My co-worker just didn’t understand.
She had been asking what I planned to do on my upcoming vacation, and I tried my best to explain what a week of God’s Holiness Grove Camp Meeting (running July 22-30, 2017) can offer. I even shared the audio clip from a radio ad that is currently running. You can check it out here:
However, to her, a vacation that didn’t involve lounging on the beach or bouncing around an amusement park wasn’t really a vacation at all.
Unfortunately, not enough people know just how powerful, refreshing and potentially life-changing a week at camp meeting can be.
So, here — in no particular order — are some reasons why you and your family should come check it out.
1. Inspiring kickoff concert
Started a few years ago on the Saturday night prior to the kickoff Sunday, each year, the camp meeting committee approaches a different local Christian artist or group to set the tone and make an impact for those who can make it.
On Saturday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m., Gospel Bond hits the campground stage.
“We know in our area, there are people that like four-part harmony and gospel music, but may not be able to travel to other areas where gospel music is playing,” said band spokesman, Dave Park. “We fill that gap. We are weekend warriors, working during the week and performing on weekends. We don’t travel as much as some groups. At one point, we had 90 dates scheduled a year, but we’ve added some new members this year and are slowing down some until we get their feet on the road.”
What should people expect musically?
“We will provide some of our original music, but most people like to hear songs that others have done and made popular. We will sing some old hymns that people love have grown to love, like ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘Until the Storm Passes By,’” he said. “The venue is perfect — it is very scenic, and the stage is big, wide open and very airy. It will be a great experience for everyone in attendance.”
Click here to listen to one of Gospel Bond’s songs. Learn more about the group, by clicking here.
2. Impactful evangelist
Each year, the camp meeting organizers seek God’s guidance in selecting the most appropriate main speaker for the week’s services. This summer, that speaker is someone who has a proven track record of excellent sermons at camp meetings past — the Rev. Stephen Wilson.
He served as the lead pastor at Greeley Wesleyan Church in Colorado until taking leave a year ago to tend to a variety of health problems. Wilson has endured five heart attacks, a triple bypass, an aortic valve replacement and a pacemaker.
“God has given me a tremendous burden for people in pain,” he said. “Through my own suffering, I have gained a sensitivity for others who are hurting. God’s Word offers both help and hope in every circumstance of life.”
Wilson’s faith has helped him persevere despite the physical limitations he has faced.
“God has brought tremendous healing into my life this past year,” he said.
Wilson has accepted the call to serve as the lead pastor at Dayspring Wesleyan Church in Marion, Ohio, starting after this year’s camp meeting.
3. Worship through song
While the Rev. Stephen Wilson will be the main evangelist during each evening service, the worship begins earlier in the program through the worship of God through song.
This year’s song evangelism will be provided by the Rev. Ryan Brosious and his wife, Amanda, from Christ Wesleyan Church out of Milton.
Considering the diverse attendance of camp meeting, with believers of all ages and experience levels, choosing the songs can be a challenge.
“My wife and I are privileged to lead worship at this year’s camp along with our band. We are planning music for a congregation of mixed ages, meaning we’re blending a variety of styles and ages of songs,” he said. “Our prayer is to select and lead music that will open people’s hearts to the message that Pastor Steve Wilson will bring each evening. If we can help raise people’s line of sight from their situations and and fix their attention on Jesus, then we will feel we’ve done our part.”
4. A global outreach
Each year at camp meeting, there is a day devoted to the wide network of missionaries that are supported by the churches that make up the camp meeting family. Those services are led by missionaries under the organization of Elloise Garver, as they share their stories of spreading God’s word to some very remote, and sometimes hostile, locations.
Tom and Karen Asher will be sharing this summer. The physicians from Michigan closed their practice in Toledo, Ohio in 2008 and went to serve at Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital in Sierra Leone for a four-year term. After completing the term and seeing God bless that hospital in many ways, they were planning to return to the United States. But the president of the country and the Director of the Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone asked them to stay and be the medical advisors for all the faith-based institution in the country, 13 hospitals, and 50 clinics.
They spend six months in Sierra Leone each year and six months in the United States, speaking and arranging shipments — and Dr. Tom works as a traveling physician for an urgent care company to raise their own support.
5. An active children’s program
Part of what we’ve most enjoyed at camp is that our children have a safe and fun environment to make new friends and learn about God. Longtime children’s director of camp meeting — Robin Kratzer — returns this year with a new slate of timely Bible lessons, games, crafts and other fun activities planned for the children at camp meeting.
This year’s children’s theme will involve emojis.
“Emojis have become a fun way for people to quickly express their emotions with others. Our emotions are a gift from God and He has a purpose for all of the emotions we have,” said Kratzer. “Through the Bible, we will learn that we can express our emotions in a good way, not just the happy, laughing and loving ones, but even the sad and angry emotions we have.”
As in years past, the kids will be engaged in a variety of craft projects, special swim times (including a morning swim this year according to Kratzer) and regular daily lessons starting at 10 a.m. The kids will share what they learned during an evening service and will enjoy the annual flashlight egg hunt, where hundreds of eggs and special prizes are hidden for an evening of fun hunting and fellowship.
