The Camp Meeting Hand-Off
My thoughts on a new Generation of Camp Meeting Speakers and Evangelists.
Paula and I have been blessed to participate in Camp Meetings across the Church of God for many years. Looking back, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the opportunities to worship with God's people, build friendships, and witness His faithfulness.
Over the years, one of the greatest joys has been watching new voices emerge and new leaders step forward to serve their generation. The Church is strengthened when seasoned leaders make room for others, offering encouragement and support along the way.
While I always enjoy the opportunities God provides, I find myself increasingly drawn to the role of encourager, mentor, and supporter. At this stage of life, my greatest satisfaction is helping a younger generation of ministers succeed in the opportunities God places before them.
With that in mind, I have compiled a few thoughts for those who are invited to serve as featured speakers at Camp Meetings, conventions, and similar gatherings. These are not rules—just lessons learned along the way.
Here we go.
1. Understand where you are. A Camp Meeting platform is both a privilege and a responsibility. Approach it with humility, gratitude, and respect. When approached properly, there is something powerful about churches gathering in unity with expectation for God to move.
2. Prepare spiritually, mentally, and physically. The enemy often targets those preparing to minister. Protect your prayer life, mind, body, and family.
3. Know the region. Every area responds differently. Some crowds are expressive and vocal. Others are reflective and reserved. Don't measure effectiveness by outward response alone.
4. Preach what God is speaking to you now. Lean toward what the Holy Spirit has been saying to you in your current season of ministry. Fresh bread usually feeds people better than reheated leftovers.
5. Don't try to prove you belong there. If God opened the door, your gift will speak for itself.
6. Bring hope. Pastors and church leaders often arrive carrying burdens nobody sees. Leave them stronger than you found them.
7. Don't spend your time trying to turn one invitation into the next invitation. Enjoy the opportunity God has given you without trying to leverage it into something else.
8. Remember who you're speaking to. You are preaching to pastors, evangelists, church leaders, and faithful laity. Honor them for their faithfulness.
9. Honor the Overseer and leadership team. You are serving their vision for that gathering. Express appreciation for those who made the event possible.
10. Don't feel obligated to recite every name on the program. A simple expression of gratitude is sufficient.
11. Be yourself. Don't preach under the pressure of performance. Flow in the gift God has given you.
12. Preach toward the altar. Never forget that someone in the room may need Jesus, and someone else may need to come home to Him.
13. Worship from the beginning. Put the notes away. The service has already started.
14. Express gratitude often. Never lose your appreciation for the opportunity to serve.
15. Depend on God. No amount of preparation can replace the work of the Holy Spirit.
16. Let God handle promotion. Trust God to be your best promoter.
17. Remember you're in a Pentecostal meeting. Expect God to move and make room for His presence.
18. Support the other speakers. Attend when you can. Listen. Encourage them.
19. Travel light. Leave the entourage at home. Humility still looks good on every preacher.
20. Honor your spouse. Few people sacrifice more for your ministry than the person sitting beside you.
21. Love the people. Shake hands. Listen to stories. Let people connect with you.
22. End the day with gratitude. Thank God for the privilege of representing Him and speaking into the lives of others.
23. Remember how you got there. Calling, preparation, mentors, leadership, and God's favor all played a part.
24. Stay humble. Be grateful for the privilege.
25. Keep the main thing the main thing. Your highest calling is not preaching Camp Meetings. It is loving God, loving your family, serving people, and caring for others.
Jesus will never say, "Well done, good and successful Camp Meeting preacher."
What He will say is, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
The challenge is not getting there. The challenge is surviving success without allowing it to define your worth.
Lay every opportunity at the feet of Jesus. Then rejoice when He calls you His faithful servant.
Now let's have Camp Meeting—and let's pray God's richest blessing upon a new generation of preachers, pastors, and leaders.
Paula and I have been blessed to participate in Camp Meetings across the Church of God for many years. Looking back, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the opportunities to worship with God's people, build friendships, and witness His faithfulness.
Over the years, one of the greatest joys has been watching new voices emerge and new leaders step forward to serve their generation. The Church is strengthened when seasoned leaders make room for others, offering encouragement and support along the way.
While I always enjoy the opportunities God provides, I find myself increasingly drawn to the role of encourager, mentor, and supporter. At this stage of life, my greatest satisfaction is helping a younger generation of ministers succeed in the opportunities God places before them.
With that in mind, I have compiled a few thoughts for those who are invited to serve as featured speakers at Camp Meetings, conventions, and similar gatherings. These are not rules—just lessons learned along the way.
Here we go.
1. Understand where you are. A Camp Meeting platform is both a privilege and a responsibility. Approach it with humility, gratitude, and respect. When approached properly, there is something powerful about churches gathering in unity with expectation for God to move.
2. Prepare spiritually, mentally, and physically. The enemy often targets those preparing to minister. Protect your prayer life, mind, body, and family.
3. Know the region. Every area responds differently. Some crowds are expressive and vocal. Others are reflective and reserved. Don't measure effectiveness by outward response alone.
4. Preach what God is speaking to you now. Lean toward what the Holy Spirit has been saying to you in your current season of ministry. Fresh bread usually feeds people better than reheated leftovers.
5. Don't try to prove you belong there. If God opened the door, your gift will speak for itself.
6. Bring hope. Pastors and church leaders often arrive carrying burdens nobody sees. Leave them stronger than you found them.
7. Don't spend your time trying to turn one invitation into the next invitation. Enjoy the opportunity God has given you without trying to leverage it into something else.
8. Remember who you're speaking to. You are preaching to pastors, evangelists, church leaders, and faithful laity. Honor them for their faithfulness.
9. Honor the Overseer and leadership team. You are serving their vision for that gathering. Express appreciation for those who made the event possible.
10. Don't feel obligated to recite every name on the program. A simple expression of gratitude is sufficient.
11. Be yourself. Don't preach under the pressure of performance. Flow in the gift God has given you.
12. Preach toward the altar. Never forget that someone in the room may need Jesus, and someone else may need to come home to Him.
13. Worship from the beginning. Put the notes away. The service has already started.
14. Express gratitude often. Never lose your appreciation for the opportunity to serve.
15. Depend on God. No amount of preparation can replace the work of the Holy Spirit.
16. Let God handle promotion. Trust God to be your best promoter.
17. Remember you're in a Pentecostal meeting. Expect God to move and make room for His presence.
18. Support the other speakers. Attend when you can. Listen. Encourage them.
19. Travel light. Leave the entourage at home. Humility still looks good on every preacher.
20. Honor your spouse. Few people sacrifice more for your ministry than the person sitting beside you.
21. Love the people. Shake hands. Listen to stories. Let people connect with you.
22. End the day with gratitude. Thank God for the privilege of representing Him and speaking into the lives of others.
23. Remember how you got there. Calling, preparation, mentors, leadership, and God's favor all played a part.
24. Stay humble. Be grateful for the privilege.
25. Keep the main thing the main thing. Your highest calling is not preaching Camp Meetings. It is loving God, loving your family, serving people, and caring for others.
Jesus will never say, "Well done, good and successful Camp Meeting preacher."
What He will say is, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
The challenge is not getting there. The challenge is surviving success without allowing it to define your worth.
Lay every opportunity at the feet of Jesus. Then rejoice when He calls you His faithful servant.
Now let's have Camp Meeting—and let's pray God's richest blessing upon a new generation of preachers, pastors, and leaders.
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