MEMORiES FROM AN EARly AdvENtiSt CAMP MEEtiNG

56 Pages·2012·5.84 MB·English

April 2012
S
OUTHERN
Memories from an Early Adventist Camp Meeting
Sección En Español
Vantage Point
Southern Union Works for Christ,
Welcomes New
Carolina Conference President
The Southern Union sustains its commitment to inviting our almost 260,000 members
to an intimate relationship with Christ; engagement in the work of introducing members
to Jesus; and intentionally caring for members of the Church across gender, nationalis-
tic, ethnic, and generational lines. The Southern Union territory is proud to have hosted
the North American Division Youth Department’s “Just Claim It” Prayer Conference in
Greensboro, N.C. Thousands of youth and young adults gathered to pray for a more
intimate relationship with our Lord, and for a more powerful and effective youth minis-
try in North America. There has been dynamic evangelistic activity in Mobile, Alabama,
featuring the preaching of Mark Finley, as hundreds of new people have been intro-
duced to Jesus Christ. Ralph Ringer, Jessie Wilson, D.Min., and Southern and Oakwood
universities are engaging in evangelistic initiatives to impact Memphis, Tennessee, for
Jesus. The Adventist Health System and Florida Hospital continue extending the heal-
ing ministry of Christ through “CREATION Health,” and intentional partnership with the
Florida and Southeastern conferences. There are new and exciting initiatives to impact
Tampa, Florida, through the extension of this healing ministry. It gives me a sense of joy
to announce that, more than ever, state and regional conferences are working conjointly
around evangelistic meetings, youth ministry initiatives, and women’s conferences. To
God be the Glory!
Leslie D. Louis, former executive secretary for the Gulf States Conference, who
served more than five years as executive secretary, is the new president of the Carolina
Conference. Louis replaces Jim Davidson, who recently accepted the position of execu-
tive secretary for the Southern Union. Before joining the Gulf States Conference, Louis
was principal of Madison Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.
During his years at Southern Missionary College, (now Southern Adventist Univer-
sity), he was drawn to the teaching ministry. In 1971-72 he spent a year studying theol-
ogy and history at Newbold College in
Ron C. Smith,
England. He completed his B.A. in religion
D.Min., Ph.D.
at Southern in 1973. In 1982, he completed
Southern Union
a master’s degree in education at Andrews
President
University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.
The love of his life, and faithful sup-
porter of his ministry, is his wife, Carole.
She is a nurse working for Medical Out-
reach Ministries. The couple has two adult
children, both graduates of Southern Ad-
ventist University. Their son, Christopher,
along with his fiancée, Rebecka, completed
master’s degrees in English from Andrews
University and are currently teaching Eng-
lish in Korea. Their daughter, Catherine,
and her husband, Greg, are physicians in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
We welcome Leslie D. Louis as the
37th president and leader of the Carolina
Conference.
