Dear Sebring Camp Friends,
Recently, I was looking through old photographs from past camp meetings—some dating back more than 100 years. The faces may have changed over the years, but the expressions of joy, reverence, and spiritual hunger remain remarkably the same. In one image, like now, the generations are represented. There are differences, of course. There are tents to the east of the Tabernacle. The ladies’ dresses are ankle length. The older gentleman wears a suit. The four boys wear—knickers.
It brought to mind Alexander Maclaren’s profound observation: “The generations of those who trust in God are knit together, and the wonders of old time are capable of repetition today.”
This truth has been evident throughout Sebring’s history. When our forebears gathered on Quaker Hill decades ago, they experienced the same God we encounter today. The altar where your grandmother found salvation is the same altar where young people will kneel this summer. The tabernacle rafters that resonated with hymns sung by your parents now vibrate with our songs of praise. The Holy Spirit that moved in power then moves with equal might now.
We are indeed “knit together” across time—a beautiful tapestry of faith spanning generations. When we gather for campmeeting, we don’t just continue a tradition; we participate in a living inheritance. Those who came before us passed down not just buildings and grounds, but testimonies of God’s faithfulness, stories of His power, and a heritage of holiness.
And the most remarkable part? The “wonders of old time” are not merely historical events to be studied or admired from afar. They are “capable of repetition today.” The same God who split the Red Sea still makes paths through impossible circumstances. The God who answered Elijah by fire still ignites hearts with holy passion. The Christ who transformed lives in Galilee continues to make all things new in Sebring, Ohio.
As we prepare for our 2025 gathering, I invite you to come with expectation that the mighty works of God experienced by previous generations will be your experience too. Come believing that the stories you’ve heard of revival and renewal can be your story. Come ready for God to do something extraordinary in your life that will become part of the tapestry of testimony for future generations.
The thread that connects us all—past, present, and future—is our trust in an unchanging God. He who was faithful to our spiritual ancestors remains faithful to us and will be faithful to those who follow.
See you at Campmeeting time!
Charles A. Nutt, President
Sebring Interdenominational Holiness Camp Meeting
chuck@SebringCamp.org
615-775-4526
