In History

Last week we celebrated the grand opening and dedication of our latest new facility at Ridgecrest, Johnson Spring Convention Center. This new building represents the capstone of our campus revitalization program at Ridgecrest and we were very excited to mark the occasion with a formal time of prayer and dedication.

Over the past 8 years I have been blessed to be a part of the revitalization of the Ridgecrest campus. To me it's been nothing short of amazing to see how God has provided. Since 2001 we have torn down a total of 18 buildings and replaced them with two new hotel buildings (Mt Laurel East and West), an auditorium recreation center (ARC) and finally the convention center (Johnson Spring). In addition we've been able to remodel and make like new almost every other guest facility on campus.

While we still have a little more remodeling to do, I think it's safe to say that the facilities at Ridgecrest are not what many of you remember. I first came to Ridgecrest to attend youth camp in 1969. When I mentioned this during one of my LifeWay interviews, I was asked by Bruce Grubbs "did you write anything on the walls when you were there?". Fortunately, I was able to answer that I had not, but I did ask why he was asking. His response? "Because it would probably still be there." That one statement spoke volumes about the physical condition of the Ridgecrest campus in early 2001.

Fortunately, God gave us a vision and then used LifeWay to provide the resources necessary to inject new life into the wonderful ministry that is Ridgecrest Conference Center. If you haven't been to Ridgecrest lately, what are you waiting for? We'd love to see you on campus soon!

As you may have heard, Ridgecrest Conference Center just opened Johnson Spring Convention Center, the last phase of their campus renovations.    I thought I would share with you all this sweet story we found about how Johnson Spring was originally named.

Written: circa - 1930's
Near the close of a beautiful day in August 1922, a little lad was walking with his father as they followed a mountain trail, near the current Johnson Spring pond.  There was dense undergrowth all around, and as he stepped slightly off the trail into a hole of water, the boy exclaimed rather excitedly, "Daddy, there is water here, it must be a spring.  Let's come down here in the morning and see if the water is good."

They did return the next day and with the necessary tools, cleared out the undergrowth, roots and other debris until a clear crystal stream was bubbling from its hidden source in the earth.  With all the ingenuity and resourcefulness of a ten-year-old boy, an improvised dam was built so that the water could be accumulated and made available for drinking purposes.  A larger area was cleared in order to make the spring accessible.  The boy was charmed as father and son worked together on their newly-found treasure.  During the morning, he said to his father, "Let's cut away some more brush and make some seats of wood, so when people hear the spring and come for water, they can sit down, rest and talk." Was he dreaming dreams and seeing visions?
 
At the end of the summer season, this lad and his family returned to their home in Camden, South Carolina.  He would not be privileged to visit the spring again.  Tragedy struck the little country schoolhouse the next spring as he with many others were lost in a fire.  His father, Rev. J. Jeter Johnson, a resident of Ridgecrest in later years, and others of the family continued to give almost perpetual care to the place so dear to the heart of the lad.  It was beautified and was one of the choice spots on the conference grounds for prayer and meditation.  Large and small groups gathered in the dew-laden atmosphere at morning watch and for evening worship.  The birds would add a note to the music being played in the services as devotional speakers directed their thoughts God-ward.  Johnson Spring, named for William Jeter Johnson by a past conference center manager, should always be a reminder of a little lad who loved God and nature.