2 TIDINGS • April 2012
Contents
SOUTHERN
F
Volume 106, No. 4, April 2012 eatures
The Southern Tidings is the Official
Publication of the Southern Union
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Memories from an Early
SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE
Adventist Camp Meeting
3978 Memorial Drive • Mail Address 4
P.O. Box 849, Decatur, Georgia 30031
Telephone [phone]
www.southernunion.com
Staff AHS’s Conference on Mission
Editor R. STEVEN NORMAN III 8
Editorial Assistant IRISENE DOUCE
Circulation BOBBIE MILLBURN
Advertising NATHAN ZINNER
Students Research
Production COLLEGE PRESS
Layout BRIAN WIEHN
Cure for Cancer
9
Contributing Editors
Adventist Health System JULIE ZAIBACK
Carolina RON QUICK
Mountain Bike Trail
CREATION Health LYNELL LAMOUNTAIN
Florida MARTIN BUTLER Added at Cohutta Springs
10
Florida Hospital College RAINEY PARK
Georgia-Cumberland TAMARA WOLCOTT FISHER
Gulf States BECKY GRICE
Hispanic MARIEL LOMBARDI
God’s Calling
Kentucky-Tennessee MARVIN LOWMAN
Oakwood University TIM ALLSTON
11
South Atlantic JAMES LAMB
South Central MICHAEL HARPE
Southeastern ROBERT HENLEY
Southern Adventist University LUCAS PATTERSON OU President Plans Pastoral
Conference/Institution Directory Approach to Campus Leadership 12
CAROLINA [phone]
P.O. Box 44270, Charlotte, NC 28215
FLORIDA [phone]
Cancer Fight Teaches OU
P.O. Box 2626, Winter Park, FL 32790-2626
GEORGIA-CUMBERLAND [phone]
Student Dependence on God
P.O. Box 12000, Calhoun, GA 30703-7001 13
GULF STATES [phone]
P.O. Box 240249, Montgomery, AL 36117
KENTUCKY-TENNESSEE [phone]
P.O. Box 1088, Goodlettsville, TN 37070-1088
s14 Adventist Health System
SOUTH ATLANTIC [phone]
P.O. Box 92447, M.B., Sta., Atlanta, GA 30314 16 Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
SOUTH CENTRAL [phone] w
P.O. Box 24936, Nashville, TN 37202 17 Southeastern
SOUTHEASTERN [phone] 18 Carolina
P.O. Box 1016, Mt. Dora, FL 32756-0056
ADVENTIST HEALTH SYSTEM [phone] 20 Florida
e
111 North Orlando Ave., Winter Park,
22 Georgia-Cumberland
FL 32789-3675
FLORIDA HOSPITAL COLLEGE OF 24 Gulf States
N
HEALTH SCIENCES [phone]
26 Kentucky-Tennessee
671 Winyah Drive., Orlando, FL 32803
OAKWOOD UNIVERSITY [phone] 28 South Atlantic
7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896
30 South Central
SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY
(800) SOUTHERN 32 Southern Adventist University
P.O. Box 370, Collegedale, TN 37315-0370
34 Hispanic
SOUTHERN TIDINGS Volume 106 Number 4, April 2012.
Published monthly by the Southern Union. Free to all mem-
bers. POSTMASTER: send changes of address to Southern 49 Classified Advertising
Tidings, P.O. Box 849, Decatur, GA 30031
[email protected] 52 Announcements/Legal Notices
54 Camp Meeting/Summer Camp Schedule
55 Events Calendar
April 2012 • TIDINGS 3
Cover Feature
Robert Kilgore
4 TIDINGS • April 2012
Memories from an Early
Adventist Camp Meeting
By Tom Carter
Can one Camp Meeting make ing ministers and others. He stated dance, including the Governor.”3
a difference? Recently I found out that the first Adventist Church was Camp Meetings also played an
how much an Austell, Georgia, Camp organized at Bowling Green, Ken- important part in the establishment of
Meeting, held 121 years ago, meant to tucky, and we had only two African- the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It
my family. American churches, which were in was during a Camp Meeting at Bur-
Just last year I realized in a per- Louisville, Kentucky, and Edgewood ton, Maine, that Ellen White gave her
sonal way the impact of such Camp Junction, Tennessee. He was invited young heart to the Lord. Speaking of
Meetings. My cousin, Laverne Kel- to eat a vegetarian meal for the first this experience she wrote: “Soon after
logg, discovered a newspaper in my time. He closed the article: “While the this the Camp Meeting closed and we
aunt’s personal effects after her death. meat was not to be found, I assure started for home. My mind was full of
It was the September 22, 1891, edi- you I ate a hearty supper, and en- sermons, exhortations, and prayers we
tion of the Atlanta Journal Weekly. It joyed it very much. Anybody who will heard….The trees were more beauti-
became obvious that this paper had visit the Seventh-day Adventists will ful and the birds sang more sweetly
been passed down to my aunt from find them as courteous and hospitable than ever before; they all seemed to
my great-grandmother, Lou Vansant, as people can be.”1 be praising the Creator in their songs.”
