“Because this preparation is neglected, these yearly meetings have accomplished but little. The ministers are seldom prepared to labor for God. There are many speakers…but there are but few earnest laborers for God.”  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 10} 

God wants us all not only speakers & missionary workers but every person who will attend the camp meeting to make a thorough preparation that we might as a consecrated instrument be used in the hands of the master. It is because of these inspired instructions that we have been convicted as leaders of the camp-meeting to encourage each person to make a serious reflection and consecration before attending the camp meeting.

God sent a special letter of consecration to His people over a hundred years ago through the messenger of the remnant of how to prepare for our annual camp meetings and holy convocations. Inspired instructions of how to have a life changing, reforming experience that would even make unbelievers feel the presence of God just by walking on the grounds. Notice this from the following paragraph that explains the practical results of following the inspired instructions in preparing for the camp meeting:

“By so doing (proper preparation and consecration for the camp meeting) you will invite the Lord’s presence into your homes, and holy angels will attend you as you go up to the meeting, and their light and presence will press back the darkness of evil angels. Even unbelievers will feel the holy atmosphere as they enter the encampment. Oh, how much is lost by neglecting this important work! You may be pleased with the preaching, you may become animated and revived, but the converting, reforming power of God will not be felt in the heart, and the work will not be so deep, thorough, and lasting as it should be.” {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 8} 

We are told that as we make the proper preparation, “what a meeting you will enjoy. It will be to your soul even as the gate of Heaven.”  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 8} 

 Oh, this is what we want. You may already be familiar with the whole of the inspired  instructions of preparation for the camp meeting but immediately below this post we will leave a copy of the whole article for your reading convenience.

We ask that each person will read the letter prayerfully, individually and then to your family as a part of the preparation. If we all will follow the counsel we can have a life changing experience at this camp meeting, preparing us for the finishing of the work of God!

Again we want to thank each of you for accepting our invitation, for your help and for your unselfish service in giving of your time, support, energy, and talents as we seek to work together with the Lord in the finishing of His work. Truly, the Lord is taking the reins in His own hands. Oh that we may be a part of that movement that enlightens the whole world with the Glory of God, that will cut short the work in righteousness’ and bring the world to an end. And this can only happen as together we enter into that “upper room experience” that will prepare us for the latter rain and the finishing of the work.

May God bless you,

Maranatha

 “August 15, 1882 Preparation for the Camp-Meeting.”

Our annual camp-meetings are of great importance, and all who possibly can should attend them. They should feel that the Lord requires this of them. If God’s people neglect the privileges which he has provided for them to become strong in him, they will grow weaker and weaker and have less and less desire to consecrate all to him’. The object of these holy convocation meetings is that the brethren may be separated from business cares and burdens, and devote a few days exclusively to seeking the Lord. But some of these meetings are far from being what the Lord designed they should be. The people come unprepared for the visitation of God’s Holy Spirit. Generally the sisters devote considerable time before the meeting to the preparation of garments for the outward adorning, while they entirely forget the inward adorning which is in the sight of God of great price. There is also much time spent in needless cooking, in the preparation of rich pies and cakes and other articles of food that do positive injury to those who partake of them. Should our sisters provide good bread and some other healthful kinds of food, both they and their families would be better prepared to appreciate the words of life, and far more susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 1} 

     Often the stomach is over-burdened with food which is seldom as plain and simple as that eaten at home, where the amount of exercise taken is double or treble. This causes the mind to be in such a lethargy that it is difficult to appreciate eternal things, and the meeting closes, and they are disappointed in not having enjoyed more of the Spirit of God.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 2} 

     While preparing for the meeting, each individual should closely and critically examine his own heart before God. If there have been unpleasant feelings, discord, or strife in families, it should be one of the first acts of preparation to confess these faults one to another and pray with and for one another. Humble yourselves before God, and make an earnest effort to empty the soul temple of all rubbish,–all envyings, all jealousies, all suspicions, all fault-findings. “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 3}

     The Lord speaks; enter into your closet, and in silence commune with our own heart; listen to the voice of truth and conscience. Nothing will give such clear views of self as secret prayer. He who seeth in secret and knoweth all things, will enlighten your understanding and answer your petitions. Plain, simple duties that must not be neglected will open before you. Make a covenant with God to yield yourselves and all your powers to his service. Do not carry this undone work to the camp-meeting. If it is not done at home, your own soul will suffer, and others will be greatly injured by your coldness, your stupor, your spiritual lethargy.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 4} 

     The words of the prophet Ezekiel are applicable to the people who profess the truth at this time: “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face; should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him that cometh, according to the multitude of his idols.”  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 5} 

     If we love the things of the world and have pleasure in unrighteousness, or fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, we have put the stumbling-block of our iniquity before our face, and have set up idols in our heart. And unless by determined effort we put them away, we shall never be acknowledged as the sons and daughters of God.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 6} 

