For members of the Lake Region Conference, camp meeting is a very, very special occasion. Here are just three reasons why:

1. It is a time for our members to relax from the stresses of daily living and enjoy good preaching, good music and outstanding seminars.

2. It is a time for fellowship with brothers and sisters from the various parts of the Conference.

3. Children have plenty of time to play and learn about the things of God from their teachers in their Kindergarten, Primary, Junior and Earliteen classes. They also learn lessons from the outdoors in nature.

Last year our members left camp meeting with feelings of rejuvenation and thanksgiving for God's blessings in their lives.

This year's encampment will be just as spirit-filled, if not more so. Our theme will be, "Go and Tell." We've selected this theme in harmony with the North American Division's (NAD) goal of 100,000 individuals baptized for Christ in 2009 (Year of Pastoral Evangelism). In preparation for this, the NAD is recommending in 2008 for "conferences and churches to focus on the biblical teaching of righteousness by faith in Christ and on the infilling work of the Holy Spirit at camp meetings, convocations, seminars and retreats."

Each morning will begin with "Power Hour" at 6:00 a.m. This is the time when our campers share with one another God's blessings in their lives. They will also testify how they have led someone to Christ or plan to do so as disciples of Christ. Immediately following this service, our Lake Region pastors, during the 6:30 a.m. "Preaching Hour," will challenge God's saints to "Go and Tell" the good news to someone else when they leave camp meeting. Our ministers will also deliver inspiring messages centered around this theme at the 7:30 a.m. "Evangelistic Hour."

Christian education, under the leadership of Ruth Horton, will again be one of our main features. Teachers of the Lake Region Conference will be commissioned for service in the schools where they labor and the churches where they serve.

Pamela Daly, children's ministries director, will have her team in place as they lift up the name of Jesus to our boys and girls. These 400 children look forward to camp meeting each year with great anticipation. They, too, will be challenged to "Go and Tell" their friends the good news of Christ's love for them.

Ralph Shelton is our newly-elected youth ministries and Pathfinder director. He will have his co-workers in place as they focus on kingdom building. Their emphasis will not only be to challenge our youth to mold characters that will prepare them for the coming King, but also to guide them on how to share Jesus with their peers. Yes, our young people also must "Go and Tell."

Each of our other departmental directors will focus on the camp meeting theme as they and their facilitators lead out in the various workshops and seminars throughout the week. These leaders include Doris Gothard (women's ministries), Art and Kim Nowlin (family life), Charles Osborne (inner city), P.C. Willis (Sabbath school, personal ministries, prison ministries), Eddie Allen (stewardship), Edward Woods III (religious liberty), Debbie Young (A.S.I.) and Ray Young (communications).

Our bookstore will be open Monday through Friday. We will have available Bibles, magazines, literature, CDs, tapes and other Christian materials. Additionally, the Natural Connection (Lake Region Conference health food store) will have in stock both frozen and canned vegetarian foods for purchase.

We feel privileged and blessed to have two outstanding speakers for the Sabbath Divine Worship services. Ronald Smith, executive secretary of the Southern Union Conference, will speak the first Sabbath (June 21). Joseph Grider, senior minister of the Bellfort Seventh-day Adventist Church in Houston, Texas, will be featured the second Sabbath (June 28). Camp meeting will conclude Saturday evening with the traditional ordination service.

If you have not registered for Camp Meeting 2008, you may do so by contacting the Treasury Department of the Lake Region Conference at 773-846-2661.

May God bless each and every one of you, and may He inspire each of us to "Go and Tell."

Jerome Davis is the president of the Lake Region Conference.

Lake Region Camp Meeting

June 20–28

Camp Wagner

19088 Brownsville Street

Cassopolis, MI 49031

Call: 773-846-2661