July found the Gladstone Park (Ore.) campground abuzz with activity as thousands gathered for Gladstone Camp Meeting. This year’s theme of "Loving Well" had young and old learning how to love better, whether by lending a helping hand, a listening ear, a smile or an encouraging word.
You can relive camp meeting again, or experience it for the first time, by seeing photos, videos, audio recordings and more at the Oregon Conference website: www.OregonAdventist.org.
Gladstone Camp Meeting 2020 will happen July 16–18 (Spanish) and July 21–25 (English). See you there!
In the kids’ divisions, youngsters found themselves in a space-themed wonderland as they learned about God’s plan for them. From songs and crafts to the much-loved water slide and obstacle course, kids learned just how much Jesus loves them and how they can share His love with others.
Charles White was one of more than 40 speakers who presented at Gladstone this year. White, great-grandson of James and Ellen White, shared stories of the White family from the perspective of a family member, dispelling myths and sharing unique insights and memories. You can hear all of this year’s seminars and workshop on the Oregon Conference website at oregonadventist.org/podcasts.
Last December, Oregon Conference staff started collecting items for Embrace Oregon welcome boxes. As the months went on, area churches, members and many others joined in bringing crayons, stuffed animals and night lights for boxes that help make a new foster child’s life just a tiny bit better. On Sabbath afternoon at camp meeting, it all came together as kids in the Children’s Amphitheater worked to put the boxes together while learning more about how they can love those around them a little better. Visit embraceoregon.org to learn more about this very special project.
“We all come to camp meeting every year like the children of Israel in the desert,” Carlene says. “We park our trailers or pitch our tents and go to the meetings, often without even talking to the people in the space next door. I decided to change that, to get people together where tea and cookies make for friendship.” Carlene shared 400 invitations to her Friendship Tea at camp meeting, and people streamed in after the evening meeting on Thursday to share in a cup of tea, a cookie (or two) and meet someone they hadn’t had the pleasure of talking to before.
Gladstone Today celebrated its second year sharing the goings-on of Gladstone Camp Meeting each day before the evening service in the Plaza Pavilion. It was both livestreamed and archived so you can watch each day’s episode, along with all of the programs that happened in the Plaza Pavilion (big tent), on the Oregon Conference website at oregonadventist.org/videos.
On Sabbath, U.S. military veterans made their way to the conference office for a special afternoon gathering just for them. The space filled well beyond capacity as connections were made and recognition was given to those who have shown their love for others in extraordinary ways.
In the Holden Center, young adults worshipped together with praise, music and words as Alina and Martin van Rensburg, Shantel Smith, and Kaleb Eisele hosted conversations that led to a deeper understanding of what it means to love others as we love ourselves. Extra chairs were needed as seating filled and standing room along the walls became hard to find.
