Camp Meeting 2024

Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.

Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.

Whether a weekend or ten days, the focus of the time is strengthening personal faith in Jesus and connecting the community of believers.

We’re going to dive into the following details:

• How camp meetings started
• What Adventist camp meetings are like today
• Why we still hold camp meetings
• Who can attend
• How to find a camp meeting near you

To begin, let’s take a brief tour of its history.

How camp meetings started

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

The first camp meetings, as we know them today, started during a Presbyterian revival in Kentucky in the 1800s. At the time, another Protestant revival, the Second Great Awakening, was early underway.

The event was dubbed a “camp meeting” because the attendees camped out in their wagons and tents.

We don’t know how many attended, but at the same camp meeting the next year, between 20,000 and 30,000 people flocked to hear the preachers.¹

The fervor quickly spread to other denominations, who began holding their own.

Adventists weren’t far behind.

Here’s how their camp meetings came about.

The first General Conference session had been held in 1868, but the people who attended came away disappointed at how business-like and dry it was. They had expected spiritual encouragement.²

James White, one of the founders of the Adventist Church, caught on to the sentiment. After some thinking, he suggested holding a “campmeeting,” an event that would be free from business and focus on spiritual matters.³

His plan was quickly put into action.

A couple months later, in September 1868, the first Adventist camp meeting took place in Wright, Michigan. It drew a crowd of over 2,000—among them James and Ellen White and J. N. Andrews. The meeting was so successful that they planned two more for that year in other states.⁴

Since then, Adventist camp meetings have become annual events across the United States and even the world.

Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.

Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.

Whether a weekend or ten days, the focus of the time is strengthening personal faith in Jesus and connecting the community of believers.

We’re going to dive into the following details:

• How camp meetings started
• What Adventist camp meetings are like today
• Why we still hold camp meetings
• Who can attend
• How to find a camp meeting near you

To begin, let’s take a brief tour of its history.

How camp meetings started

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

The first camp meetings, as we know them today, started during a Presbyterian revival in Kentucky in the 1800s. At the time, another Protestant revival, the Second Great Awakening, was early underway.

The event was dubbed a “camp meeting” because the attendees camped out in their wagons and tents.

We don’t know how many attended, but at the same camp meeting the next year, between 20,000 and 30,000 people flocked to hear the preachers.¹

The fervor quickly spread to other denominations, who began holding their own.

Adventists weren’t far behind.

Here’s how their camp meetings came about.

The first General Conference session had been held in 1868, but the people who attended came away disappointed at how business-like and dry it was. They had expected spiritual encouragement.²

James White, one of the founders of the Adventist Church, caught on to the sentiment. After some thinking, he suggested holding a “campmeeting,” an event that would be free from business and focus on spiritual matters.³

His plan was quickly put into action.

A couple months later, in September 1868, the first Adventist camp meeting took place in Wright, Michigan. It drew a crowd of over 2,000—among them James and Ellen White and J. N. Andrews. The meeting was so successful that they planned two more for that year in other states.⁴

Since then, Adventist camp meetings have become annual events across the United States and even the world.

Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.

Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.

Whether a weekend or ten days, the focus of the time is strengthening personal faith in Jesus and connecting the community of believers.

We’re going to dive into the following details:

• How camp meetings started
• What Adventist camp meetings are like today
• Why we still hold camp meetings
• Who can attend
• How to find a camp meeting near you

To begin, let’s take a brief tour of its history.

How camp meetings started

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

The first camp meetings, as we know them today, started during a Presbyterian revival in Kentucky in the 1800s. At the time, another Protestant revival, the Second Great Awakening, was early underway.

The event was dubbed a “camp meeting” because the attendees camped out in their wagons and tents.

We don’t know how many attended, but at the same camp meeting the next year, between 20,000 and 30,000 people flocked to hear the preachers.¹

The fervor quickly spread to other denominations, who began holding their own.

Adventists weren’t far behind.

Here’s how their camp meetings came about.

