Arizona Camp Meeting has become a treasured time for many as they return year after year to the serene setting of Camp Yavapines near Prescott. Although many conferences have chosen to shorten their camp meetings for various reasons, Arizona's camp meeting is still a nine-day event. This year it begins June 8 and continues through June 16.
Ministers and conference workers arrive early to prepare for the event. Months in advance, details for every program have been carefully planned. Committees work diligently to make sure every item is in place. Every detail, from the carefully-chosen speakers to the guest musicians, is planned to embrace the camp meeting theme, "Sharing Him — Far and Near."
Kelly Sue Blake, administrative assistant in the education department of the Arizona Conference, has been in charge of the primary children's meetings for the past 12 years. For weeks, she carefully plans her programs, orders the materials, and meticulously creates an environment for learning that is totally unique and very spiritual. This year's theme is "The Ten Commandments."
Benjamin Lundquist, the pied piper for the youth meetings, has themed his area: "God at Work." This year, Lundquist plans to renovate a home in the Prescott area. Following the lead of some popular home makeover television programs, the youth will spend two hours each day doing carpentry, paint, repair, roofing, etc. At the end of the week, they will present the newly-remodeled home to the occupant.
Erik VanDenburgh, conference youth director, has invited his camp staff to come work with the children's programs for camp meeting. During the week, they will make friends with the campers and invite them to the tantalizing summer programs.
Gary Venden has carefully planned Young Adults II — a contemporary program that meets in the annex by the cafeteria. His program has become a favorite of young adults, and he seems to always draw a standing-room-only crowd. This year's guest speaker will be David Newman. Lively music is a tradition with this meeting.
The main meeting is held in the big open air auditorium and will feature many well-known speakers and musicians. Israel Leito, president of the Inter-American Division, will be the opening speaker. Throughout the week, presenters include Bill Knott, Jim Nix, James Black, Rob Lloyd, Ben Kochenower, Jeff Wilson, Debbie Young, Don Hall, James Rafferty, Dr. Jairyong Lee, and Don Popson, not to mention the Arizona Conference officers and leaders, including Duane McKey, Tony Anobile, Ed Keyes, Jose Marin and Ivan Weiss.
Main speaker for the evening meetings is Pastor Lee Venden. Over the years, Venden has followed in the footsteps of his famous father, Morris Venden, and has become a sought-after camp meeting speaker. Venden is currently pastoring in the Walla Walla, Wash., area.
The theme, "Sharing Him — Far and Near," will likely invite some exciting mission stories and events from the Arizona team of ShareHim evangelists — pastors, lay people and lots of youth — who have had life-changing experiences presenting Jesus in such places as India, Africa, the Dominican Republic, and right here in Arizona during homeland campaigns.
Music is always a highly-anticipated part of the camp meeting experience. Local musicians are abundant, and their talents will be complemented by two of It Is Written's musicians, Christine Wollmann and Charles Haugabrooks. Arizona audiences may remember them from the Shawn Boonstra meetings held last year at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix.
The Arizona Conference invites friends from far and near to the pristine mountains of Prescott to Camp Yavapines for a camp meeting experience designed to recharge spiritual batteries, provide an opportunity for growth and reflection, and introduce friendships that will last into eternity.
