July 19-27, 2008

by Ola Balogun

Saturday, July 19, marked the beginning of the United Kingdom camp meeting. Highly expectant attendees gathered at the London Apostolic Faith Church, where they boarded four coaches and a mini-coach, along with several cars, to travel to the Cefn Lea Christian Centre located at Newton, Mid Wales. Representatives attended this camp meeting from several countries, including the United States, Nigeria, Norway, Finland, Germany, Holland, and France, as well as a number of cities in the United Kingdom. The theme for this year’s camp meeting was “I Will Do Marvels” from Exodus 34:10. The Lord really did do marvels as many people received salvation, sanctification, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, healing, and many other individual blessings. The Spirit-filled services and morning prayer meetings were a remarkable time of spiritual refreshing as many tarried at the altar to receive from God.

The Bible teachings and sermons throughout the camp meeting were inspiring and uplifting. Each message was preceded by beautiful renditions from the choir and orchestra, and heart-touching testimonies. The children’s enthusiastic performances during the preludes on both Sundays were a special delight.

Reverend Rob Wakefield, the pastor of our church in Grants Pass, Oregon, who attended the camp meeting with his wife, Bonnie, preached the opening sermon on “The Good Ground,” using Mark 4:3-8 for his text. He focused on the spiritual condition of the heart and admonished the congregation to feed on the Word of God and spend time in prayer in order to bear much fruit for the Lord. If Christians will put their confidence in the Word of God, they will reap the results in due season. Reverend Wakefield related how God saved his father, for whom he had prayed for over twenty years. On Monday morning, Reverend Wakefield gave a Bible teaching on “Making a Gainful Investment” using John 3:16 as his main text. God invested in us by giving His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross for our redemption. In turn, we should also value our relationship with God and our fellow man.

On Tuesday, Reverend Paul Akazue, the pastor of our church in Lagos, Nigeria, gave a Bible teaching on “Christian Forgiveness,” reading Matthew 5:38-48 for his text. He said that Christians should not question why things happen to them or why people will persecute, offend, or defraud them. They should take the route of Christian forgiveness as God’s Word instructs. Just as God provides rain, sunshine, and oxygen for everyone, including sinners, Christians should treat everyone with respect and Christian forgiveness.

Reverend Wakefield gave another soul-searching teaching on “The Bride of Christ” on Wednesday. He taught on the importance of Christians having spiritual garments that are spotless, clean, and without wrinkle in order to be part of the Bride of Christ when the Rapture of the saints takes place. Thursday morning, Reverend Isaac Adigun, the pastor of our church in London, United Kingdom, gave a Bible teaching on “The Sin Question.” He brought out that sin will block God’s blessing in a person’s life. He stressed that anyone who needs God to do marvels in his or her life must ask God to search, reveal, and remove all hindrances. Reverend Adigun used Galatians 5:19-21 to highlight some of the common sins that will stop the flow of God’s blessing and prevent one from making Heaven. Many were inspired by this sermon to tarry at the altar and pray through to victory.

On Saturday morning, hearts were blessed by the ordinance services of the Lord’s Supper and Foot Washing. Following the ordinance services, Reverend Wakefield and his wife sang a duet, along with other offerings of praise by some of the saints. In the afternoon, a baptismal service was held in which five males and five females, who had been saved during the camp meeting, were baptized in water.

For the closing service on Sunday morning, Reverend Wakefield admonished the congregation to remember all the teachings and evangelistic sermons that were rendered at the camp meeting, to continue in them, remain established in the Gospel, and be witnesses to others so that they may be partakers of the Kingdom of God. Once again, many gathered around the altar of prayer asking God to give them power, knowledge, and wisdom to remain fervent in the service of the Lord. After receiving packed lunches, everyone headed back to their various destinations, thrilled that they had been a part of this marvelous camp meeting. It was indeed a magnificent week of fellowship with God and fellow saints.

More pictures of the camp meeting are available here.