My first camp meeting was in 1987 at the Grand Ledge, Michigan, campgrounds. The speaker that year was H.M.S. Richards Jr. At the time, I was taking Bible studies and came at the invitation of Dorothy Davis from the Morrice (Michigan) Church. I responded to the altar call and was baptized in September of that year. In December, I married Dawn, who was not an Adventist, but who agreed to go to camp meeting with me in 1988. Finally, in 1991, Dawn became an Adventist and was looking forward to the time when camp meeting would start up again.

We attended the first camp meeting at Cedar Lake and have been attending ever since. It is the whole camp meeting experience that keeps us going. We take advantage of the opportunity to learn and further our walk with Jesus from the classes and the evening meetings. It is also an enjoyable time to meet with friends from the other churches and fellowship with them. When possible, we volunteer to help in different areas of camp meeting—driving the shuttle, running the video cameras, telling stories in the junior tent, driving the conference truck back to Lansing after camp meeting, and making the curtains for the cabins.

One memorable experience happened when our grandson came with us. Like all kids, he was trying to catch a ride on the golf carts. He flagged one down by yelling “Taxi, Taxi,” and one stopped to pick us up. It was Jay Gallimore, Michigan Conference president, who was glad to give us a ride. After we got off and explained to our grandson who the driver was, the look on his face was priceless. You would have thought that he had gotten a ride from the president of the United States.

It is good to see some of the people from 3ABN in person and hear what God has laid on their hearts for us here in Michigan. It also encourages us to stretch our faith with the challenges from the camp meeting speakers and the seminar teachers. It is a well-rounded experience that we don’t want to miss. Camp meeting is a part of the Christian lifestyle to us.

The camp meeting experience helps us to broaden our vision. There are a lot more Adventists than just those from our own local church family who are also our brothers and sisters. We get to experience a bit of what we expect to have in heaven—one big family, with the same goals and beliefs.

Dave and Dawn Heeg are members of the Owosso (Michigan) Church.