In 1967, the Northwest Baptist Association began a camp/retreat program at Camp Bluff Springs, located outside of Oxford, Mississippi. The Association used these facilities until 1979. Because of distance and limited facilities, a decision was made in 1977 to begin looking for a site in the Associational area. On June 11, 1981, the Northwest Baptist Association purchased one hundred thirteen acres near Eudora. The facility was named in honor of Rev. Ervin Brown, Director of Missions for thirty years. Bro. Ervin Brown had the vision for a ministry facility in which to train church leaders and offer camps/retreats.

The Training Center has 101.94 acres of land today with a beautiful 16-acre lake. The property is about a 30-to 40-minute drive from any church in the association. All facilities and equipment are debt-free. The facilities include a large screen pavilion, icehouse, bunkhouse, motel unit, dining hall, swimming pool, two small portable buildings, maintenance building, chapel, and the manager’s home.

The screen pavilion is 40’x72’ and has 41 folding tables along with 195 folding chairs. The icehouse has two restrooms and a separate storage room containing the ice machine, freezers, refrigerators, washer, dryer, and all cleaning supplies. The building is heated by gas space heaters located in each room. The bunkhouse is 30’x60’ and is divided into two rooms, which accommodate a total of 56 campers in the comfort of gas heat and air conditioning. The 14’x70’ guest unit has three separate rooms, each equipped with either bunk bed or queen beds, a bathroom, and heating/cooling combination wall units. The 20’x68’ dining hall has full kitchen facilities with oven, stove, sink, refrigerator, cabinets and drawers containing cooking utensils, silverware and serving pieces. The dining hall has 18 folding tables and 100 folding chairs and is equipped with central heat and air conditioning. A large barbecue pit is located between the dining hall and bunkhouse. The swimming pool is an in-ground unit. Swimming is allowed only in the pool, not in the lake.

The lake is available to scheduled groups for fishing, picnicking, and paddle boating. 

The Training Center is available year round. The retreats can consist of children, youth, Sunday school classes, church staff, WMU/Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry, and Senior Adult groups.