who joined the Church the next year, Camp Meetings Ellen White was in a few
thus becoming the first Adventist are rooted deeply in
in Douglas County, Georgia. In this the American Reli-
1891 newspaper was an article on gious Experience.
the Adventist Camp Meeting held just “Revivalism [in the
months before she joined the Church. 19th century] was
The article was written by a staff most successfully
correspondent of the Atlanta Journal conducted though
who had never been to an Adventist Camp Meetings.
meeting before. As you can see by Originating with
the picture he made a careful drawing the Presbyterians,
of the Camp Meeting held at Austell, they developed as a
Georgia. Shown on the diagram are Methodist institu-
the sleeping apartments and tents, the tion.”2 One of
boarding hall, the preaching tent, and the largest Camp
the book tent. He described favorably Meetings took
the biblical preaching style with an place right here
interchange of questions and answers in the territory
with the audience. He then told of of the Southern
meeting Robert M. Kilgore, who was Union: “Among
the first superintendent and then-pres- the largest Camp
ident of the southern states, which Meetings was
included our present Southern Union the sacramen-
plus Louisiana. tal meeting at
Elder Kilgore indicated to the Cane Ridge,
Journal correspondent that the Ad- Kentucky, in
ventist world membership at that time August, 1801
stood at 29,711. He also indicated where about
that in the southern states we had 26 25,000 people
churches and 30 employees, includ- were in atten- Lou Vansant
April 2012 • TIDINGS 5
weeks to be baptized by immersion at recommend to our people to hold a Laws, especially in Georgia, Tennes-
the age of 14.4 general Camp Meeting annually at the see, and Pennsylvania.
In 1842, the same year Ellen time of the sessions of our business A July 21, 1912, headline: “Ad-
White was baptized, the Millerite associations.”7 From the very begin- ventists Will Hold Conference - Del-
movement conducted its first Camp ning, Camp Meetings offered not egates From All Over State To Meet
Meetings.5 Leroy Froom describes the only spiritual help and instruction to At Barnesville” [Georgia].10 The
use of Camp Meetings in the Great members, but especially in the 19th following two articles show Camp
Advent Movement: century were evangelistic in nature Meetings were often combined with
“And giant Camp Meetings, aimed at the community.8 Partly as the election of officers. An August 4,
together with tent, grove, and taber- a result of the 1891 Camp Meeting, 1913, article says, “Georgia Adventists
nacle meetings, began to herald the scores of us, Lou Vansant’s descen- Meet At Fort Valley [Georgia] –An-
imminent advent in stentorian tones dants are members of the Adventist nual Camp Meeting and Conference Is
in the 1843 and 1844. Multiplied Church today, not to mention the Being Held In City Of Tents.”11 And a
thousands now openly declared them- many more who are resting from September 3, 1915 article reports on a
selves to be Adventists in expectation. their labors. Since then hundreds of Camp Meeting at Union City, Georgia:
Ministers by the score, some quite other Camp Meetings in the Southern “Willess Re-Elected To Head Adven-
prominent, and coming from all the Union have impacted thousands of tists – Great Crowds Throng Confer-
leading denominations, augmented lives. In examining the archives of ence – Camp Meeting Daily.”12 An
the swelling chorus until its overtones the Atlanta Constitution, I found the August 6, 1913, article also indicates
could be heard all over the land, and evidence of such Camp Meetings. young people were remembered by
even across the seas. It had become The following are a few samples: A a special Camp Meeting Day. The
