if the greenroom were done away with.If the leaders and speakers could move out from their front row and mingle some with the people.If all the time to mention the speakers Children and grand children were put to better use. And accomplishments of each speaker was kept to a minimum.How it would instill confidence in our leaders if at the end of the service, they came out and greeted people.and moved from the front.If the special meal prepared for the State council and speakers after the service was not mentioned at the end of the service.
Further evidence of an us vs. them heirarchy________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”
I have heard it from the pulpit…There are no big I’s or little u’sWe need to invert the pyramid
The green room has never bothered me, but it wouldn’t bother me if they got rid of it. At our campmeeting (New Mexico/El Paso) the leaders and speakers do mingle with the people after service. Of course, our crowds are minuscule in comparison to big states in the Southeast. I think the biggest campmeeting crowd I have seen in the 5 years I’ve been out here was maybe 150 in one service. I would imagine it would be difficult at best for visiting speakers to mingle very extensively with a big crowd. I would like to see more zeal for getting to the actual preaching AND for the preaching in particular (as well as campmeeting in general) to be actually geared towards what campmeeting originally was meant to be geared towards—Revival and awakening. Much of the time, it seems to me that campmeeting is geared towards encouraging discouraged pastors, which is of course a needful thing, but in my view there are very few things in this world more encouraging than real revival preaching.
Back in the day–at least at the Florida Campmeeting–the state leaders and the speakers were there to enjoy the praise and worship, etc. (I haven’t been able to attend in some years, but I presume that is still how it is.)While I don’t mind the introduction and mentions of accomplishments, my pet peeve is the LOOOOONNNGGG offerings that used to take place. It often was not uncommon for an offering to take at least 30 minutes–sometimes more!–as the men assigned to receive the offering wanted to be the one that brought in the biggest offering. Can’t blame them for trying, of course–and not everyone (thank the Lord!) did a long, drawn-out one. Some were quite enjoyable. But then there were those other ones…. Yeah, I was good if we didn’t have it done like that.And, back in the day, after the night service, those in attendance could go to the cafeteria and have cake and coffee or the such. Usually not a full meal, but a little something. Now, I don’t recall if the leaders and speakers came, but it was a joy to gather round with old friends and enjoy the fellowship the the Church of God is so well known for.
Several years ago, our state had an invitation only reception after the service. I mean there was literally a sign in front of the room that said Invitation only It was also printed on the program and placed on the video screen. A very real effort was made to let people know they were not wanted. Sm________________
Campmeeting is old and tired.I truly used to love campmeeting. I even thought about going to one night this year.But I thought about the waste of time that takes place – much like Krista mentions. I stayed home instead…because now I can keep up with my friends through social media and don’t need to see them once a year like campmeeting provided – which we put up with the wastes of time in the day – because it was our only chance to catch up with our friends but – no need to do so anymore. It makes me sad. It’s just the way it is________________
Just as a follow up. I really do love Camp meeting. And I am big on respecting those who are our leaders. Actually starstruck when I do speak with one.LOL.But if you are a Speaker at a Campmeeting….If you are a State Overseer or State Council member, just know that there is a lot of talk going on about how these Camp meetings are being done.The Green room was never a good idea. State Overseer, just let these guys show up and be with the rest of us. because there is a sense of superiority, when they rarely leave the front of the auditorium.Also, our facility has a kitchen and cafeteria, where things simple can be served to all that want to partake. Not for just a few.Our Overseer sent out a letter asking Churches to donate X amount of dollars because we were short of money to fund the Camp meeting, yet meals are catered to serve the Speakers, council members and wives. I stuck around camp meeting till one of the last to leave and never saw one Speaker. Well, I did see they were on the front row.People are getting tired of this. One day it will end if this continues.LEADERS….just show up and do you job and love us, like you preach that we love.
NBF, you and I got back to a time when campmeeting was REALLY campmeeting. But oddly enough, my dad, who is more old-school than either of us, indicated that he thought the Florida campmeeting was great this time.
I have been to churches where the pastor was a campmeeting speaker in others states and every one of them have made the same statement from their pulpits, I preached in such and such campmeeting this week and I’m glad it is over with.I’m sitting there thinking of the pastors in those states that would give anything to be able to preach in a campmeeting, but these guys come off like it’s a big hindrance to them to preach at one.
Great point brother Ernie,
Next summer let’s all go back to 60s style camp meeting. Outdoor tabernacle, everyone in suits, one song leader, selling the paperback songbooks, coffee and hot dogs at the canteen, sleeping in tents, four services a day, wooden folding chairs and lawn chairs set up around the tabernacle, and old fashioned preaching.Gotta stop. I’m getting nostalgic. It would bring out fresh complaints at least. By the way, camp meeting would be all week and all the churches in the area should cancel services to enable their people to drive to camp meeting for Sunday morning service.Sigh….ah the good old days. ________________
Re: Hmmm a challenge
Honestly, other than the sleeping in tents and sweating to death outside in a suit, that sounds pretty great. Okay, you can sleep in your truck camper and wear leisure suits. ________________
I haven’t attended campmeeting regularly for several years. It’s not really conducive for laity that work anymore, with the services starting earlier every year, which was 6:30 this year.The main reason I stopped attending was that I was really hurt one year I went. My husband was still very sick at that time, all the burden was pretty much on me, and I was really hurting and discouraged. The message was very much for me, speaking about strengthening the hands that hang down (Heb 12:12). Dennis McGuire preached that night. And so I went to the altar, really burdened and needing that strengthening, and all of these pastors that knew me from our ministering in their churches or that I’ve known most of my life all gave me a 2 second bop on the head or a Bless her, Lord! and not even ONE PERSON except my friend that came with me really prayed with me as I stood there and wept. I didn’t go back for years – my loss, but it definitely affected me.Pastors, please take the time to really pray for people that are hurting. It matters.Having said that, I was in the hospital over our ENC Campmeeting this year, but I was able to watch some of the services online, which was really a blessing. Jentezen Franklin preached a really good message on Monday night and also shared about receiving his calling to preach right there in the ENC tabernacle as a 16 year old (and how God confirmed the call to preach as he had asked the Lord to do.) He was supposed to sign books after the service but told the AB that he didn’t want to do that. He just wanted to mingle with the people. And he did.I also enjoyed Mitchell Tolle Sr on Wednesday night. He spoke about his grandkids a lot in his message, including a delightful sermon about Samson his 5 year old (?) granddaughter preached for Jr. Talent.Officials sat on the front row with their wives sitting behind them.Campmeeting is like a lot of other things. It is what we make of it. If you’re looking for problems, they’re there. Better to focus on the good things and receive whatever blessing you can. I thought ENC’s was top notch this year________________More of Him…less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name