Mission possible - Retreat gives new life to aged facility

March 27, 2001

Brunswick News Entertainment

 

By JACQUELINE BERLIN

News Staff Writer

 

There are trees, a lake, foxes, ospreys, deer and wild pigs. The 381-acre tract in Glynn County stretching from Georgia Highway 99 to the Altamaha River once contained a Spanish mission, a rice and sugar plantation, and later on an orphanage for boys.

 

During one of its more recent rebirths it fell into general disrepair, with vines choking trees, plants completely covering a plantation-era cemetery, and buildings with caved-in roofs.

 

On Saturday, 70 adult and 280 young Baptists from across the state converged on Brunswick and worked to repair buildings and grounds. It was part of the fifth annual March Mission Madness, a weekend retreat geared toward high schoolers which includes one day of community service.

 

In past years in other cities, organizers have split volunteers into groups, sending some to soup kitchens, some to build houses for the poor, and others to clean parks.

 

But in 2001 organizers of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia knew of a site in Glynn County that could use the full force of industrious young people in just one place.

 

That place is run by Morningstar Baptist Treatment Services, Inc., which took over the grounds in 1997.

 

"We have a lot of needs," said Morningstar CEO Barry Kerr.

 

Employees of Morningstar Youth Estate Center have worked to fix the place for the 30 boys and girls between the ages of 7 to 17 who have both a diagnosis of mental retardation and clinical or behavioral needs. Morningstar's goal is to give them stability and care for 18 months so that they can be placed in a therapeutic foster home, according to Kerr.

 

While the group has a staff of therapists, a psychiatrist, psychologist and nurse, something vital to children was missing.

 

"We have nowhere (indoors) for the children to play," Kerr said.

 

What they do have is a large rundown building that has been used for storage.

 

On Saturday, the young Baptists set out on a mission that included removing years of accumulated stuff from the building. And out came mattresses, metal file cabinets, a washing machine, old prints and rods. They even found a few eight-track tapes.

 

"We couldn't believe that they still exist, and the children were all like 'What are those?' They have never seen them," said Ann Marie Sims, 21, a Georgia Southern University student who came with eight middle schoolers and four other adults from First Baptist Statesboro.

 

It was their first March Mission Madness.

 

For Ms. Sims, the trip was an opportunity to emulate Christ and some other things.

 

"Serving our brothers and sisters is one of the things we're called to do plus it's a great way to meet people and get exercise," she said.

 

When finished the storage building will be renovated and turned into a recreational space that will include an art laboratory and exercise room.

 

One group was doing the same thing at Bradley Cottage so that Morning Star, which has a waiting list, can house 20 more children.

 

Other projects by other mission groups included fence repairs, painting and pruning the grounds. Another group cleaned out the burial site of a plantation owner's five children.

 

All totaled, Kerr estimates that the work done between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday would have cost the nonprofit organization $10,000 had they had to pay laborers.

 

For Rachel Britt, 16, of Memorial Baptist Church in Savannah, armed with a rake, the day was exhausting and fun.

 

"I get to spend time with other Christians, help serve the community and help make other lives better," she said.