an amazing movement for the time July 27, 1889, article tells of perhaps headline stated, “Young Folks’ Revival
— 50,000 to 100,000 comprising the the first Adventist Camp Meeting in Held By Adventists.”13
loyal core — with some 500 preachers the Southern Union. The headline is, Atlanta newspapers even refer to
and 1,500 public lecturers proclaiming “The Seventh-day Adventists and the a couple of Camp Meetings in other
its urgent message to all men every- Sabbath – A Minister of the Church states. An August 19, 1927, article
where.”6 Talks of the Persecutions They Have tells of the Lord’s protection over
Five years after the organiza- to Undergo – They will hold Camp what could have been a tragedy. The
tion of the Seventh-day Adventist Meetings.”9 Then it details the harass- headline read, “Woman Struck by
Church, the General Conference took ment of members who are suspected Lightning, Lightly Shocked.”14 It goes
the following action: “Resolved, that of violating Sunday Blue on to tell how this woman was
this Conference preparing for Adventist Camp
Meeting, with her pastor hus-
band, in Charlotte, N.C. The
article continues, “Mrs. Lanier,
sitting on the bed, was struck
by the bolt which rent her
clothing, ripped the bedding
and mattress, and tore off the
foot of the bed. Physicians
attending her tonight charac-
terized her escape from fatal
injury as a ‘miracle.’”15 Finally,
it was reported June 2, 1962,
that Elder Silas McClamb
[who died at 99 in 2010)
would speak at the Atlanta-
Berean Adventist Church
because the pastor, Harold
L. Cleveland, was speaking
at the South Central Camp
Meeting held in Huntsville,
LhLFLoooerafurua vt nh heVVreukana ls1ninebn8 sasK a9aanen1nndl tltdA’o, s a gE tPdllgdasaa o niuWus th lgat oahHh ondetede enbtrsww’a.ls esobA ypf yal aolV m tipohanefien rlttyr,hsh :aac eeHnh ricreitee l. rfd inaI nrnntme eat nrthimh.l i ywesAe whpl plwi oiecfca orttweuusu errreCree iaedt.,h reISeis eearcv emOmennr edbetmhaelii-nabndt ega(sr V ysoh afoeA nlLrdd osav aubetnt yneVt nt)mai sdWnytess o:dfa aoS nttdahhtsl eelw;i reAsh h odMoenv ar eitesenh c ste(eei Visarvtai tegCendhdhs t aau,w narcictnto)hhp d. y AiStsnhlttagareobsrytA nai hnmgwdag vveae eei.rvn1ne 6aa tntii hsnrgties ectC lhr1iuas 9mhtmtihcepe r en ictMmeatsnge petweuh.t ira-tyh-
6 TIDINGS • April 2012
sis. They continue as a great source of
spiritual enrichment to the members
in the various sections of the Southern
Union. They also provide an excel-
lent opportunity to invite our non-
Adventist friends to share in this rich
experience.
Tom Carter is Southern Union
planned giving and trust services director.
1 The Atlanta Journal Weekly,
September 22, 1891.
2 Lars P. Qualben, A History of
the Christian Church, Thomas Nelson
& Sons, New York (1942) p. 542.
These descendants of Lou Vansant were present at the Centennial of the Douglasville,
3 Ibid.
Georgia, Adventist Church in 2009. Laverne Kellogg, who found the article on the 1891
4 Ellen G. White, Christian Experi-
Adventist Camp Meeting, is seated on the far right.
ence and Teachings of Ellen G. White
(1922) pp. 19, 20. 7 Review and Herald, 31:356, May 11 Ibid, August 4, 1913.
5 Francis D. Nichol, The Midnight 26, 1868. 12 Ibid, September 3, 1915.
Cry, Review & Herald Publishing As- 8 See Seventh-day Adventist Ency- 13 Ibid, August 6, 1913.
sociation (1944) pp. 104-112. clopedia, Commentary Series number 14 Ibid, August 19, 1927.
6 Leroy Edwin Froom, The Pro- 10, Washington, (1966) pp. 193, 194 15 Ibid
phetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. IV, 9 The Atlanta Constitution (1881- 16 Atlanta Daily World, (1932-
Washington, Review & Herald Pub- 1943) July 27, 1889. 2003), June 2, 1962.
lishing Association, (1954) p.144. 10 Ibid, July 21, 1912.
