Master schedule
Sunday, July 23
10 a.m. Bible studies (Adults in Worship Center, Teens in Pickett Hall, Kids in A-frame basement)
11 a.m. Sunday service for all ages in Worship Center
1:30 p.m. Camp-wide potluck lunch at Pickett Hall (bring a dish to share, camp provides meat)
5:30 p.m. Camp-wide evening service with Dr. Matt Friedman (see below)
Monday-Friday, July 24-28
10 a.m. Studies, worship and prayer (adults in Pickett Hall, teens in Worship Center, kids in A-frame basement)
Afternoon youth/kids activities (see below)
7 p.m. Camp-wide evening services (Dr. Matt Friedman through Wednesday. Missions Thursday. Rev. Arlie Davis Friday).
** More info below on speakers and individual youth and kids activities in the evenings)
** Lunch and Dinner meals will be available for purchase during the week. See details below.
Saturday, July 29
10 a.m. Studies, worship and prayer (adults in Pickett Hall, teens in Worship Center, kids in A-frame basement)
Afternoon youth/kids activities (see below)
1:30 p.m. Camp business meeting for all members. See Lisa Jo Smith for details.
7 p.m. Camp-wide evening service (Rev. Arlie Davis).
Sunday, July 30
10 a.m. Bible studies (Adults in Worship Center, Teens in Pickett Hall, Kids in A-frame basement)
11 a.m. Sunday service for all ages in Worship Center
1:30 p.m. Camp-wide potluck lunch at Pickett Hall (bring a dish to share, camp provides meat)
5:30 p.m. Camp-wide evening service with Rev. Arlie Davis (see below)
Evangelist Dr. Matt (and Chandra) Friedman
Dr. Matt Friedman, the evangelist for the first four days of the 2023 God’s Holiness Grove Camp meeting at the Central PA Wesleyan Campground near New Columbia, loves to tell stories.
One in particular involves an illustration he observed while listening to a popular nationwide syndicated Christian radio station while driving down the highway about a decade ago.
“This DJ was talking about a person to whom she wanted to share the Good News. She took this friend to the mall, and she wanted to go to the jewelry store. The unsaved friend walked to the guy at the counter and asked him to show her the crosses,” he remembered from the radio clip, adding that the DJ admitted this was a good sign until the friend asked the man behind the counter if he had any with “that little guy” on them.
“That story still blows my mind and is a good example of how even here in America, there are more people than we’d like to admit who don’t know who Jesus is.”
Friedman was one of those people well into his teenage years.
“I grew up Jewish and never heard the gospel in a way that made any sense to me. I remember trying to understand the idea of the Holy Trinity. Obviously, God is the Father. But the Son? Was that Jesus? Joseph? And who or what was the Holy Ghost?”
As an adult, Friedman lived in South Asia for 20 years. It is where he met his wife, Chandra, with whom he will be celebrating his 30th anniversary a week after preaching at camp meeting this month.
“We lived among many Muslim people in South Asia who didn’t know Jesus or had heard of the gospel,” he said. “So it is an issue abroad as much as it is an issue here in America. We need people to learn about, know and have a real relationship with Jesus.”
This will be an important theme among his evening sermons during family camp week, which runs from Sunday to Sunday, July 23-30, 2023.
“I want to try to walk people through the idea of missional holiness,” he said. “What does it mean to truly be in a relationship with God and transformed by the grace of God in a way that not only the inner-self is transformed, but also empowered to go outside of ourselves to share the Good News with people not only in our community, but also around the world. What does it look like to proclaim and to serve and to make disciples?”
Friedman’s morning adult bible studies during the week will look at concepts such as the apologetics and addressing pluralism through tough questions with which many Christians struggle.
“Things like is Jesus the only way? How do we engage with people we disagree with? How do we do that in a way that engages and furthers the conversation without shutting it down? How can you explain complex concepts of Christianity to someone simple enough a 12-year-old could understand and yet not come across as condescending?”
Friedman and his wife, who has served as a prayer coordinator for their church and holds a M.A. in pastoral theology from Kingswood, have just wrapped up living in New Brunswick, Canada, for seven years. He has a long track record of teaching at both Kingswood and the Asbury Seminary.
“I am praying for a great time of fellowship and revival at camp this year,” Friedman said. “Wouldn’t it be great to see God move like He has at places like Asbury earlier this year?”
