By Rajmund Dabrowski – Casper, Wyoming … Walking through the campus of Mills Spring Ranch at the end of the 2022 “Bold for Christ” camp meeting, July 12-16, two members reflected on the annual gathering of church members from Wyoming. “This was the best camp meeting we’ve attended,” they said. Likely, the 200 participants, including youth, would agree.
When asked about his own reflection on the 2022 event on Casper Mountain, Steve Nelson, pastor of the Worland district in Wyoming remarked: “This year’s camp meeting was a spiritual high point for Wyoming. God’s presence was truly felt through the music, speakers, and fellowship together! We are so grateful for our members and churches here in this awesome state!”
Conversations after each presentation expressed appreciation for the presenters. The organizers invited Mic Thurber, RMC president, and Dr. Joseph Kidder, professor of pastoral theology and discipleship at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan as well as seminar presenters Ron Price, conflict resolution expert and author from Farmington, New Mexico and Dr. Timothy J. Arnott from RMC Lifestyle Center in Denver, Colorado.
Commenting on the Casper Mountain convocation, Mic Thurber said, “Both Jana and I especially loved Wyoming camp meeting this year! We’ve visited in the past and always loved the people who came, the incredible setting, and the family atmosphere we experienced there. We found all those same things to be true this year when we attended for the first time as leaders in Rocky Mountain.
“Our main speaker, Dr. S. Joseph Kidder, was absolutely right when he said that this camp meeting is one of the hidden gems in the church. We can’t wait until next year!”
Dr. Kidder is a storyteller. His illustrations and honest assessment of church life invited
the audience to reflect on their own spirituality and quality of worship. “We have lost our enthusiasm to worship God,” he pointed out.
“Silence is not an indication that you are worshiping God,” he added.
Jeff Pike, pastor of the Western Wyoming district, is 24 years old, but has attended 15 Wyoming camp meetings, he says. “Things have come together at this camp meeting very well. The most impressive is the youth program with the stories I have been hearing about how they have been impacted spiritually and how they have been drawn in and connected with Scripture.”
He was impressed by Dr. Kidder’s personal testimony on Sabbath where he gave a modern-day demonstration of the power of God. It was a “really powerful reminder for us [as] we read the Bible stories, but sometimes they can be so distant that we may get the idea of God not acting in the same way today, so it’s very much encouraging to hear how God is still very much alive today, actively seeking to save people even in incredibly difficult situations,” Jeff explained.
Ron Price’s presentations brought in practical tools, tips, and techniques for conflict resolution and, as expected, the participating audience was engaged and responsive. Citing years of professional engagement, he said, “One of my favorite expressions is that conflict is inevitable. When you are dealing with other human beings, you are going to have conflict from time to time, but damaged relationships, poor morale, low productivity–those are all optional. All of us experience conflict. Most of us dread conflict. But few of us have been trained in how to prevent it, when possible, and resolve it when necessary.”
“So, that’s what God has given me as my purpose in life. I was a mediator for 30 years. I’ve studied dispute resolution and conflict management. And I love to share that with people. What an honor to be invited to speak at the Wyoming camp meeting and share, not my own wisdom, but knowledge and wisdom that I’ve picked up from training that I’ve experienced,” he continued.
“Conflict and church do not go together. Christians are fallible human beings and anytime [they] interact with each other, there is going to be conflict from time to time. But if we manage it well, conflict can be a positive procedure or process–growth and relationship enhancing–not a destructive process,” he added.
The camp meeting time was special for Shayne and Gabriela Vincent. On Sabbath afternoon, Shayne Vincent, pastor of the Casper and Wheatland churches, was ordained to the gospel ministry. “For us,” remarked Gabriela, “it was also a family reunion with Shayne’s mother, Susan, and my parents, Pastor Eugen and Livia Baciu, who came from Romania, that made our day truly special.
Apart from the inspiring messages and meeting friends from different Wyoming churches, camp participants commented on how they enjoyed the meals—prepared by Don and Chris Hill. But it was the frequent prayer time and inspirational music that made the Wyoming convocation unforgettable.
In the words of Kurt Jensen from Wind River Fellowship Church, “My wife Ginni and I have been extremely busy this summer. We were really tired and [when we] had a reprieve from our labors that fell during camp meeting time, we didn’t want to go to camp meeting, but just wanted to stay home and collapse. However, we chose to go to camp meeting anyway. The blessing we got from going far outweighed any blessings we would have gotten from staying away. It would be like comparing a Yugo to a Rolls Royce. I am so glad we chose the Rolls.”
–Rajmund Dabrowski, text and photos.