Carolina Camp Meeting Memories
Carolina Conference Camp Meeting in 1920
Carolina Conference Camp Meeting in 1947
April 2012 • TIDINGS 7
Adventist Health System Feature
AHS’s Conference on Mission
FoCuSeS on CReATIon HeAlTH
By Julie ZaiBaCk
As a mission-centered and Terry Shaw from Adventist
organization, Adventist Health Health System’s corporate office.
System sets aside time each The Christian Service Award —
year to reflect and collaborate highlighting individuals who
on the guiding force behind provide an outstanding Christian
our work — our mission. The example through compassionate
22nd annual Conference on service to others — was awarded
Mission took place on March to Robyn Edgerton from Flor-
1-3, 2012, in Lake Mary, Flori- ida Hospital Orlando and Ted
da, and was attended by more Hamilton, M.D., from Adventist
than 250 delegates from Ad- Health System’s corporate office.
ventist Health System facilities, The Community Service Award
Seventh-day Adventist union — recognizing individuals who
David Watson (center, left), from Manchester Memo-
conferences, and churches. have made a positive impact on
rial Hospital, received the Community Service Award,
This year’s theme, “CREATION improving the quality of life in
presented by Don Livesay (left), board chairman of
Health: Blessings and Bridges,” Adventist Health System; Dennis Meyers, president of the community they serve —
focused on the possibilities Manchester Memorial Hospital; and Don Jernigan, was presented to Robyn Sandin,
and opportunities inherent in president of Adventist Health System. M.D., from Chippewa Valley
this philosophy as we con- Hospital and David Watson from
tinue to seek to improve the Manchester Memorial Hospital.
lives of those we serve. This The Friday working session
theme resonated from the start was dedicated to the business
of the conference to the culmi- strategy, health promotion, and
nation, when Daniel Jackson, success stories of CREATION
president of the North Ameri- Health. The conference theme
can Division of Seventh-day carried into the Friday night
Adventists, blessed attendees Vespers program where stories
with a restorative Sabbath about the impact of CREATION
sermon. Health were shared. A musical
The conference com- performance by Margie Salcedo
menced on Thursday evening Rice complemented the evening
with the opening session and program.
Robyn Edgerton (center), from Florida Hospital Or-
banquet. The Benjamin F. Reaves lando, received the Christian Service Award, presented Sabbath worship began
Keynote Address was presented by Don Livesay (left), board chairman of Adventist with an engaging lesson by Ted
by Charles Sandefur, vice Health System; Lars Houmann, president of Florida Hamilton, M.D., focusing on the
Hospital; and Don Jernigan, president of Adventist
president of mission and CREATION Health experience.
Health System.
community development for Dan Jackson closed the confer-
Adventist Health Central Valley knowledging individuals for their ence with a restorative Sabbath
Network, on the connection of faith significant contributions to the sermon titled, “Community of Grace.”
and health. Individuals from Adven- advancement of the Adventist health Attendees left this year’s Confer-
tist Health System were honored at care mission and leadership in spe- ence on Mission inspired to weave
the evening’s award ceremony for cific mission-related achievements, CREATION Health into the fabric of
services and efforts that demonstrate projects, and programs, as well as their lives, and the lives of those they
our mission to extend the healing overall spiritual leadership — was serve.
ministry of Christ. presented to Tim Cook from Florida Julie Zaiback, senior communica-
The Crystal Angel Award — ac- Hospital Heartland Medical Center tions specialist, Adventist Health System.