     Here is a work for families to engage in before coming up to our holy convocations. Let the preparation for eating and dressing be a secondary matter, but let deep heart-searching commence at home. Pray three times a day, and like Jacob be importunate. At home is the place to find Jesus; then take him with you to the meeting, and how precious will be the hours you spend there. But how can you expect to feel the presence of the Lord and see his power displayed, when the individual work of preparation for that time is neglected.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 7} 

     For your soul’s sake, and for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of others, work at home. Pray as you are not accustomed to pray. Let the heart break before God. Set your house in order. Prepare your children for the occasion. Teach them that it is not of so much consequence that they appear with fine clothes as that they appear before God with clean hands and pure hearts. Remove every obstacle that may have been in their way,–all differences that may have existed between themselves, or between you and them. By so doing you will invite the Lord’s presence into your homes, and holy angels will attend you as you go up to the meeting, and their light and presence will press back the darkness of evil angels. Even unbelievers will feel the holy atmosphere as they enter the encampment. Oh, how much is lost by neglecting this important work! You may be pleased with the preaching, you may become animated and revived, but the converting, reforming power of God will not be felt in the heart, and the work will not be so deep, thorough, and lasting as it should be. Let pride be crucified, and the soul be clad with the priceless robe of Christ’s righteousness, and what a meeting you will enjoy. It will be to your soul even as the gate of Heaven.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 8} 

     The same work of humiliation and heart-searching should also go on in the church, so that all differences and alienations among brethren may be laid aside before appearing before the Lord at these annual gatherings. Set about this work in earnest, and rest not until it is accomplished; for if you come up to the meeting with your doubts, your murmurings, your disputings, you bring evil angels into the camp, and carry darkness wherever you go.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 9} 

     Because this preparation is neglected, these yearly meetings have accomplished but little. The ministers are seldom prepared to labor for God. There are many speakers,–those who can say sharp, crank things, going out of their way to whip other churches and ridicule their faith,–but there are but few earnest laborers for God. These sharp, self-important speakers, profess to have truth in advance of every other people, but their manner of labor and their religious zeal in no way correspond with their profession of faith.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 10} 

     I looked to see the humility of soul that should ever sit as a fitting garment upon our ministers, but it was not upon them. I looked for the deep love for souls that the Master said they should possess, but they had it not. I listened for the earnest prayers offered with tears and anguish of soul because of the impenitent and unbelieving in their own homes and in the church, but heard them not. I listened for the appeals made in the demonstration of the Spirit, but these were missing. I looked for the burden-bearers who in such a time as this should be weeping between the porch and the altar, crying, Spare thy people, Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach; but I heard no such supplications. A few earnest humble ones were seeking the Lord. At some of these meetings one or two ministers felt the burden, and were weighed down as a cart beneath sheaves. But a large majority of the ministers had no more sense of the sacredness of their work than children.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 11} 

     These yearly gatherings should be meetings of earnest labor. Ministers should seek a heart preparation before entering upon the work of helping others, for the people are far in advance of many of the ministers. They should untiringly wrestle in prayer until the Lord blesses them. When the love of God is burning on the altar of their hearts, they will not preach to exhibit their own smartness, but to present Christ who taketh away the sins of the world.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 12} 

     In the early church, Christianity was taught in its purity; its precepts were given by the voice of inspiration; its ordinances were uncorrupted by the device of men. The church revealed the spirit of Christ, and appeared beautiful in its simplicity. Its adorning was the holy principles and exemplary lives of its members. Multitudes were won to Christ, not by display or learning, but by the power of God which attended the plain preaching of his word. But the church has become corrupt. And now there is greater necessity than ever that ministers should be channels of light.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 13} 

     There are many flippant talkers of Bible truth, whose souls are as barren of the Spirit of God as were the hills of Gilboa of dew and rain. But what we need is men who are thoroughly converted themselves, and can teach others how to give their hearts to God. The power of godliness has almost ceased to be in our churches. And why is this? The Lord is still waiting to be gracious; he has not closed the windows of Heaven. We have separated ourselves from him. We need to fix the eye of faith upon the cross, and believe that Jesus is our strength, our salvation.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 14} 

     As we see so little burden of the work resting upon ministers and people, we inquire, When the Lord comes, shall he find faith on the earth? It is faith that is lacking. God has an abundance of grace and power awaiting our demand. But the reason we do not feel our great need of it is because we look to ourselves and not to Jesus. We do not exalt Jesus and rely wholly upon his merits.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 15} 

     Would that I could impress upon ministers and people the necessity of a deeper work of grace in the heart, and more thorough preparation to enter into the spirit and labor of our camp-meetings, that they may receive the greatest possible benefit from the meeting. These yearly gatherings may be seasons of special blessing, or they may be a great injury to spirituality. Which shall they be to you, dear reader? It remains for each to decide for himself. 

