On the last Saturday evening of camp meeting, the saints gathered on the front lawn of the campground for the annual sing-along. As the sun dipped behind the trees, the temperature was comfortable and the view beautiful. Kids walked around with cotton candy and other snacks, and everyone relaxed, taking the last opportunity to chat with friends.

The evening’s music began with an enthusiastic “In the Sweet By and By,” followed by “Give Me Oil in My Lamp.” Some learned a new verse to the song, “Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising; Give me joy in my heart, I pray.” The singing was accompanied by an ensemble including guitars, a banjo, fiddles, a mandolin, a stand-up bass, and a washboard for percussion. The music continued with “Life Is Like a Mountain Railroad” and “Keep on the Firing Line.”

Matt and Mikayla McCarville, from Van Buren, Arkansas, sang “Lead Me to Calvary.”  Then a young brass quintet from Portland played an arrangement that included “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder” and “When We All Get to Heaven.” A trio of ladies from the Midwest sang “I Feel Good,” a reprisal of a teaching special. At the end, the congregation joined on a couple rounds of the chorus.

A duo from Nigeria sang a song with the refrain “The Gospel of Jesus Christ shall be preached in...,” and then named countries across Africa including Sudan, Sierra Leone, Angola, Cameroon, and Congo one at a time. The final chorus said, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ shall be preached in Africa!”

Continuing an annual tradition, the Superintendent General, Olusola Adesope, lit the tiki torches around the lawn, one for each country represented at camp meeting this year. Applause were given for visitors from a total of twenty-four countries.

Many have testified at services this camp, but many more have not been able to get in. An opportunity for all came during the song “Glory, Glory, Glory,” where each person present could stand on the day of the week when he or she prayed through to salvation. Following that, a group from Winnipeg sang “It’s a Highway to Heaven,” and then a men’s quintet from Washington D.C. sang, “It Could Happen in a Moment,” followed by “I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About to Happen.”

The evening wrap-up included a friendly competition of “Hallelu, Hallelu.” Older saints were instructed to sing “Hallelu, Hallelu,” ages twenty-five and under covered the final “jah,” and those in the middle sang “Praise ye the Lord.” It took a few minutes for the age groups to get warmed up, and the final results related to volume produced are still under dispute, but it was fun for all involved.

After an evening of music and fellowship, everyone was ready for the final day of camp meeting 2024, feeling grateful and energized for the year ahead.