there was ever a place where the believers
should bear much fruit, it is at our camp meetings. At these meetings
our acts, our words, our spirit, are marked, and our influence is as
far-reaching as eternity. [43]
Transformation of character is to be the testimony to the world of
the indwelling love of Christ. The Lord expects His people to show
that the redeeming power of grace can work upon the faulty character
and cause it to develop in symmetry and abundant fruitfulness.
But in order for us to fulfill God’s purpose, there is a preparatory
work to be done. The Lord bids us empty our hearts of the selfishness
which is the root of alienation. He longs to pour upon us
His Holy Spirit in rich measure, and He bids us clear the way by
self-renunciation. When self is surrendered to God, our eyes will be
opened to see the stumbling stones which our un-Christlikeness has
placed in the way of others. All these God bids us remove. He says:
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye
may be healed.” James 5:16. Then we may have the assurance that
David had when, after confession of his sin, he prayed: “Restore
unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free
Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall
be converted unto Thee.” Psalm 51:12, 13.
When the grace of God reigns within, the soul will be surrounded
with an atmosphere of faith and courage and Christlike love, an
atmosphere invigorating to the spiritual life of all who inhale it. Then
we can go to the camp meeting not merely to receive, but to impart.
Everyone who is a partaker of Christ’s pardoning love, everyone
who has been enlightened by the Spirit of God and converted to the
truth, will feel that for these precious blessings he owes a debt to
every soul with whom he comes in contact. Those who are humble
in heart the Lord will use to reach souls whom the ordained ministers
cannot approach. They will be moved to speak words which reveal
the saving grace of Christ.
And in blessing others they will themselves be blessed. God [44]
gives us opportunity to impart grace, that He may refill us with
increased grace. Hope and faith will strengthen as the agent for God
works with the talents and facilities that God has provided. He will
have a divine agency to work with him.
42 Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
Business Matters
As far as possible our camp meetings should be wholly devoted
to spiritual interests. They should not be made occasions for the
transaction of business.
At the camp meetings, workers are gathered from all parts of the
field, and it seems a favorable opportunity for considering business
matters connected with the various branches of the work and for the
training of workers in different lines. All these different interests are
important, but when they have been attended to at a camp meeting,
but little opportunity remains for dealing with the practical relation
of truth to the soul. Ministers are diverted from their work of building
up the children of God in the most holy faith, and the camp meeting
does not meet the end for which it was appointed. Many meetings are
conducted in which the larger number of the people have no interest,
and if they could attend them all they would go away wearied instead
of being refreshed and benefited. Many are disappointed at the
failure of their expectation to receive help from the camp meeting.
Those who came for enlightenment and strength return to their
homes little better fitted to work in their families and churches than
before attending the meeting.
Business matters should be attended to by those especially appointed
for this work. And as far as possible they should be brought
before the people at some other time than the camp meeting. Instruction
in canvassing, in Sabbath school work, and in the details
[45] of tract and missionary work should be given in the home churches
or in meetings specially appointed. The same principle applies to
cooking schools. While these are all right in their place, they should
not occupy the time of our camp meetings.
The presidents of conferences and the ministers should give
themselves to the spiritual interests of the people and should therefore
be excused from the mechanical labor attendant upon the meeting.
The ministers should be ready to act as teachers and leaders
in the work of the camp when occasion requires, but they should
not be wearied out. They should feel refreshed and be in a cheerful
frame of mind, for this is essential for the best good of the meeting.
They should be able to speak words of cheer and courage, and to
Camp Meeting 43
drop seeds of spiritual truth into the soil of honest hearts, to spring
up and bear precious fruit.
The ministers should teach the people how to come to the Lord
and how to lead others to Him. Methods must be adopted, plans
must be carried out, whereby the standard shall be uplifted, and the
people shall be taught how they may be purified from iniquity and
elevated by adherence to pure and holy principles.
There must be time for heart searching, for soul culture. When
the mind is occupied with matters of business, there must necessarily
be a dearth of spiritual power. Personal piety, true faith, and heart
holiness must be kept before the mind until the people realize their
importance.
We must have the power of God in our camp meetings, or we
shall not be able to prevail against the enemy of souls. Christ says:
“Without Me ye can do nothing.”
Those who gather at camp meetings must be impressed with the
fact that the object of the meetings is to attain to a higher Christian
experience, to advance in the knowledge of God, to become strengthened
with spiritual vigor; and unless we realize this, the meetings [46]
will to us be fruitless.
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Ministerial Help
In camp meetings or tent efforts in or near the large cities there
should be an abundance of ministerial help. In all our camp meetings
the ministerial force should be as strong as possible. It is not wise to
allow a constant strain upon one or two men. Under such a strain
they become physically and mentally exhausted, and are unable to
do the work appointed them. In order that they may have the strength
required for the meetings, ministers should arrange beforehand to
leave their fields of labor in safe hands, with those