, which has a small kitchen, will hold 40-50 people with tables and there is a picnic shelter with more than 20 tables, ceiling fans and swings.

The association usually brings in two summer missionaries to help with day camps at the retreat center as well as Backyard Bible clubs and other activities within the community. There are recreation fields and a small lake. An outdoor worship center is being constructed by the lake, and Tate said many would like to see the retreat facility developed further in the future but that will have to be "one step at a time."

Within the association, the cost of using the facility is $25 per day for 50 people or less. The cost rises as the group grows.

If groups are not affiliated with the association, costs are $3 per day per person.