10 reasons to bring your family to Camp Meeting 2020
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 Saturday, July 18, with the meat of the programming running Sunday, July 19, through Sunday, July 26.
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 101st annual God’s Holiness Camp Meeting. For information about the 2020 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. Matt Pickering is the District Superintendent of the recently established Penn-York District of the Wesleyan Church, resulting from a merger of the former Central New York and Western Pennsylvania Districts. He has served as a District Superintendent for the last six years, previously serving as Lead Pastor of the Grace Lee Memorial Wesleyan Church in Beaver Dams, NY (2001-20014) and Pastor of the Millview and Lincoln Falls Wesleyan Churches (1996-2001).
Matt is a graduate of Houghton College (B.A. in Biblical Studies ‘93) and also Asbury Theological Seminary (M.Div. ’96 and D.Min. ’11). Matt and his wife Carmen have three daughters: Elyssa, Megan, and Emily, and also two granddaughters, Adilee and Harper Schreppel (Elyssa and Jed Schreppel). Matt greatly enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hunting, and fishing.
Mark O. Wilson joined the faculty of Southern Wesleyan University in 2017 as Assistant Professor of Discipleship, Multiplication & Renewal. Prior to this he served for 26 years as senior pastor of Hayward Wesleyan Church, a small-town congregation in the northwoods of Wisconsin.
Under his leadership, the church grew significantly and became a catalyst for starting and/or revitalizing several other churches. A recognized leader in Native American ministry, Mark helped launch The Shack, a missional community on the LCO (Ojibwe) Reservation and served nationally on the Wesleyan Native Ministries Board.
Mark’s passion is to encourage pastors and churches to be the best version of who God created them to be. He is the author of two books: “Filled Up, Poured Out” and “Purple Fish” and is currently pursuing a doctorate in preaching at Wesley Seminary. Mark and his wife, Cathy, have five grown children, and live in Central, South Carolina.
2. Inspiring kickoff events
The family camp kickoff concert will be held Saturday, July 18, and feature the music of Jeremy Goodling, of Richfield, and his family.
Jeremy grew up performing at his small country church and opportunities to sing for other events evolved from that. He now shares the stage with his four daughters, striving to share Christian music that connects, uplifts and provides a powerful message. For more about him, his family, and his music (including some samples), check out this podcast interview.
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. 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.
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 one of the evening family services 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.
5. Engaging teen/youth ministry program
As with the children, there is a special program planned throughout the week for the teens/youth … led this year by John and Michelle Zaktansky with assistance from Rodney Murphy.
Youth gather for a special time of prayer and worship at 10 a.m. each morning followed by an active slate of afternoon activities, swim time and then some evening programming, too. This year’s lessons come from the book of Daniel, looking at how teenagers deal with massive trials and temptations while staying true to God’s teachings — much like Daniel did when taken into Babylon.
The Zaktanskys serve as youth group leaders for Port Ann Wesleyan Church, near Middleburg, and have two teenage daughters (Paige and Samantha). Rodney Murphy leads the Augustaville Wesleyan Church youth group with his wife, Emily.
6. Daily adult studies
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 (and air conditioned) Pickett Hall on Monday through Friday (July 20-24).
7. Additional opportunities
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 this year by Emily Murphy. 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.
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 has 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, horseshoe pits, gaga ball court and a variety of other games available.
10. God loves attending camp meeting, too
As things within the world seem to deteriorate daily, it is more important than ever to connect with God, and there is no better place to do that than at camp, where He is present in so many ways.
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 number 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 2020 camp meeting to kick off. I hope you consider joining us! In the meantime, check out some of the photo galleries from previous camp meeting experiences, shared via links below.
— John Zaktansky