by Kenneth A. Denslow
Whether it is the one-day camp meeting at Broadview Academy or the full-week camp meeting at Camp Akita, members are spiritually fed during these important Illinois Adventist family events.
Northern Illinois Camp Meeting
Northern Illinois Camp Meeting will be held on Sabbath, June 10, at Broadview Academy. The first meeting of the day will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a rousing Sabbath school program. Singing, lesson study, and reports from the world field will all focus on the camp meeting theme, "Touching Everyone for Jesus—A Five-Year Strategy."
The camp meeting guest speaker is Barry Black, chaplain of the United States Senate. Black began working in the Senate on July 7, 2003. Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, he served in the United States Navy for over twenty-seven years, ending his distinguished career as chief of Navy chaplains.
You’ll want to make arrangements to stay by for a picnic lunch with your family, or join in on one of the many church potlucks so you can attend the afternoon meeting at 2:00 p.m. You’ll also want to make arrangements for your evening meal. Black closes the full day of inspirational fellowship with the evening meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Akita Camp Meeting
Beginning June 18, with the evening meeting starting at 7:00 p.m., Akita Camp Meeting will be jam-packed with activities to bring your family closer to Christ. Guest speakers this year include Ranko Stefanovic, professor of religion at Andrews University; Merlin D. Burt, director of the Ellen G. White Estate Branch at Andrews University. David Smith, Union College president and Broadview Academy alum, will conclude the week-long camp meeting with messages Friday evening and on Sabbath, June 24.
Whether you enjoy a canoe trip down the Spoon River, take your BMW (Beautiful Morning Walk) each morning, attend morning seminars and evening meetings, participate in waterfront activities, or conquer the climbing wall, one thing is certain—you’ll be back each year for this special, family spiritual retreat.
"I can’t wait until I can get my grandchildren to Camp Akita," states Jacque Weiland. "I know once they come, I won’t be able to keep them away! One of our most precious experiences at Akita Camp Meeting is fellowship with believers. Last year, we had different people over to our motor home each meal. What a blessing it is to become personally acquainted with church leaders and our church family."
Last year, Kindergarten and Primary children had a great time in the Jerusalem Marketplace, under the leadership of David Sitler, a pastor, and his wife Cinda. At each meeting children and adults wore period costumes. Every child belonged to a tribe and learned about family life in Bible times. The mascot at the Marketplace was Jethro, the donkey. He was a little rascal who got lost each evening so the children could find him. Imagine the delight of the children when a real, live, little Jethro and his mommy came to the Jerusalem Marketplace from a nearby farm! Even a new local, "Rackey" the raccoon, came to visit.
"The entire New Testament has 32 explicit references to Christ as the lamb," stated evening speaker and author, Brian Jones, at the 2005 Akita Camp Meeting. "We are redeemed by the blood of Christ as a lamb without blemish. [Twenty-eight of the references] are galactically crowded into the Book of Revelation. Surely we can conclude from this that the central theme of Revelation is not behold the dragon, or behold the beast, or behold the whore, or behold the horror, but behold the Lamb." Jones also presented at one of the morning seminars. Each morning you'll have your choice of two seminars to attend during camp meeting.
Although there is limited cabin housing available at Camp Akita, there are plenty of RV spaces and ample ground for those who prefer to rough it in a tent.
Reservations are required for all who plan to attend Akita Camp Meeting. Housing and meals reservation forms are available. Write: Akita Camp Meeting, Illinois Conference, 619 Plainfield Rd., Willowbrook, IL 60527; phone (630) 856-2850; or e-mail:
reservations@illinoisadventist.org. This form is also available online at
www.illinoisadventist.org at the Camp Meeting link.
Kenneth A. Denslow is the Illinois Conference president.
