Camp Meeting Prayer Breakfasts, Health Fair, and the Preaching of God’s Word Changes Lives

Brian Wilson, DDS, provides a free consultation for a camp meeting attendee at the SNEC United Camp Meeting health fair.

United Camp Meeting, Sunday, June 21

Men’s Prayer Breakfast: Happy Father’s Day!

More than 15 years ago, Tom Murray, current Atlantic Union Treasurer/CFO and former SNEC treasurer, started the men’s prayer breakfast at SNEC camp meeting. “The women were doing it magnificently, so I spoke with [the conference president] and got help from Jeff Drew at the Village church,” said Murray. “I guess you could say it was the ladies’ idea that we stole!” It’s still going strong and making an impact today. This year the annual prayer breakfast fell on Father’s Day, and guest speaker, Teddy Williamson, presented “The Steps of a Godly Man,” calling men to be the spiritual leaders at home and in their churches.

“We prayed for our families, churches, pastors, leadership, medical needs, elderly parents, and especially our children. A lot of us were in tears over our children, grandchildren, families, and spouses.” said Chuck Benzinger, of the Willimantic SDA church. “We were all holding each other’s shoulders and just unifying as men of the church.”

 The men continued to talk as they enjoyed a spectacular breakfast buffet prepared by a former navy chef and his son.

Women’s Prayer Breakfast:  God Loves a Good Road Trip

At the women’s prayer breakfast, guest speaker, Angela Jackson, took the women on a journey through Biblical stories of travels, because “God Loves a Good Road Trip.”  If you missed it, read through the Bible stories of travel, including Philip who traveled with the Ethiopian eunuch, Saul on the road to Damascus, Elisha as he ran from Jezebel, the two disciples who met the risen Savior while traveling on the road to Emmaus, the prodigal son, then ask yourself, which one of these journeys do I best relate to?  The women also enjoyed a delicious meal catered by The Vegan Nest and the invaluable opportunity to pray together.

The Camp Meeting health fair, a collaboration of SNEC Health Ministries and Bethesda Medical Mission, served at least 75 camp meeting attendees with blood pressure, height and weight, BMI, blood glucose, cholesterol, A1C, oral cancer screenings, and health age assessment. A line formed before the health fair began, showing that people were appreciative of the free medical care and the following consultation that steered them toward healthy habits. But this event also catches medical emergencies. The volunteer health professionals identified someone with extremely low blood sugar--which sent Tom Dombrowski, SNEC Health Ministries coordinator, scurrying to find some food, and another with possible oral cancer, who was referred to a physician. Both SNEC Health Ministries and Bethesda Medical Mission say, "We Care!"    

Dr. Carlton Byrd opened his last sermon, “We’re Gonna Make It,” based on 1 Thes. 4:16, with a story of the classic Byrd family road trip, trying to make it to the next destination without too many stops.  But oh, that dreaded empty gas tank light on the dash. Pastor Byrd prayed silently that he would make it to the next gas station on time and kept reassuring his skeptical daughters, “We’re gonna make it.”  From the Word of God, Byrd showed us how “We’re gonna make it” through the trials of this world to the heavenly kingdom. He shared the heart-breaking details of a traumatic event in his life that has shaped his ministry and is the reason why he shouts, stomps, and raises his voice as he proclaims the gospel of Jesus and His soon coming.

 As Byrd drew near the end of his final sermon at 2026 Camp Meeting, the Holy Spirit moved him to make an unplanned altar call. People responded to the Holy Spirit’s drawing power and five people declared their decision to follow Jesus. Only God knows the stories of all those who responded, but one young man named Daniel, raised in the Adventist church but had wandered away, was hooked when he heard Byrd’s first sermon on Friday night.  The church members who brought him to camp meeting rallied around him the entire weekend, talking, listening and counseling. They brought him to the men’s prayer breakfast where he met more people and was amazed how God brings people together. “It’s not just a coincidence,” Daniel said. “God will put people in your life-- it can be for a split moment-- to just uplift you in a moment where you feel sorrow.” By Sunday night, Daniel was ready to make a decision for Christ. To view the entire sermon, click here United Campmeeting 6/21/2026 Sunday, at time stamp 47.50.