Field Days at the Camp Meetings by F. W. PAAP

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 14, 1915

Field Days at the Camp Meetings

By F. W. PAAP

THE reports from all sections of our field indicate that our camp meetings have been seasons of great refreshing this year. Personally I never enjoyed these privileges more than during the past season. In most instances the attendance of our people has been larger than usual, and the spirit of seeking after God has been more earnest.

We have reached the time when a new order of things is coming in. There is an awakening; the church is being aroused. The spirit of revived consecration is leading many to see the importance and necessity of doing personal soul-winning work for God. Many have given their hearts to God and to this great message. Thousands of dollars have been given for foreign missions; and the printed page, one of the principal agencies that God has ordained for our use in enlightening those in need of present truth, has been purchased by our people to unprecedented amounts.

We have been told that, “properly conducted, the camp meeting is a school where pastors, elders, and deacons can learn to do more perfect work for the Master. . . . In some of our conferences, the leaders have hesitated to introduce these practical methods of instruction. Some are naturally inclined to sermonize rather than to teach. But on such occasions as our annual camp meetings, we must never lose sight of the opportunities afforded us for teaching the believers how to do practical missionary work in the place where they may live.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 82.

In connection with each camp meeting in the Southwestern Union, a field day was arranged; leaders were appointed, and the territory divided. Careful instructions having been given as to how to approach the people and how to put the literature into their hands, a good percentage of the campers went forth to the homes of the people to give them a cordial invitation to attend the evening services. With the neatly printed invitations announcing the subjects for each evening, they took one or more of our truth-filled tracts, thus giving the people a taste of the good things treasured in the everlasting gospel. The results were very gratifying. The large tent, at each camp meeting, was filled to overflowing every evening. In some instances the campers went a second time, with even better results than at first.

All who thus engaged in soul-winning activities had an opportunity at the six o'clock meeting on the following morning to tell their experiences. This was one of the best and most profitable meetings of the camp. A collection was taken to pay for the literature thus used, and over forty thousand papers were provided for, and placed in the hands of the people in one day.

We believe there is great virtue in this plan of teaching the people how to do home missionary work, and recommend it to every conference in the Division. The accompanying picture shows a company of about two hundred leaving the camp ground at Oklahoma City with five thousand invitation cards and five thousand tracts and periodicals. God greatly blessed their efforts. F. W. PAAP.