Dr. Matt Friedman will be speaking during the evening service starting at 5:30 p.m. Sunday (July 23) as well as services Monday through Wednesday (July 24-26) at 7 p.m. His morning adult bible studies will begin at 10 a.m. Monday through Wednesday (July 24-26).
Missions speakers: Rod and Nancy Zottarelli
Rod and Nancy Zottarelli are Missionary Wellness Coaches and will be sharing the main message on our special missions night service starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 27.
Evangelist Rev. Arlie (and Sharon) Davis
The Rev. Arlie Davis, retired pastor of Christ Wesleyan Church, of Milton, will be our evangelist for 7 p.m. Friday (July 28), 7 p.m. Saturday (July 29) and 5:30 p.m. Sunday (July 30). His messages will delve into Jesus’ final instructions for the church to “survive” via verses from John 13-17.
Worship leaders: Rev. Ryan and Amanda Brosious
Ryan is married to Amanda, the Worship Administrative Director at Christ Wesleyan’s Sunbury Campus, and they have three children. He has been in ministry since 2003, primarily serving as a Worship Arts Pastor. He spent two years as the Worship Arts Pastor at Grace Point Wesleyan in Brookings, South Dakota, one year as the Worship Director at Akron Church of God in Indiana, and three years interning at Christ Wesleyan in the Worship Arts Department before serving as Worship Arts Pastor for 12 years. He is the Sunbury Campus and Theatre Ministries Pastor (directing Christ Wesleyan Theatre Productions since 2009).
Children’s director Robin Kratzer (and family)
This year’s kids ministry lessons (each morning at 10 a.m. through the full eight days of camp) will be based on candy bars and the concept that there’s nothing sweeter than the love of God. There will be an evening kids swim after the Monday (July 24) nighttime service and a variety of other activities through the week, including the popular annual glow-in-the-dark egg hunt on Friday, July 28, after the evening service.
Robin has been involved in children’s ministry since she was a teenager and enjoys being with kids to help them come to know, serve, and love Jesus. A graduate of Messiah College, Robin currently serves as the Children’s Director at Port Ann Wesleyan. She has served as the past director of Western PA and South Penn-York District Wesleyan Kids Camp. Robin and her husband Dean, live in Middleburg with their three adult J’s – Jessica, Jeremy, and Jason plus their grand-puppy Lylah Grace. As a family they enjoy the outdoors, camping at the river (their happy place), and New York Yankees baseball.
Youth directors John & Michelle Zaktansky
Youth ministry programs this year will include 10 a.m. worship and lessons inspired by the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19. This will include a deeper dive into the importance of putting in our work to encounter a better relationship with God and others, ways to deal with toxic people in our lives and how to share our testimony with others.
John & Michelle Zaktansky, from Selinsgrove, are the Youth Ministry Directors for Port Ann Wesleyan Church and have been enjoying family camp every summer since Michelle was a teen. The couple will be celebrating 23 years of marriage in December, and have three children: Paige, Samantha and Peito.
Meals available during the week
Special note: These meals need to be preordered the day before. Please contact the office by 9 PM the day before. This is important, because food is only available to those who order, with only just a few meals extra, just in case we have visitors. PLEASE preorder.
** On Sundays, a camp-wide potluck lunch will be available at 1:30 p.m. at Pickett Hall. Everyone should bring a dish to share. The campground will provide the meat. Suppers on Sundays are on your own.
** Lunches ($6) during the week will be available from noon to 1 p.m. Suppers/Dinners ($9) will be available from 5-6 p.m. Again, you must pre-order by 9 p.m. the day before.
Monday July 24
Lunch: Ham & Cheese sliders
Supper: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Mixed Veggies & Oreo Dessert
Tuesday July 25
Lunch: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Supper: Chicken & Waffles, Creamed Corn & Brownies
Wednesday July 26
Lunch: Tacos
Supper: Ham & Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Milk & Cookie Lasagna
Thursday July 27
Lunch: Meatball Subs
Supper: Pork Sandwiches, Macaroni & Cheese, Baked Beans, Cakes
Friday July 28
Lunch: Hot Dogs & BBQ Sandwiches
Supper: Turkey, Filling, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Fruit Cobbler
Saturday July 29
Lunch: Chicken Wraps
Supper: Lasagna, Cheesy Beans, Cheesecake
Camp advertisements/media
The radio ad that has been airing over the past couple weeks on a variety of stations:
Video overview of last year’s family camp experience:
Promo video for family camp shared before last year’s program: