(Post by: Scott Hobbs)
It’s Friday of camp meeting week. Our annual pilgrimage to what we call church camp, camp meeting, or revival week. It’s always in the middle of summer; scheduled around the farming schedules of old. This was when the farmers could get away for their vacation time. We have been doing this every year for the past quarter of a century; my kids have never known a summer without camp meeting. Years ago, it lasted for two weeks; now down to a week. This used to be the norm for many Christian families. Church camp was, for most, their scheduled summer vacation time and place.
I’m sitting in a campground with a total of approximately 90 beautiful spots; only about 20 are full. There are some folks staying in dorms as well; mostly retired folks who have seen many camp meetings come and go. There are morning services that usually have about 120 folks. Nightly services are well attended, 500-600, with a large drive in crowd. There are about 130 in the Youth Camp; and reports are of at least 30+ that have accepted Jesus this week.
So camp meeting is nothing but positive in my life. I do wish I could go back 50 or 60 years and sit in the old tabernacle with wood pews, no AC, three services a day, and some say 2000+ attending with standing room only crowds. Folks lining the altar and lives being changed. Things that changed whole towns and communities. Wow!
While camp meeting is still a place where God moves in phenomenal ways; I wonder why we don’t see the commitment to, and the results from it, like the old saints have told me stories about.
My contention would be that we don’t really want what God usually brings along with such commitment. Imagine taking a week of our vacation to seek God. I mean, we would much rather use that extra week at the lake, on the boat, or sitting on a beach somewhere. We don’t want to hear about living holy lives and feel conviction about the things we need to deal with in our lives that are separating us from Jesus. Crazy!
I mean really, who do these preachers think they are telling me that God wants me to live an open book lifestyle? Nothing on my phone or computer that I wouldn’t want my wife to see. No worries about getting caught taking advantage of my job for a little overtime I didn’t work. What’s the big deal about stopping for a drink after work and flirting with that bartender? Come on man, stop messing around with my stuff. I show up at church one Sunday a month and throw a $20 in the plate; let’s keep Jesus in the church and let me live my life the way I want.
Take a week off, burn my vacation time, go to a service twice a day, and get told the Bible says I need to live for Jesus. What kind of crazy is that?
I call it camp meeting or revival for me. Perhaps you should come with us next year. It might change your life if you are obedient and open to an encounter with the one, true, living Jesus. Wow!! Crazy!!
“Revival tends to wreck the status quo.” – Evangelist, Stephen Manley
Oh, and there are free hamburgers after evening service. And you doubted I could bring the title all together; but there it is!
See you at camp meeting.
The Few 
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