p. 19 | Camp Meeting Work

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 8, 1915

Camp Meeting Work

The camp meeting holds great possibilities as a time of spiritual refreshing for our young people, and for reaping the harvest from the year's efforts in their behalf. Several factors have a determining influence upon the results of camp meeting work for the young:—

1. THE SECRETARY'S WORK DURING THE YEAR.—The extent and character of the work done by the secretary during the year may be readily detected at the camp meeting. If it has been superficial, spasmodic, and formal, it takes much more time to awaken a deep spiritual interest and organize the converted young people for prayer and personal work. If it has been spiritual, unselfish, persevering, and systematic, the same characteristics will be evident in the camp meeting work.

2. COOPERATION OF CONFERENCE OFFICERS AND WORKERS.—The greatest measure of success cannot be expected unless the conference president and other officers and workers manifest an active interest in the young people's meetings and work. To have conference officers taking an active part in school meetings, canvassers' meetings, medical and other department meetings, and outwardly ignore the young people's meetings, is certainly unfortunate. Interest or lack of interest on the part of the conference officers may be one of the most important tests of a secretary's real ability and fitness for his position.

3. PREPARATION FOR THE MEETING.—A striking lesson on the importance of little things may be learned on this point. There is always much to be done at camp meeting, and the Missionary Volunteer secretary may be asked to take charge of anything, from the cooking department to the music. As a result, we sometimes find the young people's meeting tent unprepared, no reception tent, no library, register, or other necessary preparations, and, worst of all, no organization. There certainly must be a strange lack of apprehension of the magnitude and importance of the Missionary Volunteer secretary's duties when such arrangements are neglected, or there is a lack of appreciation of his own responsibilities on the part of the secretary himself. If he realizes that no one on the ground is charged with heavier burdens or more sacred responsibilities, he will be quite likely to impress others with the same idea, and be offered help rather than given heavier burdens.

Much depends upon having the meeting tent in good order, made cheerful by simple, tasteful decorations, and ready for the first meeting. The Missionary Volunteer reception tent should also be ready, with the Reading Course books in a “homemade” bookcase, a table for magazines, display cards or rack for the Missionary Volunteer Leaflets, and some good mottoes.

4. PRAYER AND PERSONAL WORKERS' TENT.—One of the most important though most neglected essentials to success is a tent for prayer and personal work. Why is it that, while we acknowledge the quiet heart-to-heart work to be of greatest importance, we make little or no provision for it. There is something extremely inappropriate and incongruous about sitting down in a big public tent where people are coming and going, talking and laughing, to help some young person who has almost reached the point of despair in his struggle with personal problems and temptations. He may be under great conviction, and weep and pray, while the curious look on and wonder what the trouble is. It is absolutely essential to have some quiet place where prayer and personal work may be conducted with some privacy.

5. ARRANGEMENTS ON THE GROUNDS.—There must be no haphazard work if we are to expect success, but a definite program should be prepared in advance, and adhered to as closely as possible. I have known the person in charge of the services, only five or ten minutes before the meeting was to begin, to call upon some one to conduct it. Perhaps he refused, and another was asked, and still another, until one was found who was eager enough for an opportunity to talk, to assume such a responsibility at a moment's notice. Usually such a person has not secured the power, by prevailing beforehand with God, that would enable him to prevail with the people. How lightly we waste opportunities which eternity will reveal to have been infinitely precious!

6. COOPERATION OF LEADERS.—If the conference and union conference Missionary Volunteer secretaries, and a general worker or some local worker who is appointed to assist are present, all should work together like a well-trained team. Any lack of unity here, because of personal feelings, carelessness, or selfishness, is inexcusable. The work should be planned together at least a day or two in advance, so that each one will have ample time for the special preparation necessary. It may be superfluous to say that such unity of thought and action is the result of much seeking of God together, and yet I have had the experience of pleading in vain day after day for a daily prayer and council meeting of those in charge of the young people's work on the ground. But this is indispensable. Those who presume to neglect it will surely fall short.

7. COOPERATION OF PARENTS.—One of the greatest factors in camp meeting success is the help and prayers of the parents. With many young people success or failure in the Christian life will depend largely on the home life. If a parents' meeting can be held early, in which the needs of the youth and the duties and responsibilities of parents can be set forth in a sympathetic but faithful manner, and an appeal made that all barriers and reserve between parents and children be melted away by prayer and confession and patient, persevering effort, much may be accomplished that could not otherwise be done.

8. CONSTRUCTIVE EVANGELISTIC WORK.—It is generally agreed that two meetings a day should be held. All will agree that the matter presented at these meetings is of great importance. It is therefore surprising to see so much haphazard work here—so little system and forethought. A series of good short talks entirely independent and disconnected as to theme and purpose, and given by different persons called in on short notice, can never bring the best results.