6. Engaging teen/youth ministry program
As with the children, there is a special program planned throughout the week for the teens/youth … led by the Rev. Donald Grant, in his second year of service for camp meeting.
Last year, the youth enjoyed a special time of worship each morning followed by an active slate of afternoon activities, swim time and then some evening programming, too.
Grant has been ministering to youth for 33 years. He pastors the Hillview Wesleyan Church in Lock Haven and is involved in local youth ministry. He has served as the District Youth President for the Atlantic and Central NY districts. He has also directed and been involved in youth camps for 26 years in four districts.
Grant is very active in his community in emergency services as a firefighter, officer and chaplain of the Mill Hall Fire Company, specializing as a hazmat technician.
7. Other opportunities and fellowship
Above and beyond the nightly evening activities and while the children and youth are enjoying their daily programs, the camp meeting team offers a special morning Bible study — this year in the remodeled Pickett Hall — led by the Rev. Tim Moore.
Moore is the pastor of Trinity Wesleyan Church in Sunbury.
Additionally, there is ample time to visit with and share fellowship with believers of all ages and experience levels. My family has developed a close bond with numerous believers that we only get to see each year at camp meeting — and having the opportunity to reconnect and process is one of the most gratifying experiences at camp.
A few places where fellowship happens outside of services and individual campsites include Pickett Hall where a variety of foods can be purchased, including meals at certain parts of the day and the ever-popular milkshakes after services. Another hot-spot for fellowship is the What-Not Shop, run each year by Tammy Wetzel. Camping supplies, toys, books, rain gear, flashlights and other goodies are available for sale at the shop — which serves as a mini-general store throughout the week.
Lastly — and maybe most importantly — there is a prayer cottage where various camp meeting attendees can be found sharing special prayer for each other, the services and those who are in attendance. They have prayer during services and at different parts throughout the week, and welcome fresh faces and additional prayer requests.
And to pack another reason to attend Camp Meeting 2017 into this part of the article … this is the 98th annual God’s Holiness Grove Camp Meeting. It is a longstanding tradition reaching a major milestone. To see some about the history of camp meeting, click here.
8. Serene & safe environment
The Central Pennsylvania Wesleyan Campground and Conference Center is a small campground once called Willow Lake Campground. It is nestled between numerous farmlands and patches of woods, and most people who visit for the first time admit they never knew the campground was there.
Many of those same people are quick to talk about just how beautiful the grounds are, maintained by Gary and Deb Raker, with help from campground director Lisa Smith, her husband Bob, and a variety of campground regulars who love to help out and make the venue as nice as possible.
The main tabernacle is a pavilion that is open on two ends, overlooking a peaceful small lake that is perfect for quiet reflection and reconnecting with God.
The campground is a drug-, alcohol- and tobacco-free environment, and during the week of camp meeting, regular sweeps are done by a security team.
The campground itself is basically transformed into a week-long family reunion for believers, and everyone watches out for the others on the grounds. There are very few campgrounds that foster this sense of community and overall security for all ages.
9. Recreational opportunities
As mentioned above, the campground has a small lake — and is a popular destination for those with kayaks and fishing poles. There are a variety of fish species, especially bluegills, sunnies and a variety of bass, and catching them can be fairly easy when they are hungry.
For those who don’t have kayaks, the campground is planning to have some available for rental during the week. Safety is stressed for all activities — especially those involving the lake and swimming pool.
The pool can be a busy location during the camp meeting week, although there are times where it can quiet down. There is plenty of space to ride bike, an ever-improving playground for the children, a grass volleyball court, horseshoes pits and a variety of other games available.
10. God loves attending camp meeting, too
Kids love stopping at the malls during Christmas time because they can sneak an extra visit with Santa Claus in between photo shoots and ask for the coolest toys and other special gift requests for the holidays.
I’ve come to realize that camp meeting is very similar — except that in place of someone in a Santa suit, we get to spend extra time with God.
How do I know He is present?
He is shown through each of the people listed throughout this article as they happily prepare for and share God’s message throughout the week. They are approachable people who shine God’s love and grace wherever they go — even in challenging times.
He is evident in the faces of the children and youth as they enjoy a full slate of fun activities while learning about God while making new Christ-loving friends.
And He can be felt in each powerful evening service — through the moving songs and times of evangelism — I know because I have numerous experiences in reconnecting with God during those services.
One specific example came a few years ago when one of my children was struggling to sit still. I was feeling vulnerable at that moment about my parenting skills, embarrassed by this young person’s inability to sit still and in the midst of that, there was an opportunity to go up and pray for some people in the front of the service.
I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my child who was struggling to sit still, but felt an overwhelming push to be a part of that prayer time.
After it was over, a gentleman I barely knew at the time and who was sitting on the opposite side of the tabernacle approached me, saying that God spoke to him and encouraged him to speak to me about my parenting — how I was doing a great job as a parent and should even consider writing a book about it at some point.
This was no coincidence. This wasn’t preplanned, and as I said, this person wouldn’t have been able to see my struggles that night during the service from where he was sitting.
It was a God moment — one of many I’ve enjoyed at camp, and one of many reasons why I can’t wait for the 2017 camp meeting to kick off.
We really hope to see you there!