United Kingdom
Camp Meeting 2009

Sunday, July 19

The United Kingdom Camp Meeting 2009 opened on Sunday, July 19, with a presentation by the Sunday school children which centered on this year’s camp theme, “Bring Them (Here) Unto Me.” The devotional service that followed began with soul-stirring renditions by the combined choir and orchestra. Various messages of goodwill from across the world were read. The sermon on “Seeking the Lost” was given by the Apostolic Faith Superintendent General, Reverend Darrel Lee.

The afternoon featured a young adult service. The London youth choir has grown recently as a result of the youth camp revival earlier in the year and young people from other locations joined them. They sang beautifully. Ronke Aina of Aberdeen, Scotland, gave the message from Psalm 1:8. She admonished that the Lord expects us all to be in season all the time and to have deep roots in Him. The service concluded with an altar call.

At the revival service in the evening, there was an atmosphere of true fellowship as we sang “The More We Are Together.” It provided an opportunity to meet delegates from different parts of the world. There were many uplifting testimonies. James Tifase from Lagos, Nigeria, preached the sermon on how the Lord calms our contrary winds. He admonished us that storms come so that we can focus on Jesus Christ. A great altar service followed the sermon.

Monday, July 2 
Reverend Isaac Adigun, the host pastor, delivered the first teaching about “Divine Requirements,” using Micah 6:8 for his text. He reminded the congregation that as there are requirements for filling temporal positions, there are also requirements for meeting God’s standards, one of which is holiness, “without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
 
At the beginning of the evening meeting, all newcomers to the United Kingdom Camp Meeting were given a special welcome. For the sermon, Molthabani Kermowole, from Lagos, Nigeria, took his text from Acts 16:16-27. He advised against becoming entangled with the affairs of the world, which could, in the manner of a python, squeeze the life out of the spiritual man. A wonderful altar service followed, with people desperately wanting to be set free from sin. Many were saved and sanctified.

Tuesday, July 21

Reverend Lee began his teaching on “Fellowship” by reading 1 John 1:5-9.  He expounded on the point that the fellowship we experience in the Gospel is a result of the common experience that we have in Christ. It is not the same as a business partnership, a community, or even a family relationship. He stressed that our fellowship is not the Apostolic Faith fellowship, but the Bible faith fellowship. The basic doctrines of salvation, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost are Bible doctrines. The altar call was made as we were all admonished to become part of this fellowship.

Taking his Scripture from Luke 24:44-49, Daniel Oladele of Atlanta, Georgia, preached about “The Power of God in Our Lives.” He told the congregation that in order to be able to work for the Lord, we need the power of God in our lives. When we have the power of God, obedience to God’s laws and standards becomes easy. 

Wednesday, July 22

The morning was left as free time to allow us to relax, rest, go shopping, sight-seeing, or pray.

In the afternoon, we enjoyed children’s church. We listened to a delightful repertoire of pieces by the children’s choir and we heard wonderful testimonies. It was touching to hear how the little children appreciate the work of God in their lives. Trina Paulsen from Portland, Oregon, gave the object lesson. Using the account of David and Goliath, she taught the children (and the adults) that they are never too small, too weak, or too young to be used by God. She also used her testimony and Jessica Musgrave’s (also from Portland) to encourage the children that they can be saved at a young age. Trina concluded by using the account of the boy and his lunch of five loaves and two fishes, to teach the lesson that the Lord can miraculously multiply something that is seemingly small. The children prayed at the altar and had a good time seeking the Lord. The M&Ms that were used as part of the illustration were a great treat for the children after the service.

To open the evening service, the choir sang “Blessed Be the Name of the Lord.” Delegates from Scotland, Spain, Finland, and France sang “Shine, Jesus Shine” for the first special.

Testimony time was extraordinary. Esther Olayiwola from London, speaking on behalf of the young people, hijacked the testimony service to give a special appreciation to the pastor, Reverend Adigun, for his support of them. While the tribute was being read, single red roses were distributed to the officiating ministers, and a bunch of roses was presented to Reverend Adigun. The young people also thanked the congregation for their support, and solicited their prayers so that they would become youths after God’s heart, and uphold the Gospel. It was a seminal moment which reduced the pastor and many others to tears. Reverend Adigun was nearly speechless after the presentation and could only say that he did not at all regret accepting the call to be the pastor for the London church. Ola Balogun, also from London, gave the message on “Spiritual Vision” using Acts 26:19 as his main text. It was very appropriate in view of the young peoples’ recognition that there is a mantle of leadership being handed to them to keep the light of the Gospel burning bright. We all went to our knees following the sermon, asking the Lord to give us a greater vision.

Thursday, July 23

Thursday morning brought the teaching about the “Second Coming of Christ” by James Tifase. He enjoined everyone to do everything possible to prepare for this inevitable event by constantly making sure that their standing is right with God when the Rapture takes place.

For the revival service in the evening, Reverend Frank Matthews from St. Vincent preached using the theme of the camp meeting, “Bring Them (Here) Unto Me,” telling the congregation to bring all their inadequacies and problems before the Lord, and He would undertake for them. Reverend Matthews also reminded us of the little boy with five loaves and two pieces of fish, saying that even the smallest talents and gifts we have can be multiplied a hundredfold to bring glory to God’s name.

Friday, July 24

The morning service opened with a flute solo by Olos Irenda, from London, entitled “All Must Be Well.” Reverend Lee continued his teaching on “Fellowship,” reiterating that doctrine is the basis of our faith and fellowship.

The choir opened the revival service with an enthusiastic rendition of “Our God Is Marching On,” before the sermon by Daniel Oladele on “Faith.” He described faith as obedience to the Word of God. He reminded the congregation that many have lost their lives so that others could have the Gospel. Christians need to pray that God would increase their faith and give them similar faith to Caleb and Joshua.

Saturday, July 25

On Saturday morning, all the saints observed the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and the Washing of the Disciples’ Feet. It was a time of self-examination and communion with the Lord. It was also a time of asking for God’s leading hand. In the afternoon, the ordinance of Water Baptism was observed by those who were either saved during the camp meeting or were saved before but had not had a chance to observe the ordinance.

The revival service in the evening was rousing and a fitting end to the revival services of Camp Meeting 2009.

Sunday, July 26

The final meeting of Camp Meeting 2009 had a presentation by the Sunday school children as they reminded us of some of the major points to be taken away from this year’s convention. They bade farewell to delegates from eleven different countries.

The sermon preached by Reverend Lee looked at life as a journey with a beginning and an end. He related this to the Christian journey which begins at salvation and would end at the Rapture, the “catching away” of overcoming saints to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. He encouraged his listeners to make every effort to be worthy of being with the Lord at that event.