One Camping Family Out of Many

BY REV. EVAMARIE CAMPBELL

Oklahoma United Methodist Camping Ministry has a place near and dear to my heart. As an elementary aged person, I remember being so excited to get to go to Camp to be a “gopher” (now termed Youth Leader in Training) to help my father, Rev. Charles Herndon, as he led what was then called Sixth Grade Camp. I got to see and be involved in the “behind the scenes” making of an excellent and faith-enriching week-long experience of Church Camp.

As I grew up, I continued to go to Church Camp and to help with all aspects of Camp. Being a United Methodist Minister’s daughter with the itinerant system I had the blessing of attending Summer Camp at all 3 of our Campsites over the course of my teenage years. My father instilled in me the love of being in God’s creation and the appreciation for how the Spirit moves in those “mountaintop experiences.”

Once I began in full time ministry, I too assumed leadership in our Oklahoma United Methodist Camping Ministry. I’ve been the Dean of 6th Grade Camp and Joy Camp many times. I recruited my father and my husband, Myers Campbell, to be in leadership with me through leading worship and serving in the Discovery Center.

Once I had children of my own, my mother even came to camp as our Camp Nanny!

Both my brothers, Mark and Alan Herndon, along with their spouses and children have been active in leading camps at Canyon Camp and Camp Egan. My niece Reese Herndon was instrumental in raising funds for new mattresses at Canyon Camp and my daughter Hannah Campbell Bryant and my son Dallas Campbell have grown from Youth Leaders in Training to small group and Silly Songs leaders. The joy of camping goes on.

The amazing thing about Camping ministry in Oklahoma is that my family is just one example out of many families who share the love and joy of leading camps together. As I’ve attended Camp Dean meetings, I’ve been pleased to meet other mother/daughter or father/son or aunt and nephew teams of Camp leaders. What a blessing for campers and leaders when families can share their love of God’s creation and create “mountaintop experiences” for the Spirit to move and change lives!