When Frank and Trinity Miller decided to be baptized at Redwood Camp Meeting, they were excited. They had been attending the Fortuna church since May and felt very welcome. Trinity’s oldest son, Randy, was also taking baptismal classes, but was not certain when he would be baptized. Frank and Trinity were thrilled when Randy decided to be baptized with them at this year’s camp meeting. “Randy wasn’t planning to get baptized,” said Frank. “There was no pressing, nobody said anything to him all day. It was the Holy Spirit.”

The Miller family wasn’t the only family enjoying this year’s camp meeting. More than 3,000 people from Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and California gathered near Redcrest, Calif., as has happened every summer for the past 30 years. “This is our ninth year,” said Jan Novotny. “We really, really enjoy camp meeting.”

As usual, there were a lot of meetings offered for every age group. The featured speakers this year were Gordon Bietz, president of Southern Adventist University; Roy Adams, associate editor of the Adventist Review and Adventist World; Arnold Trujillo, vice president of the Pacific Union Conference; Marvin Moore, editor of Signs of the Times; and Herb Montgomery, from Light Bearers Ministry. “I really enjoyed Herb Montgomery,” said Tony Morin. “He’s got a lot of life in him, and it gets you thinking. It’s different from the standard stuff — it challenges your mind.”

One of the main focuses every year at camp meeting time is evangelism. This year, the evangelism offering exceeded the goal of $100,000. In addition to the traditional offerings taken at the various meetings, a can of Loma Linda Nuteena, which is no longer in production, was auctioned off for $500.

The offerings given at camp meeting and in all of the Northern California Conference churches will provide subsidies for local churches to hold outreach events, as well as subsidize overseas mission projects. “The offering will help give lay people and pastors experience in bringing others to Christ,” said Diane Flitcraft, who works in the NCC ministerial department.

On the final Sabbath of camp meeting, the Eel River served as a baptistry for nine people, including Frank, Trinity and Randy. “It was wonderful being baptized,” said Trinity.

“It was like a lifelong dream come true,” added Frank.