Cross Point starts work on 2 cabins

By Holly McCray

Amid the woods beside Lake Texoma, a groundbreaking on Nov. 14 marked the start of construction at Cross Point Camp for two large cabins, a $700,000 project.

Every person attending got a chance to turn the earth with golden shovels at both sites. "Well done," one participant uttered.

Ardmore District Superintendent Greg Tener prayed, "On this ground, may your holy presence be revealed so that this may become a sanctuary, where we may together be nurtured in the faith of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

"This day has been a long time coming," Conference Camps Director Randy McGuire told the group. He thanked the donors whose financial gifts large and small made possible the Healey and Lela Wilburn Cabins.

"As you stand here, please imagine the campers who will stay in these cabins and how their lives will be changed because of the work you have enabled," Rev. McGuire said.

No other major building project has occurred at Cross Point since the manager’s home, started in 1998 and occupied in 2002, according to Ken Long, who is the camp manager.

"We’ve turned away many groups because we didn’t have enough meeting or lodging space," he said.

Upon completion of the wood-frame cabins, each 3,400 square feet, Cross Point will accommodate up to 325 people and gain two large meeting rooms.

"It will allow more people to have the chance to see God in His setting here," Long said.

After the ceremony, Healey and Wilburn family members described those cabins’ namesakes.

Son Colt Healey said, "You don’t have enough time" to fully learn about his loving father’s life.

"It was Daddy’s wish" to support the capital campaign, said daughter Casey Killblane.

Casey said, "He loved things that were good for kids. His grandchildren came to camp here with the church and with FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). When he was able to hear from his own grandchildren what the camp was providing, he was eager and excited to participate" in funding a new cabin.

Skip Healey had stayed at Cross Point, too. He died in October 2012.

His widow, Sue, and Casey are members at Davis-First UMC. Colt worships at Ardmore-First UMC.

Todd Huckabay traveled from Snyder to represent the Lela Wilburn family at the groundbreaking. He recalled his great-aunt, who died at age 103 in October 2011.

"She loved children in church; she loved Christ," he said. She had no children of her own.

Wilburn’s nephew, Paul Root of Washington, D.C., and niece, Ann Law of Hagerstown, Md., joined Todd and Deatra Huckabay in making the major estate gift to Cross Point.

In 1988, the Huckabays moved to Snyder — Wilburn’s lifelong hometown. They connected to First UMC, attending alongside Wilburn, a longtime member.

The couple has volunteered as leaders in Cross Point’s programming, and their children Kaylee and Cassidy have attended summer camps. Todd serves on the Conference Camps’ Board of Trustees.

"You only have so many opportunities in life to answer Christ’s call, and we acted on that when presented with this opportunity," Todd said. "It was presented at one of our crossroads in life as a way to serve the Lord, to help children know who God is and to follow Christ in their lives."