Reflecting on our United Regional Camp Meeting Services
Earlier this month, we completed our five regional United Camp Meeting services across the Virginia. Each service was marked by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and as always, our times of gathering brought a sense of joy and togetherness.
One of the purposes of coming together is the reminder that when we are united in one place, we are drawn closer to being truly of one accord. Acts chapter two makes plain that it is the responsibility of the church to work diligently toward unity of heart, passion, and mission. It is this unity that opens the door for the Holy Spirit to move, not only in our camp meeting services, but in our churches in the weeks, months, and years ahead.
The theme this year was “Return to and Restore the Altar”. In modern church culture, our times of gathering together for church services are often brief and hurried. In this rushed environment, we can inadvertently limit the opportunity for congregations to worship the Lord freely, hear the Word with open hearts, and ultimately respond to it in a meaningful way. It is in this response that one-on-one encounter with God in his presence, where real work is done, because this response requires movement, decision, and surrender.
At our United Camp Meetings, altars were filled as pastors, leaders, and congregations alike knelt to hear the Holy Spirit, draw close to Him, and respond to this call. Surrender at the altar, as we were reminded, is not limited to a Sunday morning event. This surrender happens anywhere, at any moment, when we set apart to stop, be still, and allow God to shape and mold us into the image of Christ. It is a place of sacrifice, where revival begins.
We left these services with full hearts. The blessings were many, the moves of the Spirit were real, and the testimonies that came out of those nights reminded us of why we gather- renewed sense of purpose, breakthroughs, and encouragement as the Church Body came together, United in the call to commit to this Return to the Altar. We are grateful, we are encouraged, and we are expectant. The best is still ahead.
