By Josh Kimbrell

If you have been to Camp Siloam in the last several years, there is a sound that you have most likely heard. When a person surrenders their life to Jesus, they have the opportunity to go up and ring the bell at camp. The bell echoes throughout the valley and everyone stops and cheers. Luke 15:10 tells us there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. And as the bell rings and cheers go out through camp, we catch a small glimpse of what that might be like.

Last year during the annual meeting, our chairman of the board wanted to bring that familiar sound of the bell ringing to the convention. We at camp went and retrieved the bell to get it ready for transport. What we learned was that it was much heavier than we anticipated, and much older. There on the bell was the inscription: “Cast by A. Fulton Pittsburgh.”

History is one of my favorite subjects. Certain periods of time are more intriguing to me than others, but I love to learn how life was. I love hearing people’s stories. The hardships they overcame to move their life, their family, a country, or even the world to what we know it as today.

After reading that inscription, I immediately began to research when this bell was forged. Based on the information I found, it was forged somewhere between 1835–1860. Which led me to ask another question: How did the bell end up at Camp Siloam? That is a question I am still on the hunt to answer.

I contacted Freddie Pike, former executive director, to see if he knew any stories about the bell. I learned that for some time it was used to signal campers to rotate to their next activity. Often someone had to keep a watch on it so that an eager camper wouldn't ring it early and throw off the entire schedule. However, to his knowledge, it had always been here.

While we may never know exactly how the bell arrived at Camp Siloam, we do know why it remains important today. For more than a century, Arkansas Baptists have gathered in this valley with a singular purpose. Our mission then and today is to see lives transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Generations have come and gone, buildings have changed, programs have evolved, and camp has grown, but the mission has remained the same.

This summer the bell continues to ring. At the time of writing, we are beginning our fifth week of camp, and already we have celebrated 271 salvations and 29 students expressing interest in missions or ministry. Each ring represents a story changed by the grace of God, a family impacted, and a church strengthened.

Would you continue to pray for the Gospel to change lives over the course of the remaining weeks of camp this summer?

That old bell has likely witnessed thousands of campers pass through these grounds. It has called people to meals, activities, and gatherings. Today, it announces something even greater. It reminds us that God is still moving, still saving, still calling people to Himself, and still using Camp Siloam as a place where lives are changed for eternity.

And by God's grace, the bell still rings.

Josh Kimbrell serves as executive director at Camp Siloam.