Thank you so much for postings regarding GSA
I found a blog for GBA staffers! It is;
http://www.xanga.com/groups/group.aspx?id=25353
Yes, I have many fond memories of working there as a staffer and hope and pray it will be rebuilt better than before; like when camille destroyed it.
But thanks again for posting and hope your parents will be able to return home soon too!

Thanks for the link. My parents are back in their house. I'm not sure if they have power yet.

One other image: I did find this image of GSBA:
It is the before and after for camille

Thanks for posting this picture. It was difficult to tell from the aerial photo just how bad the damage was, but this picture shows the devastation. I have several peaceful memories of conferences I attended at the Baptist assembly.

It is sad to see this beautiful place in ruins. I have spent many a summer there with kids of all ages. I thoroughly love GBA. My prayers are for all the staff and families affectd in this area. Thanks for the pictures.

I am/was the women's ministry leader for Community Christian Church in Slidell, LA. The women's group was scheduled to have our retreat at GSA Sept 8/9. We were so excited to attend after so much planning (initially the dates requested were booked). We toured several times--each time discovering something new. We were eager to have a service @ the beach area near the Crosses--how much closer could we be to God! We are saddened that the site took so much damage. My husband is military so we have had to relocate from New Orleans to TN. Once the center is rebuilt, I look forward to passing the info along to the next WM leader.

I have many fond memories of GSPA. I worked there the summer of 1994 as a college student and am hurt to see it in this condition. I can only hope it can be rebuilt.

hi my name is ali and this year was my first year to go to gulfshore baptist assembly... when i saw the picture in the baptist record, i stopped everything i was doing and prayed that god would some how make it better down there and get it back to normal, when i got to church that next sunday my youth choir director asks our youth group when everything is clean and ready to build and stuff, if we would like to go help.. i immidiatly said yes... there is tons of memories from just those 4 days on june 24 to june 28,2005 in that ocean in that room where i went to sleep every nite in that cafateria where i would eat breakfast,lunch,and,dinner in that autitorium where i sang the most exciting songs where i would go to the snack bar and get very delicious foods and finaly having tons of fun and collecting memories in a good god centered way... i now know its not gonna be the same... i believe that WE can get this back together... i pray for the camp and will look forward to helping...

yous truly,
Ali McQueen

Apparently, the decision has been made to sell the property and not rebuild. I was a staffer for 3 summers and will miss GBA.

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsKatrinaBaptistCenter.htm

Wow that is too bad! Thanks Mel for letting me know. I will do a post on this.

I was the fist second generation summer staffer @ GBA in 1984. My father, Tom Hollowell, was a summer staffer in the early 1960's prior to Camille's destruction in 1969. The new building was supposed to be hurricane-resistant (with Camille as the highest standard). Could anyone have expected a storm equal/or stronger to that one?

GBA holds a special place for me (as I'm sure it does for many others). I have many fine memories of this place as a church youth on retreat and as a summer staffer.

This place has had a significant effect on many people for many years. It is unfortunate that the Southern Baptist Convention has had to decide to sell it. It is (or was) a beautiful place in a beautiful location.

I was the fist second generation summer staffer @ GBA in 1984. My father, Tom Hollowell, was a summer staffer in the early 1960's prior to Camille's destruction in 1969. The new building was supposed to be hurricane-resistant (with Camille as the highest standard). Could anyone have expected a storm equal/or stronger to that one?

GBA holds a special place for me (as I'm sure it does for many others). I have many fine memories of this place as a church youth on retreat and as a summer staffer.

This place has had a significant effect on many people for many years. It is unfortunate that the Southern Baptist Convention has had to decide to sell it. It is (or was) a beautiful place in a beautiful location.

GBA will be missed.

I found this report dated March 21, 2007 at baptiststandard.com (Texas). I am sad to know my memories of GBA will never be experienced by future generations. I was a staffer summer of 84.

