It was a "Chicken Sunday" on June 10, 2007, one of seven per year. And it was an event celebrating a new red brick sign, dedicated to the memory of long-time South Baldwin civic-boosters Gerhart and Edward Engel who were instrumental in the development and support of the "Camp Dixie Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center" in Josephine, Alabama. The handsome sign was crafted by stone mason Ralph Utter of Silverhill in memory of his friend and fellow Zion Lutheran Church member, Ed Engel. The Engel family, friends, Camp Dixie Board members, and members of Zion Lutheran Church joined together for a brief service of dedication of this handiwork at the Camp, Pastor David Johnson officiating.

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Some of the Engel family and friends gathered at the handsome red brick Engel-commemorative sign inviting visitors to the campus of Camp Dixie in Josephine on the shores of Perdido Bay. Eva Engel, wife of Edward Engel and sister-in-law of Gerhart Engel, stands in the center of this photo next to "Camp Dixie." Sign craftsman Ralph Utter is four folks to her left. Perdido Bay lies in the background.

Family and friends gathered to await others coming for the sign dedication. The cool breeze off beautiful Perdido Bay was a comfort as they awaited the full assembly for the dedication. Perdido Bay lies in the background.

     Camp Dixie was incorporated in 1953 when George R. and Helen W. Wood donated land on Perdido Bay to the Lutheran Laymen's League for an outdoor ministry camp. (Fifty-four years later Mrs. Wood continues her faithful support of Camp Dixie.) The original program has grown so that today a "Summer Camp" is offered to children from kindergarden through twelfth grade. Both week-long and week-end sessions run in June and July each year. Many times the camp is filled to near capacity. Other months the Camp serves the broader community through rental of facilities and special programing. Camp Dixie is located at the end of Highway 42 East directly on Perdido Bay. It has an auditorium with a capacity of 200 and can sleep groups of up to 100. With a focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, it offers an on-site Chapel which hosts events such as Easter Sunrise services on the Bay. Specific information is available from Camp Director Marty Miller at (251) 987-1201 or at the Camp's website.

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Sign masonry craftsman Ralph Utter greeted Miss Eva before the sign dedication which commemorates the foundational work of her late husband Ed Engel and brother-in-law Gerhart Engel in the formation and support of the Camp Dixie ministry on the shores of beautiful Perdido Bay.

Eva Engel (l) and granddaughter Molly Engel shared memories of good times at Camp Dixie. Ed Engel, a frequent worker and long-time "Camp Dixie Chicken" supporter, passed away in 2006. The sign memorial remembers Ed's dedication to youth ministry and Camp Dixie.

     Camp Dixie Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center is operated jointly by Emmanuel Lutheran Church (Pensacola), Redeemer Lutheran Church (Warrington), Grace Lutheran Church (Mobile), St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Foley), and St. Mark's Lutheran Church (Elberta). Men and women volunteers from these and other churches have been preparing and serving these chicken dinners for thirty and forty years or more. Chicken dinners subsidize the ministry and many activities involved in upkeep and care of this beautiful camp on the shores of Perdido Bay and help defray the full cost of camper fees. The community is invited on September 9, October 14, and November 11, to "eat chicken" and support this fine Camp.