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Doubled attendence at 2nd Camp Meeting

Posted on Aug 06, 2010

See a 3 minute video report or take a look at the photo gallery.

Travelling to Newmarket-on-Fergus through a mixture of rain and sun the theme, "A Shelter in a Time of Storm," seemed more than apt for Irish Mission members, many currently experiencing job insecurity and unemployment.  With double the attendance of last year, the second annual Irish Mission Camp meeting, Friday 30 July – Monday 3 August was in true Irish style.  Not for them the comforts of chalets on a Pontin's-like site.  This was outdoors, under canvas, on the Adventist-owned Kilnasooloagh site, with a great spirit of warmth and camaraderie.  Why did avid caravaner, Pat Lynam, return for a second time?  "It's meeting the people. The worship is very good".

 Pastor Ian Sweeney - with formidable Irish roots - used the ancient book of Judges to connect with the theme. His Sabbath morning sermon "We need a Hero" reached deep into the hearts of the worshippers who had gathered from across the mission. None more so than in the lives of Shamus and Liam (from Waterford), Keith Harvey (from Dublin), Emmanuel Ugwueze and Olga Lomak (from Newmarket). To witness their commitment to their new 'Hero', they were baptised in the Kilnasoolagh garden baptistery.  Olga, whose daughter was baptised last year, actually flew back from Moldova because Camp Meeting is the place where she gave her life to Christ.  Despite opposition from her atheist husband, he was there for the weekend and participated in the services.

You cannot run a camp meeting exclusive of health matters – and the children got the best deal. They participated in a "Jesus' Kids in the Kitchen" holiday club aiming to help children explore how their bodies work, and to show how God has made them unique and special.  In the Kilnasooloagh Kitchen bright young minds experienced the delights of 'Daniel food'. While such may sound a bit corny, there's more than enough reasons to get health principles across at an early age - a health and education philosophy encouraged by both the UK and Irish governments. The heart pumping activity for both adults and children consisted of a morning aerobics class and a Sunday afternoon football match.  This is important for at least one Adventist parent. Coming from a small, isolated church he felt it showed his children that there is a "wider Adventist community out there." It also gave him the opportunity to socialise and bounce ideas back and forth with other members.

The Irish, in friendly manner, call recent immigrants 'New Irish'. A few years ago a 'New Irish' member from Dublin made a request. "Pastor, the Irish Mission needs a Camp Meeting –when can we have one"? The pastor gave a broad smile and suggested helpfully that since Prestatyn, home of the SEC Camp Meeting, was not too far away across the Irish Sea, the required need could be well served there.  However, the pastor reflected on this humble request and began to wonder, "An Irish Mission Camp meeting? Could it be done? How and where? And with what resources - for there isn't a Pontin's or its like on the island of Ireland!"  At about the same time as the request, consideration was being given as to how best use a property gifted by the Emerald Foundation (USA) with a house and 6 acres of land.  The rest is history – and although the marquee size was increased for this year, it looks like it will have to expand again in 2011.

So what's the Irish Mission Camp Meeting 'X factor'? The people of course – young and old, home-grown and new Irish worshipping, praying, studying and playing together. For one of the 'new Irish' it was "having time for God away from home." For her it was important to spend a few days sharing the Word of God, testimonies and the whole country atmosphere away from Dublin. Add to that the extra mile the pastoral team and their wives went to serve their members; the volunteer cooks who strove to supply wholesome food.  What if this annual event became a catalyst for Irish Mission unity encouraging true revival and reformation? What if the programme continued to be designed in such a way that both home-grown and 'new Irish' members would always identify with it?  That would be a huge 'X factor' and well worth working towards. But for now, for this year's camp meeting at least, let the pictures, and the video, tell the story…

[David Neal/BUC News]