Camp Meeting

“Those who welcomed [Peter’s] message were baptized, and that day about 3000 persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:41-42)

In the early 1800s, the American frontier was an untamed, unruly wilderness.  But the Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians soon found a way to reach the rugged frontier people with God's message of salvation: “Revivalism” with its hallmark, the CAMP MEETING, soon spread throughout the region. 

Hundreds (often thousands) of people would gather together from all parts of a territory to shout, sing, pray, and hear rousing preaching and personal testimony.  Often all of these would be going on at the same time in different parts of the camp, and people would drift from one speaker to another, listening and joining in whenever the Spirit led.  People would eat, sleep, and pray together under a tent or log-cabin often for weeks on end, and masses were turned away from sin and to Christ.

While it’s true that there are not as many real “Camp Meetings” around today, our church is blessed to continue to be part of one (Marietta Camp Meeting) that has been integral to our very history.  In fact, many years ago, our church actually developed out of one of the great revivals that took place there, and for many years we were known as “Campground Methodist Church.”

To honor this great heritage and tradition, Sunday July 28^th we join with our spiritual “parents” at Marietta Campground to worship under the arbor across the street in ONE COMBINED 11am SERVICE (no 9:30am service), complete with old favorite hymns, informal dress, revival-style preaching, and great fellowship.

Like the early settlers of Cobb County, I hope you will take time to discover God’s blessings and inspiration as we celebrate both our heritage and that of many Christians today through “Camp Meeting”!  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!