p. 17 | Nebraska Camp Meeting by F. W. Paap

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 21, 1916

Nebraska Camp Meeting

By F. W. Paap

It was the privilege of the writer to attend the annual conference and camp meeting in the Nebraska Conference. The meeting was held in Hastings, Nebr., on a well-chosen spot. At the appointed hour to begin the meeting, August 17, everything was in readiness. Much hard work had been done, principally by the regular conference laborers, in preparation for the meeting, and their efforts were rewarded by expressions of the keenest admiration, by both campers and visitors. These completed arrangements were the result of careful planning and appointments of a month earlier.

The attendance of our people was quite large at the first, and steadily increased from day to day, until the last Sabbath, when we had a very large congregation.

The weather was ideal, and this we appreciated after the excessive heat experienced at Clinton, Mo.

Among those outside the Union Conference who attended and assisted in the services and general conduct of the camp meeting, were Elders J. T. Boettcher, J. P. Anderson, Dr. P. T. Magan, and the writer. We greatly enjoyed our work together, and God blessed the labors of his servants.

The various committees appointed by the conference did their work in a reasonably short time; and virtually every action taken by these committees passed unanimously. All departments of the work were fully considered, and the resolutions were freely discussed. All in attendance seemed hungry for the bread of life, and greatly appreciated every effort put forth to teach them how to do service for God, and how to win precious souls from darkness to light.

The last Sabbath of the meeting was a busy day. At seven o'clock all the workers gathered in the church building, a little removed from the camp ground, and spent two hours in study, social meeting, and prayer. From this season of refreshing all came forth to enjoy the feast of good things in store. The Sabbath school, at half past nine, was a busy hour. The offering for missions for that one day amounted to $1,365. The regular morning service was followed by a revival effort, in which about three hundred gave themselves anew to God for complete victory and service. Among these were some who gave their heart to the Lord for the first time.

At 3 P. M. all assembled in the large pavilion for an ordination service. Brother Johnson was set apart to the gospel ministry. Following the ordination service, various sections of the big tent were assigned to conference workers, who led the worshippers in a social meeting.

Immediately at the close of the social meeting all repaired to the banks of an artificial lake about one hundred feet from the camp, where they witnessed a baptismal scene. Twenty-six followed their Lord in this solemn ordinance.

A liberal spirit was shown when the call was made for foreign missions. Altogether, $6,099.73 was given in cash and pledges.

Very definite plans were laid for a strong Harvest Ingathering campaign. Five dollars per capita is the goal set, and a rising vote on the part of all clearly indicated a determination to reach it.

With considerable reluctance the delegates consented to let Elder D. U. Hale go, though he had been elected president of the Missouri Conference. Elder J. S. Rouse, the former president of the Missouri Conference, was called to take the presidency of the Nebraska Conference. With as fine a field as any in the Western States, with as loyal and as intelligent a people as you will find anywhere, we see no reason why Nebraska should not take a leading part in any and all branches of this great reformatory, soul-winning movement. F. W. PAAP.