LOXLEY, Ala. — Looking for a camp out that will be fun, safe and might lead you to a new church? One that can’t be rained out?

Then take your tent or RV over to Loxley United Methodist Church on Cypress Street. The church is hosting a series of weekend campouts for tenters and RVers Saturday evenings from 6 to 10 p.m. Campers have the choice of heading home or staying in the church’s parking lot. The church has “hookups” for a limited number of vehicles.

But worry not. According to the Rev. Jim Batchelor, pastor of the LUMC, there are plenty of bathrooms in the church’s “multipurpose” building. The building will be open in the event of rain.

“Then we can’t have the campfire,” Batchelor joked.

Hot dogs, hamburgers and s’mores will be served.

“We’ll play games, too,” Batchelor said. “It’s really a time of fellowship.”

He added that if some attendees wanted to “give testimony” that was fine, but the main reason for the Saturday events, which will run through October is “fellowship.”

Attendees are invited to worship with the LUMC congregation which holds services at 8 and 10 a.m. Sundays, but Batchelor says, “it’s not required.” Breakfast is prepared and served to camp out attendees.

“This is a way of bringing more people to the church, getting back to our roots of a simple church,” said Batchelor, referring to early meetings of the Methodist church.

The church began the camp outs last year, and Batchelor says they were,“very well attended.”

“It’s a way to get to the foundation of Methodism,” he said. “The idea is to make church more than Sundays.”

Batchelor is accustomed to doing the unusual to raise interest in his church. He has a picture of himself in church robes holding on to the steeple of the church.

“I told the congregation that I would preach from the roof of the church if we filled the pews. They did, so I did.”

The camp outs, by contrast are tame.

Batchelor says he worked as a glazier for years. His family was not religious and Batchelor grew up without a faith.

“I was introduced to Jesus Christ when my father ws diagnosed with cancer,” said Batchelor. “An aunt brought over her preacher who asked my father if he wanted to meet Jesus Christ.”

His father passed away peacefully after that, and Batchelor began his road to the ministry. He has degrees from Troy University, Faulkner and Emory University. and recently finished a course of study at Duke University.

“The idea is to fine new and creative ways to reach people,” he said. “I also learn what other churches are doing, and makes me appreciate this church more.”