Liz Kirkland – Casper, Wyoming … The 2023 Wyoming Camp Meeting was assembled July 11-15 at Mills Spring Ranch (MSR) in Casper, Wyoming. People came from across the conference and beyond, even as far as Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky, to join in fellowship under the camp theme “Meeting God.” On Sabbath morning, 150 camp participants congregated for Sabbath worship service.

Together with her husband, Dr. Richard Davidson, Dr. Jo Ann Davidson was a keynote speaker. He is an Old Testament Scholar at Andrews University Seminary, and Jo Ann is a Professor of Systematic Theology also at Andrews University. They held daily engaging and thought-provoking meetings, ranging in topics from the Sanctuary to God’s love of life, animal stewardship, and nature in general. During Sabbath school, they were on a panel and requested not to be called by their titles: “We are Dick and Jo Ann.”

“It was great having presentations on the Sabbath and Sanctuary, foundational to our faith,” shared Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director. “Many of the church members shared with me how much they appreciated a refresher in their understanding of what’s central to our faith.”

Carin and Ron Lynch also enriched the camp experience with health seminars covering hydrotherapy, nature’s first aid kit, and massage basics. They have been the North American Division Directors the last six years for the Lay Institute for Global Health training (LIGHT), a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Their sessions were full of practical and applicable information and demonstrations where attendees could sample products and even get a free massage.

Jo Ann Davidson took time to attend the health seminars before her programs and remarked how “pleasant and positive” they were.

Carin commented on her camp experience: “This was our first time at the Wyoming Camp Meeting. I loved the fact that it is such a close-knit group, a group of people that come together whether they see each other all year or just here during this time. They are just filled with the spirit!”

Morning worship speakers included Mickey Mallory, Mic Thurber, RMC president, and Doug Inglish, RMC vice president for administration.

Between sessions, camp attendees could be seen enjoying God’s creations in the scenic setting of MSR with either enjoying a quiet sit, a small hike, or time on the playground for the younger attendees. The overwhelming, albeit unofficial, theme at camp was that this time of fellowship in a beautiful natural surrounding was truly “God’s medicine.”

Olivia Rose McDonald, a young camp attendee from Casper Adventist Church, has been coming to camp around 9 years. She said, “I love seeing friends and having fun. And I love getting to be up on the mountain to see prettier things and breathe the fresh mountain air. I love fresh mountain air!”

Programs were held for primary age and older youth to enhance their connection with God, make or build friendships, and enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking. The teen youth even got to take a canoe trip on the North Platte River one afternoon.

Jared Bolling Jr., another young camp attendee, has been attending the Wyoming Camp for 12 years. “I love meeting friends and cousins [at camp]. My favorite thing at camp is to go hike to Mossy Cave. And, besides meeting friends, I really like the people here.”

With the expanse of the camp and the multitude of activities, mealtime was a great time to bring everyone together to connect and enjoy the spectacular view from the dining hall. The camp cook, known affectionately as Papa Don, has been coming to camp for 8 years. When asked what he loved about camp, he commented “The whole ball of wax! I love everything about camp. Cooking is my passion, and my cooking ministry is to keep the kids and staff happy. If you have happy staff, you have happy everybody. I will do this as long as the Lord is willing.”

Jamie Treat, a member of the Cheyenne Adventist Church, was yet another attendee with a long history at the camp. He recalled, “I have attended camp the last 14-15 years. Before that, when my dad pastored in Wyoming, I used to come to camp even back then. So, I have been up to Mills Spring Ranch for 40 years, though not consecutively. It’s great to get away and focus on your relationship with God in a nature setting, and this camp is so awesome the way that it is setup with nature all around us. The fellowship is always great, the camp always has great speakers, so it is always a spiritual blessing. It is the highlight of our year.”

—Liz Kirkland is the RMC communication assistant. Photos by Rajmund Dabrowski, Mickey Mallory, and Liz Kirkland.