Addington Baptist Church

Spread the word and make plans on attending!

Sara has been a part of our lives for almost this entire year. She returns to her home country (Germany) on Tuesday.

To know her is to love her and we have been truly blessed that we got to spend this time with her! Although her family is of a different faith, she wanted to solidify her salvation, walk with JESUS and be baptized!

FALLS CREEK 2026 - DAY 5

— The Final Day —

When this week began, there was anxiousness. Excitement. Nervousness. Dread. Basically, a gamet of emotions was felt by students and adults, alike.

As Falls Creek comes to a close and we look back on the week, it was one of the best we have had over the last 5 years that I have been the youth pastor. This was not due to me. All credit should be given to the kids and the adult leaders. Of course, God is the biggest reason.

Everyone has a choice in how they approach life. Saying “life”, though, is too vague so let me say clarify. Everyone has a choice in how they approach RELATIONSHIPS or EVENTS, JOBS or SCHOOL, HEALTH or SLEEP, FINANCES and even CHURCH, just to name few.

This week, our kids had a choice in how the approached FALLS CREEK, other STUDENTS and ADULTS, and ultimately and most importantly, JESUS, our Lord and Savior.

The speaker highlighted John 14. In Verse 12, Jesus says “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I am doing. and they will do every greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

FAITH IS ACTION. There is no silent faith. Your faith and commitment to God can’t be hidden or secretive. It is life changing and TRUE faith and commitment God forces and inspires you to live differently.

There can’t be excuses. Everyone’s story is unique and filled with tragedy and triumphs. No matter what, we are the change. God has already given us the strength so IF we truly and sincerely CHOOSE God, then our lives will be different. The decision we make with our hearts will be reflective how we live our lives.

To close, the speaker made one fabulous statement. He said, “ Many people get bored with the Christian life but this is because they don’t live the Christian life.” The Christian life is full of peace and joy, laughter and tears, love and commitment.

May we all truly choose God and that life. It would solve so many of our issues in life.

THANK YOU to the parents/guardians for allowing your children to attend with us. THANK YOU to the all-star team of adult leaders/volunteers who made the trip smooth, fun, and full of laughter. THANK YOU to every person who donated to Falls Creek. We raise funds for the entire year for this one week and I’m forever grateful. THANK YOU to those who prayed before, during and after Falls Creek. We felt and continue to feel those prayers. And THANK YOU to the students who made this week special.

Addington Baptist Church is a wonderful church with flawed believers. If you are looking for “perfect” Christians, this is not the place for you. However, if you are looking for a group of believers who are trying their best in God’s power, this is a good place.

Whoever you, your kids, your family goes, we just encourage you to go to a church, any church. If we aren’t the place for you, we will help you find the church with the right fit.

In closing, the world is struggling. It needs God. And since WE (individuals) are the CHURCH, it’s time for us to LOVE God with all our heart and to LOVE others. Those are the two GREATEST commandments and I think that’s plenty for the church and its people to try to accomplish.

—David McGuire

FALLS CREEK 2026 - DAY 4

Thursday was the Blow Chunks Games. What is Blow Chunks? Glad you asked.

For the second consecutive year and third overall time, we have had the Blow Chunks games. Based on the scripture in Revelation 3:16, “So because you are lukewarm, neither hot or cold, I am about to spit (“blow chunks”) you out of my mouth,” the games are a series of gross competitions that all the teenagers either love to participate in or watch.

My Youth Pastor (Bobby Taylor) did a version of Blow Chunks when I was growing up at Waurika FBC. And then one of my life’s best friends, Lonnie Brawley, did another, maybe even more intense version of Blow Chunks when he was a Youth Pastor in Bainbridge, Ohio.

But why? Why do we do something like this? What purpose does it serve?

We have athletes. We have students who study all the time. We have fisherman and hunters. We have students who have lots of interest, lots of talents, lots of skills. We have kids who have different backgrounds, different family dynamics, and different futures.

BUT - for an hour, there are no differences. There is laughter. There is fun. There is friendship. There is teamwork. We are all one group. One team. One family of God.

When students are laughing and/or having fun, anxieties are lessened. They let their guards down. They are more open. They see more clearly.

We, adults and kids alike, put up guards, defense mechanisms. Trusting others is so hard. And who could blame you? But because of that, trusting God is even harder.

We all have to make ourselves more vulnerable. We have to learn to trust God and even humans. With humans, we might get burned, but “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (John 4:4).

Do you trust God? If you do trust God, it will change your life. And in fact, it will change others lives as well

—David McGuire

PRIZES AWARDED TO:

* Blow Chunks Champions - Angry Birds
(Corbin, Cale, Oat, and Brody)

* Most Outstanding Performances in the Blow Chunks Games (awarded monetary prize and get to wear the championship belt)
-Braydon
-Arron
-McKenzie

FALLS CREEK 2026 - DAY 3

We are past the halfway point. During this time, tensions can exist because everyone is tired, sleep is sparse, and a familiar shower and bed is desired.

God, however, isn’t done. His voice is being heard in the speakers, in the music, in the relationships that are being developed. There is always a fear that the desire to be closer to God will end once the week concludes. This fear is legitimate.

In John Chapter 5, Jesus asked a man “Do you want to be healed?” You see, all of us can be healed, blessed, etc., if want it. But WE have to make the change.

If your family is in chaos, CHOOSE God.
If you want peace in your life, CHOOSE God.
If you want your circumstances to be different, CHOOSE GOD.

That may mean getting up early to go to church. It may mean asking for someone to pray for you. It may mean opening a Bible (book or on your phone) and reading the Word.

We can make the change. God has already given us the strength. Now, all we have to do is to choose.

Choose for your kids. Choose for your family. Choose for…..yourself.

—David McGuire

FALLS CREEK 2026 - DAY 2

Two days down - Day 3 begins

Camp has been smooth so far. Issues and drama have been typical and small. That’s a relief.

While “most” students know each other, those relationships gain more depth when you are staying a week with each under one roof. Our prayer is that by Saturday morning the bonds will be strong with depth.

Our emphasis this week is about embracing the change. God asks you and all of us in John 5 if we “want to be healed?”

Jesus will heal, bless all of us. He will answer prayers. BUT we must accept the healing. God will give you strength but we must choose to change. Our question to kids and adults alike is “Do you want to change?”

We appreciate all the prayers. We appreciate the blessings we have been bestowed. God has used so many people in so many ways to make this week happen. Thank you all for the sacrifice of time, energy and resources. You are making differences in the life of these kids.

As Day 3 begins, may God continue to bless us and may we honor Him with everything we do.

—David McGuire