Welcome Home to United Camp Meeting!

Friday, June 19

Did you know . . .

100+ dedicated employees and volunteers--from teens to seasoned conference employees--have been working from early this year to prepare for camp meeting, all waiting to welcome, assist and serve the camp meeting family as they arrive.

52 RVs registered to attend camp meeting and started to roll in on Friday.

95 brown conference tents have been reserved (almost filled to 100% capacity).

Only 5 sites in the personal tents section remain empty.

1 God in heaven loves us beyond measure. We are much more than a number to Him!

Mission Story: SNEC Korean Ministry is breaking down walls and making bridges to the community with ukeleles and lots of God’s love. Pastor Kim reported that every Wednesday a group gathers to sing hymns and play ukeleles and invites the community to join.  The non-Adventists who participate testified glowingly of the warmth and love they feel.  The highlight of this testimony was a concert with 10 Korean women playing ukeleles and singing praise to God.   That’s just one of our bridges to the community, says Pastor Kim.  They also conduct cooking classes, a Korean language school, and an AI class and barefoot walking class for senior citizens.  Kim said, “All bridges lead home to Jesus Christ!”

Meet the Praise Team!

We’re pleased to introduce our new camp meeting music director and pianist, Ilana Cady Zonicle, and the camp meeting praise team, a group of diverse and gifted musicians who have dedicated their talents to praising God and sharing His love with the world. 

Brandon Bautista, on electric guitar, is from the Crosswalk New England SDA Church. “I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13, but I didn’t really get involved in music ministry until I was 25,” he shared. Since then, he has used his God‑given talent to glorify His name.

Jorge Lorenzo, one of the lead vocalists, also plays piano. He and his wife, Yailin Rodriguez, also a vocalist, are from Cuba and members of the Leominster Spanish Church. They’ve each been singing since they were four or five years old and have been making music together since before their marriage nearly nine years ago. As composers and writers, they sing in many groups and work on various music projects — all driven by their love for God and their desire to praise Him.

 Yaliza Rodriguez, a vocalist, has been singing since she was eight years old, and by the age of twelve she was already part of worship at both the Spanish and English camp meetings. “It’s been part of my whole life,” she shares — and her passion for praising God continues to shine every time she sings.

Bernard Sainfort, on saxophone, from the Haitian SDA church in Malden, MA, plays anywhere he’s needed but always in church.

Marcos Mendes, on electric bass, has played since he was 10 years old.  “I play by ear,” he’s quick to explain. He also plays guitar, bass, and the cavaquinho, a 4-stringed, traditional Brazilian instrument.

Adam Fernandez, on drums, grew up attending camp meeting every year. “This is my first time playing for the main service,” he shared. “It’s crazy seeing myself grow and be part of the service now. It’s cool.” Adam plays drums, piano, and bass at Redemption Community SDA Church, and he encourages everyone to “keep praying and keep thanking God every day.”

Leif Torres, on acoustic guitar, is a proud Puerto Rican named after explorer Leif Erickson by his history‑teacher father. He is also a vocalist and plays bass and some piano at the Leominster Spanish Church. Leif sang and played in many groups, beginning with his family when he was fourteen.

Kristie Stevenson, one of the lead vocalists, is from the College SDA Church and has been singing since age five. No stranger to camp meeting worship, she has already coordinated SNEC camp meeting music for eight years. She loves serving in this role, saying simply, “It’s my honor.”

Weekend Guest Speaker: Carlton Byrd, President of the Southwest Regional Conference and Former Speaker/Director Breath of Life Television Ministries

On Friday night, June 19, Carlton Byrd welcomed camp meeting attendees with fresh, Holy Spirit-filled preaching on the parable of the 10 virgins.   “We have the Holy Spirit,” Byrd intoned, “we just don’t have enough.” In the book of Acts, they didn’t have all the resources we have today, but they had the Holy Spirit.  That’s why they grew.

Byrd illustrated this concept with a new, loaded Mercedes Benz car—impressive, desirable, but without gas, you aren’t going anywhere.  The Christian life runs on Holy Spirit, not more organization or resources.  But we have to ask for it. When the Holy Spirit shows up, the fruits of the Spirit show up.  The Holy Spirit is always in harmony with the Bible, always convicts rather than condemns, and points to sin then towards restoration.

In another memorable illustration, Byrd described the Holy Spirit as the hand in the glove.  We are the glove, and when the hand gets inside the glove, the glove can do anything the hand desires. By ourselves, we are that empty glove.  But when the Holy Spirit gets inside, ordinary people can do the extraordinary.

In yet another insightful illustration, Byrd described a hospital with many patients dependent on life support systems.  He once asked a nurse, “What happens to these people during a power-outage?”  She showed him the room with a generator in it.  In an emergency, the power comes from within, not some outside source. We are safe!

In an appeal to church members to be dependent on God not man, Byrd said, “I’m tired of churches with batteries not included! Pray for yourselves!”

“We’ve come to camp meeting for good singing, good sermons, and of course haystacks,” Byrd concluded, “but I hope you’ve come to seek the Holy Spirit.”