In the Old Testament, God gave very clear instruction to the Israelites, His chosen nation:

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein"(Leviticus 23:34–36).

When God's people were defined as a nation, the Feast of Tabernacles was the required time for fellowship, religious instruction, and inspiration. Now that spiritual Israelites are recognized from all nations, camp meeting is the privileged time for spiritual blessings, training, fellowship, special offering opportunities, and instruction.

Wisconsin Camp Meeting 2007 will be held Friday, June 15, through Sabbath, June 23, and the theme is, "Tell the World." This year camp meeting will include the following features:

The Clinton Anderson family will minister to us in sacred concert on the first Sabbath afternoon as well as with concerts throughout the weekend. This family is gifted by birth and by the Spirit in music ministry.

The Hmong work continues to be blessed with five new members in 2006 and six more are preparing for baptism currently. Ko Saelee, pastor, and his wife Terri organized the first international Hmong Camp Meeting in March 2007, with believers attending from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and even North Americans from Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The camp meeting focused on training lay workers and the development of the work worldwide. Our featured camp meeting offering this year will be for the Hmong work and the training of lay workers.

The following featured speakers will highlight our schedule:

Jose Rojas, renowned youth speaker/director of the Office of Volunteer Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, will share from the Word on Friday night, and Sabbath morning and evening.

Hal Thomsen, assistant to president for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, is the early morning speaker.

Lincoln Steed, editor of Liberty magazine, will speak mid-morning.

Denis Fortin, the new dean of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is the late morning speaker.

Richard Stenbakken, former director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, is the evening speaker, and he will present "Faces Around the Cross."

Jan Paulsen, General Conference president, will speak the closing weekend.

Walter Wright, Lake Union Conference president, will participate in the ordination service and speak for the closing meeting on Sabbath, June 23.

Every day amazing seminars will be presented at 2:15 p.m. They include:

Tom and Alane Waters, of Restoration International, Inc., in Eureka, Montana, will speak from their album, Parenting Heart to Heart. Their talks will include messages such as "Parenting with a Purpose," "God's Word: The Parent's Guide," "Reaching the Heart," "The ABCs of Parenting," "Developing Independence," and "Counting the Cost."

Denis Fortin will speak on Ellen G. White.

Paul and Carol Cannon, founders of The Bridge to Recovery in Bowling Green, Kentucky, will speak on addictions. The Bridge is a "residential facility with short- and long-term programs that jumpstart people's recovery from negative behavior patterns that sabotage their lives and relationships" (see www.thebridgetorecovery.com/about.htm, or call 877-866-8661).

Teenie Finley will present seminars on lay training. Her seminars are a must for those who have never led anyone to Jesus and for experienced lay workers. She will be teaching "Five Keys to Successful Evangelism," "Finding and Developing Interests," "An Effective Biblical Plan of Giving Bible Studies," "Reaping a Harvest," and "Reducing Apostasy and Nurturing New Converts." Her emphasis throughout the seminars will focus on the power of the Holy Spirit and intercessory prayer.

Wisconsin Camp Meeting is held in rural central Wisconsin at Camp Wakonda. Camp Meeting 2006 was a tremendous blessing with more than 30 people baptized for Jesus. We were blessed with music ministry by Stephanie Dawn and tremendous preaching from Lonnie Melashenko, Ken Mittleider, and so many more.

God's plan for ancient Israel was national in concept, and the Feast of Booths was a time to get away from the routine and enter into the holy. In a similar manner, God's plan for spiritual Israel is that she be energized and fortified by the Spirit by coming away from the routine and entering the holy again. Come to Camp Meeting 2007, and be blessed.

For accommodations or information, call Aileen at 608-241-5235, ext. 104, or e-mail akking@wi.adventist.org.

James Fox is the Wisconsin Conference communication director.