The plan which appeals most to me is a definite series of studies for the morning devotional meetings, carefully prepared by two or three persons, and taking up in a brief, practical way the points of character most in need of strengthening by our young people; for example, a study on “Keeping the Body Under,” then “Christian Conversation,” “The Mastery of the Thoughts,” “Having an Aim in Life,” the “Habit of Prayer,” etc. These topics are well adapted to a healthy, practical revival spirit of repentance, confession, and resolution each morning. I believe if we had the pledge now appearing in the camp meeting leaflet, printed on cards for use on the ground, it would be helpful, and would enable us to secure a much more general cooperation from the young people than we sometimes have.

For the afternoon meetings I think we gain most by emphasizing the main features of our Missionary Volunteer work, taking up the goal item by item, and making the school work prominent. As the importance of reading the Bible through is presented, enrollment blanks should be distributed, and as many as possible induced to sign them. This same method should be followed with the Reading Courses, Standard of Attainment, financial goal, school attendance, etc. In this way we construct for our youth a tangible basis for Christian life and growth. They learn that the Christian experience is not a theory, but is real, positive living.

9. CAMP MEETING ORGANIZATION.—We are told in the Testimonies that “by engaging in work at the camp meeting, all may be learning how to work successfully in their home churches.” It should be the plan of the Missionary Volunteer secretary to have the ground districted, leaders appointed, bands organized, and every Christian young person on the ground at work within forty-eight hours after the meeting begins. I do not suppose it takes the enemy as long as that to get organized for business on the ground. A systematic use of the personal workers' cards has been very helpful in many places. So much has been said and written on this phase of the work that it is probably unnecessary to suggest details here. One of the greatest essentials is a daily meeting of each prayer band, and a daily meeting of the leaders, to report work done and discuss special cases, methods, etc.

10. WORK WITH LITERATURE, ETC.—At some camp meetings there are enthusiastic workers who desire to take the young people out into the city to distribute literature, or do Christian Help work, or engage in some other missionary effort. These laborers are usually well qualified to do such work, and may make it a blessing to the young people, though I doubt the advisability of allowing it to interfere with the regular services for the young people, or to be conducted without the most careful supervision. Many innocent and simple young people have been swept off their feet by new

and untried circumstances which surrounded them at camp meeting, and for which the leaders did not realize they were so unprepared.

11. WHO SHALL LEAD THE MEETINGS?—This is one of the most important questions to be considered and settled. There are sometimes workers who come flying in with a breezy talk and amusing stories, which easily captivate the young people—three or four talks in as many days, and they pass on to another field. But those who have a real burden of soul for the young people know well that a condition exists with many which can never be remedied by such meetings. There is a vast difference between having a burden to talk to the young people and having a burden for their souls. Usually one who sees the need of the youth and feels a crushing burden for them is slow to urge himself forward or to criticize those who are carrying the responsibility. As a rule, I believe the camp meeting work should be largely conducted by those who can attend all through the meeting, and who will enter earnestly into the daily program of meetings, prayer, organization, and personal work. Let those in charge arrange for proper representation of the school work and book work, and a meeting at some appropriate time when the conference and union conference president or general worker may meet the young people. But aside from this let an orderly and constructive program be carried out, each day enforcing the lessons of the preceding day, and presenting advanced knowledge and helpful instruction.

The Juniors

There is no more important or fruitful field in all our camp meeting efforts than is furnished by the Juniors. I believe the best results will be obtained by a separate meeting each day with the youth in early adolescence—twelve to sixteen years of age inclusive. At one meeting last year we had seventy-six in this class. Of this number thirty-five were church members, and forty-one were not.

It has seemed to me that in these meetings we should not press spiritual matters, but lead up to them through practical matters familiar to the youth. Since this is the time of life when habits are becoming fixed, some lessons are needed on habits,—good and bad; their physiological basis; overcoming or correcting wrong habits; establishing right habits of eating, drinking, conversation, reading, prayer, etc.

It is also the time for ideals, and earnest lessons on high ideals and aims in life, illustrated from the lives of noble and heroic men and women, are excellent. It is a time of vacillation and instability, and the youth need something helpful on how to become steadfast, reliable, and loyal to their Leader.

The youth are struggling against the manifestation of traits of disposition which they do not understand. Often the parents do not understand or know how to sympathize with them. When it is explained to the young people why they are inclined to insubordination, self-conceit, impatience, vacillation, etc., they are grateful, and often put forth heroic and even pathetic efforts to attain the true ideals.

Active missionary work always appeals to most of the youth, and such efforts are a help to establish them in Christian ex-