Mississippi Baptists approve record budget. Messengers from the Mississippi Baptist Convention?s 2,114 churches approved without opposition a record Cooperative Program budget of more than $33 million during their annual meeting. The $33,188,934 budget for 2007 represents an almost 6 percent increase over the current budget and will result in $11,616,127 going to Southern Baptist Convention causes. Messengers also voted to permanently close the convention?s multi-million-dollar Gulfshore Baptist Assembly near Pass Christian and sell the property. It was destroyed completely by Hurricane Katrina. Larry Otis, chairman of the committee charged with evaluating the facility, told messengers that rebuilding estimates of more than $46 million, strict new building codes, and post-Katrina insurance rates of more than $1 million per year helped convince the committee to not restore the Gulfshore facilities.

In the early to mid '80's I was a youth at Gulfshore. It was at this place that I was able to discover what God would have for me to do with my life. After years of running from God I finally rededicated my life too Him and became a pastor.

I have had the honor of sending youth and childrens groups to GBA and even was able to experience it with my oldest daughter once.

It saddens me that the MBCB has decided too close GBA forever. My youngest daughter will never get to see the splendor of God at GBA. Nowhere on earth have I felt the Spirit move like GBA.

I have to say, that's probably one of the worst decisions the MBCB has ever made. Something tells me that the ones who made that decision were never touched in the way thousands of youth from all over the state were touched over the years.

It's like closing off a piece of heaven on earth.

I ATTENTED GBA FOUR YEARS IN A ROW FROM 83-86!! I HAVE A LOT OF FOND MEMORIES OF THAT PLACE!!!

SCOTT

I had been looking for info about assembly. I was blessed to have gone there twice a year for 3 yrs in a row for a ladies retreat. It was always so awesome and inspiring. We were schelduled to go again that Oct. of 2005. Such a great loss! Very sadly missed. The HOLY SPIRIT truly moved in that place!
Sweet memories
Virginia Ross, LA.

I had been looking for info about assembly. I was blessed to have gone there twice a year for 3 yrs in a row for a ladies retreat. It was always so awesome and inspiring. We were schelduled to go again that Oct. of 2005. Such a great loss! Very sadly missed. The HOLY SPIRIT truly moved in that place!
Sweet memories
Virginia Ross, LA.

I served on the summer staff at GBA during the summers of 1980 - 1981. It was a blessing to be able to serve with other college staffers in this atmosphere and to see the positive affect this place had on the number of youth and adults who were a part of the many conferences held there. I have lost contact with most of my fellow staffers and would appreciate hearing from any of you. My e-mail address is dmill10@yahoo.com. It saddens me that they have decided not to rebuild. I plan on making a trip back down there the summer of 2008 just to reflect on the impact this place had on my life 25 - 30 years ago.

http://www.google.com
http://www.yahoo.com
http://www.msn.com

Is there another retreat/camp comparable to Gulf Shores Baptist Assembly? I was only there once but have wonderful memories of that time.

I went to GBA about 3 or 4 years ago. Can't really remember when it was. I hadn't been on many church trips but I remember pulling up in the parking lot and I was so excited. I went with a lot of good friends. I distinctively remember a skit that was put on where everyone met in the building seperate from the compound, and we were all released as if we were believers in christ but were under prosecution and many were being murdered for believing in christ and others were held captive. It was truly moving. A skit, but it was taken VERY seriously. It got my attention. I had a GREAT time at the assembly and am very saddened to know it won't return. I have since the hurricane rode down past it but the water had gotten up thru the compound. The entire staff hut was destroyed too and that saddened me. I will remember this great place forever. God was really moving in it. :)

I have very fond memories of GBA. Our church youth group always had our Disciple Now weekends there. It is sad to see it in ruins.

I hate to see GBA go. I was on the staff the first year 1960 as a lifeguard and met my wife there that summer. It was a great spiritual experience. I understand with the new FEMA storm surge guideline the problems with developing the site again but it will be certainly missed.

