Toccoa’s Georgia Baptist Conference Center up for sale after years of financial losses

The Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa is up for sale after reports of decades of financial losses.

According to Christianindex.org, a review from the last 20 years show the Georgia Baptist Conference Center operating at a loss over that time and left no choice but to place it for sale.

In its article, Christianindex.org quotes Georgia Baptist Chief Operations Officer David Melber saying they’re projecting to lose about $1.1 million this year.

He says quote, “When they lose money, we have to make up that [loss]. We have to hand over funds for them to pay their bills…Because of [a lock of] attendance, we will be suspending operations this fall. September is [a] relatively busy month but after that…no one is booking for October, November, and December. We’ll manage our losses there as best we can,” end quote.

Georgia Baptist Executive Director W. Thomas Hammond, Jr. says that selling the conference center is no way signaling a lack of support for student ministries.

He says quote, “We are not getting out of the camping business. It’s been a tool God has used to reach many young people for a long time,” end quote.

Audits revealed that from 2000-2019, the conference center reported an average annual net loss of $543,000 or $10.86 million, during that span.

According to ChristianIndex.org, COVID-19 delivered a vicious blow to the camping and hospitality industry, and Southern Baptists were not immune.

Toccoa felt the pain of the pandemic lockdown, showing a projected loss of $1.1 million this year.

A recommendation was made and passed by Executive Committee members for operations in Toccoa to be suspended, with a staff reduction to match attendance trends.

Melber told Christianindex.org that just 30 percent of the conference center’s guests are Georgia Baptists.

Operations at the Toccoa Baptist Conference Center will be suspended as of September 30.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you additional details as they become available.