camp meeting is one of the most important agencies in our
work. It is one of the most effective methods of arresting the attention
of the people and reaching all classes with the gospel invitation. The
time in which we live is a time of intense excitement. Ambition
and war, pleasure and money-making, absorb the minds of men.
Satan sees that his time is short, and he has set all his agencies at
work, that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied, and entranced,
until probation shall be ended and the door of mercy be forever
shut. It is our work to give to the whole world—to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people—the saving truths of the third angel’s
message. But it has been a difficult problem to know how to reach
the people in the great centers of population. We are not allowed
entrance to the churches. In the cities the large halls are expensive,
and in most cases but few will come out to the best halls. We have
been spoken against by those who were not acquainted with us. The
reasons of our faith are not understood by the people, and we have
been regarded as fanatics who were ignorantly keeping Saturday
for Sunday. In our work we have been perplexed to know how to
break through the barriers of worldliness and prejudice, and bring
[32] before the people the precious truth which means so much to them.
The Lord has instructed us that the camp meeting is one of the most
important instrumentalities for the accomplishment of this work.
We must plan wisely, that the people may have an opportunity of
hearing for themselves the last message of mercy to the world. The
people should be warned to make ready for the great day of God,
which is right upon them. We have no time to lose. We must do
our utmost to reach men where they are. The world is now reaching
the boundary line in impenitence and disregard for the laws of the
government of God. In every city of our world the warning must be
proclaimed. All that can be done should be done without delay.
And our camp meetings have another object, preparatory to this.
They are to promote spiritual life among our own people. The world
32
Camp Meeting 33
in its wisdom knows not God. The world cannot see the beauty,
the loveliness, the goodness, the holiness of divine truth. And in
order that men may understand this, there must be a channel through
which it shall come to the world. The church has been constituted
that channel. Christ reveals Himself to us that we may reveal Him
to others. Through His people are to be manifested the riches and
glory of His unspeakable gift.
God has committed to our hands a most sacred work, and we
need to meet together to receive instruction, that we may be fitted
to perform this work. We need to understand what part we shall
individually be called upon to act in building up the cause of God in
the earth, in vindicating God’s holy law, and in lifting up the Saviour
as the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John
1:29. We need to meet together and receive the divine touch, that we
may understand our work in the home. Parents need to understand [33]
how they may send forth from the sanctuary of the home their sons
and daughters so trained and educated that they will be fitted to
shine as lights in the world. We need to understand in regard to
the division of labor and how each part of the work is to be carried
forward. Each one should understand the part he is to act, that there
may be harmony of plan and of labor in the combined work of all.
Reaching the Masses
In the Sermon on the Mount Christ said to His disciples: “Ye
are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16. If
our camp meetings are conducted as they should be, they will indeed
be a light in the world. They should be held in the large cities and
towns where the message of truth has not been proclaimed. And
they should continue for two or three weeks. It may sometimes be
advisable to hold a camp meeting for several successive seasons in
the same place; but as a rule the place of meeting should be changed
from year to year. Instead of having mammoth camp meetings in a
few localities, more good would be done by having smaller meetings
34 Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
in many places. Thus the work will be constantly extending into new
fields. Just as soon as the standard of truth is lifted in one locality,
and it is safe to leave the new converts, we must plan to enter other
new fields. Our camp meetings are a power, and when held in a
place where the community can be stirred, they will have far greater
[34] power than when for the convenience of our own people they are
located where, because of previous meetings and the rejection of
truth, the public interest is deadened.
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
A mistake has been made in holding camp meetings in outof-
the-way places and in continuing in the same place year after
year. This has been done to save expense and labor, but the saving
should be made in other lines. In new fields especially, a dearth
of means often makes it difficult to meet the expense of a camp
meeting. Careful economy should be exercised and inexpensive
plans devised, for much can be saved in this way. But let not the
work be crippled. This method of presenting the truth to the people
is by the devising of our God. When souls are to be labored for, and
