Building connections: The power of at friendships camp meeting

Jun 6

Thomas and Cindy Day, from the White House, Tenn., Church have been attending the Kentucky-Tennesee Conference (KYTN) camp meeting for more than 60 years. In 1993, the couple started a tradition of offering breakfast on Sabbath morning to all and any of their fellow campers. Since then, the “pancake” gathering has become a staple of the KYTN camp meeting, attracting more than 100 people each Sabbath morning.

“While camp meeting is all about the spiritual lessons, it is also about the community of the church coming together,” Thomas Day said. “This breakfast leads people from all over the camp to just sit on a table, have a meal, relax and spend time together.”

The KYTN Camp Meeting has been tradition that has been taking place since 1908. Each year, there are many new visitors who are checking out camp meeting for the first time, but there is also church members who have been faithfully attending the meetings for years.

One of this church members is Bonny Calkins. Calkins grew up in Michigan and attended the weekend camp meetings there. In 1972, her husband found work in Kentucky as a pastor and they started to attend the KYTN camp meeting. Ever since, it has been something their family has enjoyed and returned to every year - even after she moved back to Michigan three years ago.

“What keeps us coming back [is the people],” Calkins said. “Sometimes, it’s only at camp meetings you get to actually see [friends] and share, and get caught up. We still feel very much a part of Kentucky-Tennessee Conference family even though we’re presently in Michigan.”

This year’s camp meeting theme was “We Have This Hope,” and the primary guest speakers included Ty Gibson and David Asscherik, speakers and directors for the Light Bearers ministry. The event offered activities for all ages, allowing for even the younger audiences to make meaningful connections.

Fifteen-year-old Susan Oms, from the Middletown, Ky., Church, has been coming to camp meeting for seven years and participates in the children’s meetings. Oms says being with her age group gets her excited to attend camp meeting as she feels more comfortable to share her thoughts.

“I really enjoy coming because the pastors are a lot of fun and the morning discussions are in depth and meaningful,” Oms said. “Also, I really enjoy spending time with my friends.”

Tom and Cindy Day spend over $600 to host their breakfast reunion at camp meeting, serving 30 pounds of pancakes, more than 12 dozen of eggs, boxes of stripples and a big variety of fruits. To them, while it takes a lot of work, it is all worth it when they see fellow believers connecting with one another.

“I just look forward to seeing folks you only get to see once a year strengthening friendships and growing together spiritually,” Tom Day said. “[These people] are coming from all over, yet we can connect as one because we share one hope.”

Camp meeting gives members the opportunity to take a break from the world for a week, find spiritual renewal, visit old friends and make new ones. Next year we are looking forward to having this event all over again with the theme, “Send Me.” It will take place May 24 to June 1, 2024. The guest speakers include Voice of Prophecy Director, Shawn Boonstra, and Senior Pastor of the Loma Linda University Church, Randall Roberts. We look forward to making connections again!