The first General Conference session had been held in 1868, but the people who attended came away disappointed at how business-like and dry it was. They had expected spiritual encouragement.²

James White, one of the founders of the Adventist Church, caught on to the sentiment. After some thinking, he suggested holding a “campmeeting,” an event that would be free from business and focus on spiritual matters.³

His plan was quickly put into action.

A couple months later, in September 1868, the first Adventist camp meeting took place in Wright, Michigan. It drew a crowd of over 2,000—among them James and Ellen White and J. N. Andrews. The meeting was so successful that they planned two more for that year in other states.⁴

Since then, Adventist camp meetings have become annual events across the United States and even the world.

Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.

Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.

Whether a weekend or ten days, the focus of the time is strengthening personal faith in Jesus and connecting the community of believers.

We’re going to dive into the following details:

• How camp meetings started
• What Adventist camp meetings are like today
• Why we still hold camp meetings
• Who can attend
• How to find a camp meeting near you

To begin, let’s take a brief tour of its history.

How camp meetings started

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

The first camp meetings, as we know them today, started during a Presbyterian revival in Kentucky in the 1800s. At the time, another Protestant revival, the Second Great Awakening, was early underway.

The event was dubbed a “camp meeting” because the attendees camped out in their wagons and tents.

We don’t know how many attended, but at the same camp meeting the next year, between 20,000 and 30,000 people flocked to hear the preachers.¹

The fervor quickly spread to other denominations, who began holding their own.

Adventists weren’t far behind.

Here’s how their camp meetings came about.

The first General Conference session had been held in 1868, but the people who attended came away disappointed at how business-like and dry it was. They had expected spiritual encouragement.²

James White, one of the founders of the Adventist Church, caught on to the sentiment. After some thinking, he suggested holding a “campmeeting,” an event that would be free from business and focus on spiritual matters.³

His plan was quickly put into action.

A couple months later, in September 1868, the first Adventist camp meeting took place in Wright, Michigan. It drew a crowd of over 2,000—among them James and Ellen White and J. N. Andrews. The meeting was so successful that they planned two more for that year in other states.⁴

Since then, Adventist camp meetings have become annual events across the United States and even the world.

Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.

Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.

Whether a weekend or ten days, the focus of the time is strengthening personal faith in Jesus and connecting the community of believers.

We’re going to dive into the following details:

• How camp meetings started
• What Adventist camp meetings are like today
• Why we still hold camp meetings
• Who can attend
• How to find a camp meeting near you

To begin, let’s take a brief tour of its history.

How camp meetings started

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

The first camp meetings, as we know them today, started during a Presbyterian revival in Kentucky in the 1800s. At the time, another Protestant revival, the Second Great Awakening, was early underway.

The event was dubbed a “camp meeting” because the attendees camped out in their wagons and tents.

We don’t know how many attended, but at the same camp meeting the next year, between 20,000 and 30,000 people flocked to hear the preachers.¹

The fervor quickly spread to other denominations, who began holding their own.

Adventists weren’t far behind.

Here’s how their camp meetings came about.

The first General Conference session had been held in 1868, but the people who attended came away disappointed at how business-like and dry it was. They had expected spiritual encouragement.²

James White, one of the founders of the Adventist Church, caught on to the sentiment. After some thinking, he suggested holding a “campmeeting,” an event that would be free from business and focus on spiritual matters.³

His plan was quickly put into action.

A couple months later, in September 1868, the first Adventist camp meeting took place in Wright, Michigan. It drew a crowd of over 2,000—among them James and Ellen White and J. N. Andrews. The meeting was so successful that they planned two more for that year in other states.⁴

Since then, Adventist camp meetings have become annual events across the United States and even the world.

Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.

Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.

Whether a weekend or ten days, the focus of the time is strengthening personal faith in Jesus and connecting the community of believers.

We’re going to dive into the following details:

• How camp meetings started
• What Adventist camp meetings are like today
• Why we still hold camp meetings
• Who can attend
• How to find a camp meeting near you

To begin, let’s take a brief tour of its history.

How camp meetings started

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

The first camp meetings, as we know them today, started during a Presbyterian revival in Kentucky in the 1800s. At the time, another Protestant revival, the Second Great Awakening, was early underway.

