When three separate wildfires broke out near Table Rock Camp and Retreat Center (TRCRC) in March of 2025, Denise Bailey, Greg Hayes and others already had an idea of what the next few weeks would hold. Within 12 hours, close to 600 firefighters descended on TRCRC to use it as a base of operations to combat the raging fires, similar to how they did during wildfires in 2016. Like last time, Denise, Greg and the team were up to the task to do their part.
TRCRC is the Wesleyan campground of the South Carolina District, and is host to teen camps, kid’s camps and other church camps all summer long. Denise, South Carolina District’s director of Operations, has been involved in the life of TRCRC for 20 years and resides close to the campground itself. Greg, as the camp manager, has been part of the camp for 32 years. He canceled all the camp’s scheduled events once the fires broke out to allow federal, state and out of state firefighters to have the space to do their job.
Within 24 hours, the TRCRC team was able to compile sources of food, supplies and materials to help the firefighting. Housing so many firefighters became an immediate dilemma, and the TRCRC team opened their lodges, cabins and other buildings to accommodate the need. Every morning, they facilitated feeding breakfast and distributing sack lunches to the 600 firefighters, and every evening supplied dinner when those firefighters returned.
In addition to providing regular meals, housing became an early challenge. With only so many buildings at TRCRC, Greg had his hands full finding beds, cots and mats for the weary and hardworking personnel. At times they ran out of space for everyone. Greg remembers walking to the dorm after a long day where he saw a firefighter sleeping on the sidewalk. Not wanting to wake him up, Greg let him rest, and the next day learned that for the last three nights this particular firefighter had slept on the pavement. Greg worked hard to find him a bed the following night.
Both Denise and Greg were amazed at how the community came together to supply the firefighters and support personnel throughout the month-long crisis. The camp team helped coordinate with a local warehouse that contained many of the donations the campground needed each day. Local restaurants also called and asked to provide meals. As the team communicated what was needed day to day, the community responded. While some restaurants provided meals, the rest were supplied mostly by individuals throughout the community. At one point, supplies were so generous and abounding that the firefighters wondered what organization or business was bringing in all the materials. Denise was able to respond, “These are simply individuals in the community who care and want to help”.
Her favorite story of generosity occurred when a vehicle drove up to the camp, and a husband and wife got out, desiring to donate but not knowing where the drop off was. They handed over a lone grocery bag with only a few items inside, along with a case of Gatorade. From what Denise could tell, it seemed like they spent a significant portion of their weekly income. It reminded her of the widow’s mite story, and she was blessed to witness their “act of generosity from their hearts.”
The community’s generosity through the coordination of TRCRC was noted by one firefighter. His thank you note read: “To experience first-hand the generosity, kindness and personal sacrifice of your time, space and resources reflects a set of values … This is a special place with special people who shine as an example to the rest of us with eyes and hearts to see.”
One blessing of TRCRC’s hosting was that the firefighters were fiercely motivated to preserve the campground. Originally in the swath of the fire, the firefighters built many burn lines around the campground in order to head off the inferno. Amy Morris, TRCRC’s assistant manager, often wondered, “Are we going to have a camp when this is done?” The camp was not unscathed by fire, as the heat melted some of the bathhouses’ siding, but she recognized the efforts of the firefighters: “There was no doubt in my mind that the firefighters were doing everything in their power to save us and the camp. It was just a very scary time. We were very fortunate and blessed to have the relationships with those folks.”
TRCRC did receive damage in the process of providing space for firefighting personnel and their equipment. Fields were torn up with ruts and needed to be resown, the septic had to be pumped and some damages from fires had to be restored. Despite the daunting costs, the TRCRC team is motivated to get the campground back in working order so that they can continue to host ministry events. From last summer teen camps alone, there were over 10 salvations, 100+ recommitments to faith and 70 calls into ministry. Whether hosting ministry camps or serving as a firefighting base of operations, God continues to use TRCRC!
Rev. Jacob Gibson is the senior pastor at LifeSpring Wesleyan Church, Richmond, Indiana, and graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and Wesley Seminary, Marion, Indiana.