The first time that I ever laid eyes on GBA was the summer of 1995. I was attending a youth camp with my church. I returned to GBA in 1997 for a Centrifuge camp. I was so blessed to be able to serve on summer staff there the summers of 2002-2005. I left in August 2005 not knowing that I would never see GBA as I knew it. Those were the best years of my (young) life. Many friends that I worked with there are still my best friends. I am saddened that it will not be rebuilt. As Gustav is heading that direction, I am reminded how I felt when Katrina was forecasted to hit. Sadness. I pray for the people on the coast that Gustav will not hit but will somehow be sidetracked.

I go way back - was on staff at Gulfshore the summers of 1965-1968. Katrina may have killed Gulfshore, but Camille mortally wounded her. After Camille it was two years before I could bear to go back by. The new motel-looking structure had none of the charm of the old marine academy breezeway, and the harbor was mostly clogged with sand. Those four years were filled with great friends and mountaintop experiences. Gulfshore, Kittiwake, and the Gulf Coast (pre-casinos) will always be a magic place in my memory.

Hi! My name is Catrina I went to Gulfshores Baptist Assembly twice. The first time I went for a youth week and I had a great time. The next time was in 1997 and it was a centrifuge week and I had a great experience. I had an awesome time of prayer in Kelly audotorium on the Thursday night. God spoke to me that night and I made some life changing decisions that night. I am sad to know that I will never be able to go back to that place. I am also sad that my daughter will never be able to experience a camp at Gulfshores Baptist Assembly.

I'M STARTING A NEW GROUP THROUGH FACEBOOK TO SAVE GBA. THE DEVELOPERS WHO BID ON IT HAVE DROPPED IT AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING WHILE WE CAN.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=57125017455

GROUP NAME: SAVE GBA

In 1968 at the age of 11 I nearly died from an allergic reaction to shrimp. God intervened. That summer I attended Music Camp at GBA. We sang "Let Us Follow Him". (I still have the music, for anyone who may have sung with my class.) On Friday night before going home, God called me to follow Him into working with children and youth in difficult situations like the friends I had made from the Baptist Children's Village. (In 1969 Camille hit.)
Through God's provision, I have followed His call. I returned in August 2002 with my daughter to the "new" GBA. I took a picture of the picture of the old GBA plus pictures of the new GBA. God placed a renewed and new call on my life that week at the age of 44 which has molded my life again. I was grieved over the destruction from Katrina. GBA truly is holy ground. If God purposes to use this place, He will bring it to pass. If He is calling you or any others reading to be His instrument, answer His call.

I took my youth group to Centrifuge at GBA in July of 2005. It was one of the best Fuges I have attended, and I was excited to be going to NOBTS in the fall. There was no way of knowing what would happen the following month to the both of us. I lost everything I had at NOBTS and now GBA is a memory of what was. I stopped there today. It looks exactly as it does in the post katrina pictures, minus the debris. It was sad.

As of this day, there has been no change to the property. The building still stands, just as your picture shows above, minus the debris field surrounding it. Have new pictures if you would really want them. Place is quiet, minus the occasional clank or bang from the wind knocking something around. Remember years ago, this place was full of life and movement, but today is quiet and empty. Very sad to see it this way. Write me back if you would like the picks sent to you, but very sad sight indeed.

My name is Sharon Joiner. I was an Alexander when i attended GBA! I went 2001-2004! When i went i felt the strong spirit of God jsut as we pulled up! I cried everytime we left because the time we spent there i was the closest to God as i had ever been and i just didn't want to loose that sensation. IOur youth group was really large also. And everytime we went we were asked "where is Chunky, Ms." It was great! I really and truly hope that we can get them to rebuild. I will be there to help if we can get them to rebuild. I would like more pictures sent to me if anyone has any. My email is MrsJoinerEST7-17-04@hotmail.com

GBA was the best time i have ever had, the moment i got therer you could tell God was moving It will be missed..
SAVE GBA