United Camp Meeting: Day 2

Sandra Dombrowski
Jun 22
4 min read

On the first Sabbath of United Camp Meeting 2025, Southern New England Conference (SNEC) celebrated the ordination of Richardson Desire, Fredo Ignace, Jonathan Nino, and Abraham Perez in a special service with their wives on Sabbath, June 21. Conference administration and a platform full of fellow SNEC pastors laid hands on the candidates, asking God to pour out His Spirit on them.

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Thumbnail summaries of Friday night, Sabbath and Saturday night sermons in the main pavilion with links to YouTube recordings
Excerpts from SNEC President Bob Folkenberg, Jr.'s address to the ordained pastors
More photos

John McVay, president of the Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the main speaker for Friday night, Sabbath morning and Saturday night, reminded SNEC that we are living in the post-Pentecost era and Jesus Christ is still on the throne of the cosmos.

Friday night, June 20, with John McVay: What happens when God calls your name? The interrogator is interrogated; the hunter becomes the hunted. Amazingly, it is all part of God’s powerful plan that brings the good news of salvation to the world. What will happen when God calls your name? Click here for the rest of the story: English Campmeeting June 20 2025. McVay’s sermon starts at 1:03:10. This is John McVay’s first of three sermons from the book of Acts that powerfully and creatively remind us that we are living in the post-Pentecost era and God is still pouring out His Spirit and calling us to oneness in Jesus.

Sabbath morning, June 21, with John McVay: The cynical, angry religious leaders were no match for this man’s Bible-based testimony. While he preached God’s Word, he glowed. He looked like an angel because he had been hanging out with them and had an HD image of Jesus plastered across the pixels of his heart. What gave him the courage to preach a sermon that was his death sentence? Click here to find out: English Campmeeting June 21 2025 Morning. McVay’s sermon starts at 2:24:20.

Saturday night, June 21, with John McVay: Follow God’s ever-ready, cross-cultural evangelist on an exciting mission. When you learn about this New Testament disciple, you will be compelled to ask yourself, “Why am I here? What is my purpose? Am I ready for divine appointments?” Never forget that the best cross-cultural evangelists are the ones who know they need Jesus. Click here to watch the entire sermon: English Campmeeting June 21 2025 Evening. McVay's sermon starts at 51:02.

Ordination:

Southern New England Conference (SNEC) celebrated the ordination of Richardson Desire, Fredo Ignace, Jonathan Nino, and Abraham Perez in a special service with their wives on Sabbath, June 21. Conference administration and a crowd of fellow SNEC pastors laid hand on the candidates, asking God to pour out His Spirit on them. SNEC’s first lady, Audrey Folkenberg, shared words of encouragement and recognition to the wives, and the SNEC Ministerial Spouses Association presented each wife with a bouquet of flowers and gifts.

Following are excerpts from President Bob Folkenberg’s address to the ordination candidates and worthy advice for all followers of Christ:

· Ministry begins not with confidence in ourselves, but with the wonder that God would choose to use us.

· “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.” John 15:16.

· God doesn’t call us because we’re perfect. He calls us because He’s perfect. He doesn’t send you out empty — He fills you with His Spirit. “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:5.

· Ministry is not about our ability; it’s about our availability. It’s not about how strong we are — it’s about how surrendered we are.

· Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself — it’s thinking of yourself less. It’s knowing that without Jesus, we can do nothing. But with Him, all things are possible.

· “In the work of soul saving, great tact and wisdom are needed. The Savior’s example should be carefully studied and His methods faithfully copied. The meekness and lowliness of Christ are to be seen in all that is done.” Ministry of Healing, p. 473.

· Ministry is not about titles. It’s about towels. Remember how Jesus took the towel and washed His disciples’ feet?

· You won’t always have the answers. You won’t always have the strength. But you will always have Jesus because our faith, our calling, our mission is about a Person -- the Messiah Jesus Christ!

· The Holy Spirit will guide your preaching, your counseling, your leadership, your relationships. Don’t rely on your own energy — rely on heaven’s power. “The presence of the Spirit with God’s workers will give the proclamation of truth a power that not all the honor or glory of the world could give,” Acts of the Apostles, p. 56.

· Lean on the Spirit. Walk with Jesus. Stay rooted in the Word and never stop growing.

· Remember, your greatest sermons may not be from a pulpit, but from a hospital room, a kitchen table, a quiet prayer with a broken soul.

· Stay humble. Stay teachable. Stay faithful. Let this promise carry you forward: “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus,” Philippians 1:6.