The third annual Dominican Republic camp meeting took place July 24-27 with the theme “El Camino de la Fe,” which means, “The Path of Faith.” Brethren joined from thirteen church locations to seek God, strengthen the bonds of Christian fellowship, and be encouraged to continue walking this path of faith. From the start, there was a spirit of prayer, and campers of all ages sought God.

The first service on Thursday evening began with a time of prayer, followed by a warm welcome from Deivys Pichardo, the Dominican Republic District Superintendent. He challenged everyone to progress spiritually by the close of the meetings. Then the congregation enjoyed uplifting songs and testimonies. For the message, Ruben Henry Gilfillan, the pastor at El Brisal, took his text from Psalm 115. Speaking on the sovereignty of God who can do all things, he said the camp meeting would bring great blessings to those who exercise faith in Him. A special time of prayer followed with many hungry hearts crying out to God.

The next morning, a Bible study was held on the topic of “Consecration and Worship.” Then, in the afternoon, Andres Pichardo, the Haina pastor, gave a teaching on “Salvation.” He said salvation is initiated by God, received by faith in Jesus, and manifested in a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. That evening, Heriberto Martinez, the pastor at Residencial Romana, preached from Acts 1:1-4 and encouraged all that this is “The Age of the Holy Spirit.” The prayer meeting that followed was marked by an atmosphere of faith. One seeker received salvation, and two were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Saturday was full of unforgettable moments. In the morning, the saints celebrated as three individuals were baptized in water, publicly testifying of their faith in Christ. It was a time filled with God’s presence.

In the afternoon, the second annual “National Youth and Adolescent Rally” had a theme of “Making a Difference” and inspired the younger campers to share their faith with others. At the same time, a ministers’ meeting took place, fortifying leaders to continue in the work of the Lord. During the meeting, several were appointed to new leadership roles and were prayed over by the board members and elders. Among these, Pedro Coplin was ordained as the pastor of the Samana church and Maria Johnson was appointed as a minister there. Also, Juan Carlos was appointed to lead the new El Valle chapel and Maria Kelly to lead the new Coyote chapel, both in Samana.

The late afternoon was filled with excitement as the children and teens participated in competitions aimed toward teaching them Christian values and habits. The games allowed them to share their Bible knowledge, practice applying Biblical principles, and learn to make wise decisions when facing challenges. The day concluded with a youth concert in which all age groups participated by singing hymns in various choirs. Throughout the evening, there was an atmosphere of worship.

The camp meeting closed with a “Thanksgiving Service” on Sunday morning. It featured beautiful music and testimonies of blessings received during the week. In addition, a change in national youth leadership was announced and two were anointed and prayed over before taking on their new roles. Nelson de la Cruz, Jr., became the new National Youth Superintendent and Sister Deyanira the Deputy Superintendent. The service continued with a message from Hebrews 12:1-2, which includes: “. . . let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith . . .” It was a good send-off and brought the brethren to the altars of prayer.  

God’s presence was felt throughout the camp meeting, and miracles were wrought. Many who attended received blessings such as their foundational Christian experiences, healing, spiritual renewal, and other gifts that come from God while walking in “The Path of Faith.”