Page 1 of 4

ADVENTIST HERITAGE STUDY GUIDE

CAMP MEETING
AFTER 140 YEARS, HAS CAMPMEETING LOST ITS FOCUS?

Study guide prepared by Chris M. Jones

Page 2 of 4

Abstract- Each year, Seventh-day Adventist Christians from across the North American Division assemble at camp meetings. Like Jesus retirement to the wilderness for 40 days and nights, camp meeting is intended to magnify Gods creatorship and providence in the lives of His people, and renew obedience to doing His Will. Nestled amidst the scenes of nature, these meetings provide the opportunity to share spiritual insight, affirm one another in brotherhood, and separate from the habits and rituals that inform the profane life. Simply put, camp meeting is a time for rest, repair, and recovery, and these principles are affirmed by the activities, seminars, and workshops that take place during the meeting. Whether it is a week- long immersive experience or a weekend pause, camp meeting has become a recognizable and durable feature of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The goal of this study guide is: 1. To engage individuals in an inquiry of the origin, purpose, and features of early camp meetings, 2. Examine the camp meeting advertisements of various conferences and determine if is guided by the spiritual footprint put in place by the first camp meetings, 3. Identify existing and emerging patterns and trends, and 4. Challenge individuals to develop and implement creative and sustainable ideas for improving the camp meeting experience for future attendees. Preview Discussion Questions 1. When is camp meeting held in your conference? Is it week-long or just a weekend? 2. What type of activities, workshops, seminars is offered? 3. Does the setting and atmosphere of the camp meeting evoke the wonder of God? Section I: Camp meeting in Antiquity Materials: Lightbearers: A History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church by Richard W. Schwarz and Floyd Greenleaf, p. 152-154 or http://www.whiteestate.org/pathways/pioneers.asp. Select Volume 13 and then Camp meeting. 1. When and where was the first officially designated camp meeting in the Seventh-day Adventist Church held? 2. Where did the idea of camp meeting come from? 3. What was the purpose of the SDA camp meetings? 4. How did the features of the first camp meetings help to accomplish this purpose? 5. What are some similarities and differences between the first camp meetings and camp meeting in your local conference today? Section II: Camp meeting in Modernity Materials: Advertisements from various North American Division conferences Part I- In groups of two or three, observe the assigned advertisement and identify (and where applicable, describe) the following properties: a. Name of Conference b. Camp meeting theme c. Guest speaker(s) d. Date and location e. Graphics

Page 3 of 4

Part II- Revisit your response to questions #3 and 4 in Section I. Based on the information provided in the advertisement, to what extent is your assigned conference being guided by the principles established by the first camp meeting? Provide evidence to support your response. Part III- Share your findings with the group at large. What patterns emerge as you look at both the content and vision of various camp meetings from around the North American Division? What could help to explain this? What might this say about the spiritual health of that conference and North America as a whole? Section III: Generating Change in your local Conference Part I- In your groups, concentrate on and review the information gathered about your local conference. For each feature of camp meeting that is missing or weakly supported, brainstorm ways in which that feature can be strengthened. If you attended the camp meeting of your local conference, to what extent did the activities and events support the theme of camp meeting? Part II- Share your findings with the group at large. Come to a consensus about which ideas to support and endorse. Arrange a meeting with your pastor to share with him/her what you would like to do to help strengthen the spirituality of the camp meetings. Write to the president of your local conference or camp meeting committee describing your findings and concerns and what your church would like to do to help strengthen camp meetings.

If you have found this study guide to be helpful in anyway, please provide feedback and send it via email at

Page 4 of 4

nas102@hotmail.com. Your introduction and implementation of this study guide in your local congregation, AY Society meeting, pathfinder club or small group ministry will help to make the study guide more adequate to meet the educational needs of your congregation. I hope to be working with you as we await the Return of the King!