                  Mrs. E. G. White.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 16} 

EVENT: CAMPMEETING 2011, “AN UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE IN PREPARATION FOR THE LATTER RAIN”

Greetings brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There has never been a generation in the history of this world that has lived in a time as solemn and significant as we are in today. God is seeking to save us and our families at all cost. Among the agencies that God is using are the end-time retreats and camp meetings that are focused on Jesus and His truth for these last days that are to prepare a people to meet Him. We are told in inspiration:

“Our annual camp-meetings are of great importance, and all who possibly can should attend them. They should feel that the Lord requires this of them. If God’s people neglect the privileges which he has provided for them to become strong in him, they will grow weaker and weaker and have less and less desire to consecrate all to him‘. The object of these holy convocation meetings is that the brethren may be separated from business cares and burdens, and devote a few days exclusively to seeking the Lord.” {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 1} 

As we have mentioned in a previous posting, our annual end-time camp meeting / retreat will be held in Gallant, Alabama at Camp Sumatanga, it is a beautiful place and the accomodations have been made very economical and reasonable that all who desire may attend.

 Oh friends, the signs of the times that are filling this world show us the need to come aside and rest a while. To prepare for what is soon to take place as an overwhelming surprise. One of the reasons why we are sending out this courtesy letter is because the personal spaces are limited, and many of the rooms have been taken by new persons who have never attended the camp meeting. If you are a regular attendee and have not registered we encourage you to do so without delay because we may not be able to accommodate you and we want all to come who desire to have part in this holy convocation. God is seeking to do mighty things in this camp meeting!

The times we live in demands a real experience and we are working with God to facilitate a camp meeting that will do more than give us information but will help move us into a deeper experience as individuals and families, for both young and old. We will have several surprise features for our camp meeting / end-time retreat this year (both intensely practical and very tangible to help families that are seeking to follow God’s plan in these last days) and we are sure all will be blessed and none will want to miss out!

For each to get the highest possible experience it will be necessary for each individual and family to begin the work of consecration from now. We are told that many fail of receiving the blessings that God desires to give in such gatherings and holy convocations because they have failed to make the necessary preparation (this another reason for this letter). Notice the following inspired counsel:

“The object of these holy convocation meetings is that the brethren may be separated from business cares and burdens, and devote a few days exclusively to seeking the Lord. But some of these meetings are far from being what the Lord designed they should be. The people come unprepared for the visitation of God’s Holy Spirit.” {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 1} 

   “Would that I could impress upon ministers and people the necessity of a deeper work of grace in the heart, and more thorough preparation to enter into the spirit and labor of our camp-meetings, that they may receive the greatest possible benefit from the meeting. These yearly gatherings may be seasons of special blessing, or they may be a great injury to spirituality. Which shall they be to you, dear reader? It remains for each to decide for himself. {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 16} 

“Here is a work for families to engage in before coming up to our holy convocations. Let the preparation for eating and dressing be a secondary matter, but let deep heart-searching commence at home. Pray three times a day, and like Jacob be importunate. At home is the place to find Jesus; then take him with you to the meeting, and how precious will be the hours you spend there. But how can you expect to feel the presence of the Lord and see his power displayed, when the individual work of preparation for that time is neglected… Oh, how much is lost by neglecting this important work! … Let pride be crucified, and the soul be clad with the priceless robe of Christ’s righteousness, and what a meeting you will enjoy. It will be to your soul even as the gate of Heaven.  {RH, August 15, 1882 par. 7, 8} 

 Oh friends, time is short. Let us prepare as never before. Please do not delay. Sign up today and work to bring friends and families, so that together we may all truly have “an upper room experience in preparation for the latter rain”. Please take the time to pause and pray right where you are and seriously ask God if He wants you to attend this holy convocation. And even if you weren’t planning on it but today you hear the voice of God telling you that He wants you to be a part of this experience,  Please call # (256) 683-0959 or (931) 363-2059 for speedy registration. Time is Almost finished and what we do, we must do quickly.

If You need an application please click here

Some Will Wait until it is too late!

“ Then I saw Jesus lay off His priestly attire and clothe Himself with His most kingly robes. Upon His head were many crowns, a crown within a crown. Surrounded by the angelic host, He left heaven. The plagues were falling upon the inhabitants of the earth. Some were denouncing God and cursing Him. Others rushed to the people of God and begged to be taught how they might escape His judgments. But the saints had nothing for them. The last tear for sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer offered, the last burden borne, the last warning given. The sweet voice of mercy was no more to invite them. When the saints, and all heaven, were interested for their salvation, they had no interest for themselves. Life and death had been set before them. Many desired life, but made no effort to obtain it. They did not choose life, and now there was no atoning blood to cleanse the guilty, no compassionate Saviour to plead for them, and cry, “Spare, spare the sinner a little longer.” All heaven had united with Jesus, as they heard the fearful words, “It is done. It is finished.” The plan of salvation had been accomplished, but few had chosen to accept it. And as mercy’s sweet voice died away, fear and horror seized the wicked. With terrible distinctness they heard the words, “Too late! too late!”  {EW 281.1} 

 To see the application (with prices etc) click on the following link : End-time retreat 2010 .

For fast processing: You may print off this application and fax or mail it in.