8 TIDINGS • April 2012
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences Feature
Students Research Cure for Cancer
BY RAINEY PARK
With funds from a Florida Hos- ments, and prepare slides for micro- “Having this opportunity to un-
pital grant, Sue Baker, Ph.D., and scopic analysis. derstand at the cellular level exactly
her health and biomedical sciences “We have to watch the cells so how the body responds to medica-
students at Florida Hospital College carefully that we’ve taken to affec- tions is going to give our students a
are researching a cure for cancer. tionately calling them our babies,” huge advantage when they go on to
Their study is based on the hypothe- Snell says. “If someone sees your practice medicine,” Baker says.
sis that a recently discovered protein cells aren’t doing well, they’ll say, It also sharpens their critical
called TWEAK enables cancer tumors ‘Hey, your babies are dying.’” thinking by requiring them to con-
to grow blood vessels, and that if stantly evaluate data, modify proce-
blocked, cancer cells could poten- How It All Works dures, and make decisions based on
tially die. In order to survive, tumors send unexpected results.
“Working on the project is a messages to healthy blood ves- “Suddenly I think like a sci-
thrilling experience because it’s sels asking for nutrient hook-ups. entist,” says Lou Santiago, junior
basically a big puzzle,” says Weston Blood vessels respond by forming a biomedical sciences major. “I’m more
Snell, junior biomedical sciences vast network that feeds and grows analytical and detail-oriented than
major. “You never know what you’re tumors. If their experiments reveal I’ve ever been before.”
going to find when you open up the TWEAK is the message-bearer, stu- Though the grant ends in five
incubator.” dents will move into a second level months, the project will continue.
For the past seven months, Baker of research, exploring ways to starve “Research is never finished,”
has focused on teaching students cancer by intercepting these mes- Baker says. “It’s just due.”
how to grow cells, perform experi- sages.
April 2012 • TIDINGS 9
Georgia-Cumberland Feature
MounTAIn BIke TRAIl Added
AT CoHuTTA SpRIngS
TaMaRa WolCoTT FiSheR
Rob Lang, Cohutta Springs Eric Bray, recreation director
Youth Camp director, has un- at Cohutta Springs Conference
dertaken another new project Center, have worked to smooth
for summer camp, a six-mile out the trail operating a mini
mountain bike trail. excavator and mini skid steer.
“Cohutta Springs has 750 The key, says Lang, is to create
acres of unbelievable beautiful the trail so water drains natu-
property,” said Lang. “A lot of rally.
it has to do with hills, moun- According to Olivier Le-
tain and streams, and forest. maitre, Cohutta Springs Confer-
Its extremely beautiful, but it ence Center executive director,
is also beautiful because it is the mountain bike trail will be
pretty rough. It is difficult to get available to guests and visitors
Rob Lang talks with Andy Sowell, trail dozer operator.
out and see a lot of it, so for a who bring their own mountain
Lang is coordinating the six-mile mountain bike trail
number of reasons this trail has bikes. “A fee will be charged to
soon to be available at Cohutta Springs.
been on my to-do list for six to the trail users, simply to keep
seven years.” the trails up and improve the
Lang says there are three get of $30,000. “We are designing the quality of this system. An an-
reasons for building the Cohutta trail so that up to 80 percent of the nual pass may also be offered,” said
Springs Trail Project: One, to open population can ride mountain bikes, Lemaitre. The trail will be available
the door to the beauty of the Cohu- with three to five percent overall in May for use.
tta wilderness. Two, Cohutta Springs slope which is considered be-
Youth Camp has an environment for ginner type trails,” said Lang.
exercise and well being, and it goes Jim Johnson, civil engi-
well with the “Fit for Life” program neer, helped Lang with the
offered each summer. It will also re- trail layout. Lang marked the
introduce the summer mountain bike trail with flags, and a group of
program. And three, there is a strong volunteers came through with
nature emphasis at camp, and they chain saws to clear away fallen
plan to label trees, plants, and fauna trees. “We were able to save
in the near future. virtually all of our mature trees.
The Cohutta Springs Trail Project We are tree lovers,” said Lang.
is possible due to the donations of “Once the corridor is cut, the
anonymous donors, and has a bud- trail dozer comes in.” Lang and
10 TIDINGS • April 2012