By Hubert Harriman
As part of the Central Washington Holiness Association, Entiat Valley Family Camp in Washington state, like so many others across the country, has been a place of renewal for many lives over the years. Nestled in Entiat Valley on the more arid, eastern side of the Cascade Mountains, this camp not only has the beauty of location but also has been faithful to hold up the beauty of holiness for over 90 years. An “old timer” remembered when my own grandfather, Hubert Mardock, for whom I was named, was the evangelist there many years ago. And what is remembered most is how God has met with them over those years.
God graciously met with us again at this camp meeting (July 8–14). Children were ministered to by an excellent children’s worker, youth were challenged by committed youth leaders, hearts were moved by Brandon and Izumi Kuba’s (missionaries to Japan with WGM) presentations, and God’s word was readily received in Bible studies and preaching services. It had all the ingredients of a vital camp meeting experience, and I was struck with how important each of these are to Christian experience:
1. Memories
One cannot have a camp meeting time together without creating precious memories revolving around camp friends, camp fellowship, camp food, and camp fun—all loaded into one week of great activities. We need this!
2. Messages
Camps like this are very purpose driven. They want an evangelist who will preach the Word of God to them and bear down on essential truths that make an eternal difference. We need this!
3. Markers
Camp meetings are places where people can find an altar that will mark them for the rest of their lives, becoming that marker that they will always go back to and say “God met me there!” We need this!