The event was dubbed a “camp meeting” because the attendees camped out in their wagons and tents.

We don’t know how many attended, but at the same camp meeting the next year, between 20,000 and 30,000 people flocked to hear the preachers.¹

The fervor quickly spread to other denominations, who began holding their own.

Adventists weren’t far behind.

Here’s how their camp meetings came about.

The first General Conference session had been held in 1868, but the people who attended came away disappointed at how business-like and dry it was. They had expected spiritual encouragement.²

James White, one of the founders of the Adventist Church, caught on to the sentiment. After some thinking, he suggested holding a “campmeeting,” an event that would be free from business and focus on spiritual matters.³

His plan was quickly put into action.

A couple months later, in September 1868, the first Adventist camp meeting took place in Wright, Michigan. It drew a crowd of over 2,000—among them James and Ellen White and J. N. Andrews. The meeting was so successful that they planned two more for that year in other states.⁴

Since then, Adventist camp meetings have become annual events across the United States and even the world.

Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.

Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.

Whether a weekend or ten days, the focus of the time is strengthening personal faith in Jesus and connecting the community of believers.

We’re going to dive into the following details:

• How camp meetings started
• What Adventist camp meetings are like today
• Why we still hold camp meetings
• Who can attend
• How to find a camp meeting near you

To begin, let’s take a brief tour of its history.

How camp meetings started

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

The first camp meetings, as we know them today, started during a Presbyterian revival in Kentucky in the 1800s. At the time, another Protestant revival, the Second Great Awakening, was early underway.

The event was dubbed a “camp meeting” because the attendees camped out in their wagons and tents.

We don’t know how many attended, but at the same camp meeting the next year, between 20,000 and 30,000 people flocked to hear the preachers.¹

The fervor quickly spread to other denominations, who began holding their own.

Adventists weren’t far behind.

Here’s how their camp meetings came about.

The first General Conference session had been held in 1868, but the people who attended came away disappointed at how business-like and dry it was. They had expected spiritual encouragement.²

James White, one of the founders of the Adventist Church, caught on to the sentiment. After some thinking, he suggested holding a “campmeeting,” an event that would be free from business and focus on spiritual matters.³

His plan was quickly put into action.

A couple months later, in September 1868, the first Adventist camp meeting took place in Wright, Michigan. It drew a crowd of over 2,000—among them James and Ellen White and J. N. Andrews. The meeting was so successful that they planned two more for that year in other states.⁴

Since then, Adventist camp meetings have become annual events across the United States and even the world.

Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.

Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.

Whether a weekend or ten days, the focus of the time is strengthening personal faith in Jesus and connecting the community of believers.

We’re going to dive into the following details:

• How camp meetings started
• What Adventist camp meetings are like today
• Why we still hold camp meetings
• Who can attend
• How to find a camp meeting near you

To begin, let’s take a brief tour of its history.

How camp meetings started

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

The first camp meetings, as we know them today, started during a Presbyterian revival in Kentucky in the 1800s. At the time, another Protestant revival, the Second Great Awakening, was early underway.

The event was dubbed a “camp meeting” because the attendees camped out in their wagons and tents.

We don’t know how many attended, but at the same camp meeting the next year, between 20,000 and 30,000 people flocked to hear the preachers.¹

The fervor quickly spread to other denominations, who began holding their own.

Adventists weren’t far behind.

Here’s how their camp meetings came about.

The first General Conference session had been held in 1868, but the people who attended came away disappointed at how business-like and dry it was. They had expected spiritual encouragement.²

James White, one of the founders of the Adventist Church, caught on to the sentiment. After some thinking, he suggested holding a “campmeeting,” an event that would be free from business and focus on spiritual matters.³

His plan was quickly put into action.

A couple months later, in September 1868, the first Adventist camp meeting took place in Wright, Michigan. It drew a crowd of over 2,000—among them James and Ellen White and J. N. Andrews. The meeting was so successful that they planned two more for that year in other states.⁴

Since then, Adventist camp meetings have become annual events across the United States and even the world.