A Golden Opportunity

2022. Ukraine and Russia are at war. Gas prices in the US are at all time highs. 4th of July came with a mass shooting in Chicago, directly on the heels of yet another tragic school shooting in Texas. Sociologists report that people in general are more stressed than ever, that children and teenagers are depressed in greater numbers than before. Covid numbers are back up again. As Christians in the US, we are finding that our culture has gone from supportive to ambivalent to combative regarding Godly ethics and lifestyle. Instead of being ashamed of sin, now America celebrates “Pride” month. We all are at risk of being affected by worldly influence, but it’s our children and teenagers that are on the frontlines of the assault of culture. 

I’m looking ahead, just a week and a half until Campmeeting begins, and I’m finding myself longing for the sanctuary of God’s people. I’m tired, I’m weary, I’ve been working hard, trying to do what’s right by my family, for my local congregation. You may feel similarly…folks, we have a golden opportunity in front of us. Campmeeting is coming, and we have the opportunity to spend a full week safe in a cocoon of fellow witnesses of God’s glory.

If I’m wise, I will embrace the opportunity, I will invest time and energy into making the most of Campmeeting. I will do this by dialing down the world’s volume, and turning up Heaven’s volume. We sing a song that says “tune your heart to Heaven’s wavelength, through the blest control of prayer, ground your faith in love eternal, tune out sorrow, pain, and care.” This is just what I plan to do. It will involve some limiting of time on my iPhone, both resisting the urge to check on work back at home, and resisting the pull of social media. It will involve laying down my concern for worldwide events, and instead focussing on the news of the people around me. 

I plan to involve myself in the prayer meetings, which are an incredible opportunity to center and ground our thoughts for the day along with our fellow saints of God. I plan to support and encourage and be encouraged by our Young Folks at the midday meeting. I plan to really lean in and listen to the sermons that will be brought this year. I always learn and am challenged by the preachers at Campmeeting. 

What a golden opportunity for spiritual growth! I pray that God will reveal to us our own hearts this Campmeeting, that He will bring to light our motivations and what it is that we are following after. Are there idols we’ve picked up along the way? Is my motivation for God’s pleasure and glory, or is it for myself? Has pride or jealousy crept in? Have I picked up a bad habit or held a grudge? Lord please take it away. 

Lord, is there anything else you want me to do? What can I do to assist in your work? Have I been neglecting my fields of labor? I want to be faithful, Lord please help me. 

I would encourage you to turn your mind and heart towards God. Ask Him to bless this Campmeeting. Pray for the lost. Pray for yourself! At Campmeeting, seek opportunity to talk to someone about their soul. Go out in the benches and invite souls to the altar. Pray when you’re walking the streets to your cabin. Pray when you’re in the cafeteria. In everything give thanks! 

Maybe Campmeeting is daunting to you due to work or family circumstances, or maybe the finances aren’t lining up quite right. Pray that God would help you flip your perspective, to help you see this opportunity for what it is - A God given, Spirit blessed space in time to draw closer to God. “Christian, gird your armor on, there’s a victory to be won!”  Pray that God will help make the finances work and make a way for you to go. He is the provider! He can make a way where there seems to be no way.

I don’t think there is any denying that Campmeeting is special. God has blessed it year after year, and I’m looking for good things to happen again this year. I believe Bro Paul Merritt Sr. captured the essence of our expectations for Campmeeting quite well when he penned the words: 

“When the Holy Spirit, like a rushing wind,

Fills all the building and the people therein,

The prayers ascending in one accord,

Brings down the power, oh praise the Lord!”

- Bro. David Copeland