Scrolling down a Facebook feed, it can be fun to look this time of year at vacation photos that people share from various places. There are photos of families at the beach, sightseeing neat attractions in Tennessee and exploring the Rocky Mountains and Grand Canyon.
Our family doesn’t have a big vacation planned to destinations far away this summer. We are, however, looking forward to the annual Camp Meeting experience at the Central Pennsylvania Wesleyan Campground and Conference Center near New Columbia. This year’s camp meeting kicks off with a concert Friday, July 20, and hymn sing on Saturday, July 21, with the meat of the programming running Sunday, July 22, through Sunday, July 29.
Why do we make the week of camp meeting a priority every summer for our family? How can one have a true vacation without an amusement park, lounge chair in the sand or mountain hiking adventure?
Below are 10 reasons we are pumped about the 99th annual God’s Holiness Camp Meeting. For a look back at more than 500 photos from all the fun at the 2017 camp meeting, click here. For information about the 2018 camp meeting rates for camping and campground rules, click here.
1. Impactful evangelists
Each year, the camp meeting organizers seek God’s guidance in selecting the most appropriate main speaker for the week’s services. This summer, there are two evangelists on tap.
Dr. Stephen Lennox kicks things off Sunday, July 22, at 5:30 p.m. and preaches each evening (the services start at 7 p.m. on weekdays) through Wednesday night. He also will be leading the adult morning Bible study at 10 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.
Dr. Lennox is the president of Kingswood University in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada. He has preached at several Wesleyan churches in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, written seven books and numerous articles and brings an impactful message every time he walks to the podium. For more details on Dr. Lennox, click here.
Our second evangelist is pastor Arlie Davis, head pastor at Christ Wesleyan Church in Milton. He has helped Christ Wesleyan grow from 180 members to serving more than 1,500 over a 15-year period of time. Christ Wesleyan is currently expanding via the Trinity Wesleyan Church complex in Sunbury. He is slated to speak during the 7 p.m. services on Friday and Saturday, July 27-28, and the 5:30 p.m. service on July 29.
Pastor Davis also serves as the Assistant District Superintendent of Penn-Jersey District in the Wesleyan Church, through various denominational committees, is a board member of World Hope International and is a consultant in church health. He and his church recently sent a 34-person missionary group to the volcano-damaged country of Guatemala.
For more about Pastor Davis, click here.
2. Inspiring kickoff events
Two musically-infused events are planned to help kick off the Camp Meeting experience this year.
On Friday, July 20, the DCB — or Danelle Cressinger Band — will be performing at 7 p.m. A couple of the band members had prior commitments, but Danelle and at least one or two of the band members will offer the group’s unique style of contemporary Christian rock.
“We have a combination of experience and styles that gives us the ability to create original songs, as well as put our own spin on popular radio covers,” the band shares on its website. “We have traveled locally, as well as out of state to lead worship, play outreach events, fairs, women’s conferences and more. While creating and playing is a love of each of ours, our central focus is building the kingdom, and making Jesus famous far and wide. “If one heart has been reached through our music, then we’ve served our purpose.”
On Saturday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m., there will be a special hymn sing experience at the campground.
For more information about these events, click here.
3. Worship through song
This year’s song evangelism will again 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 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 ahead of the 2017 camp meeting. “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. This year, the Christ Wesleyan Church’s missions team is fresh off an inspiring missions trip to the volcano-damaged country of Guatemala. The group returns home on Friday, July 20.
They will be sharing from their unique experience during the 7 p.m. service on Thursday, July 26. Follow the group’s experiences by clicking here.
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 ice cream.
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 the 7 p.m. service on Friday, July 27, 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 third year of service for camp meeting.
Last year, the youth enjoyed a special time of worship at 10 a.m. each morning (Monday through Friday) followed by an active slate of afternoon activities, swim time and then some evening programming, too.
Grant has been ministering to youth for 34 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 Dr. Stephen Lennox on Monday through Wednesday (July 23-25) and the Rev. Stephen Smith on Thursday and Friday (July 26-27). Smith is the pastor of Pleasant View Wesleyan Church in Muncy and president of the Central PA Wesleyan Campground board of directors.
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 2018 into this part of the article … this is the 99th 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, sunfish 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 2018 camp meeting to kick off.
We really hope to see you there!