UCC Launches Regional Approach to Camp Meeting

By Isaac Meythaler

UCC Communications Coordinator

This year, Upper Columbia Conference launched a new approach for camp meeting. Rather than one large event, this year UCC spread out into six regional camp meetings at Northeastern Washington, Spokane Valley, Tri-Cities, Walla Walla Valley, Wenatchee, and Yakima. 

In 2023, UCC conducted several surveys about the future of camp meeting. A key finding was that while 55% of respondents responded positively towards one large camp meeting event, when asked if they were planning on attending, only 37% responded yes. 

In response, a new camp meeting plan was approved by the Conference Executive Committee on a two-year trial basis, beginning in 2025. This regional approach to camp meeting saw increases in local church collaboration and total attendance, significantly lowered overhead costs, and allowed for a greater focus on serving communities across the conference. 

Northeastern Washington’s camp meeting joined at Sheridan Meadows in Republic, Wash. to enjoy a week of fellowship and worship in nature. During the week, youth carried out daily service projects in town, giving a report of their projects on Friday night. 

Spokane Valley’s camp meeting convocation chose the theme “Revealing the Character of Christ.” More than 1,300 individuals were present for guest speaker Pastor Doug Batchelor. Church members gave blood and sweat to their local community in a variety of service opportunities including a blood drive, yardwork, and going door to door with needs assessment surveys and Christian literature. 

Tri-Cities hosted this year’s Hispanic camp meeting, with attendees from across the conference. Cecilio Clayton, José Rojas, and Rubén Muñoz were the featured speakers. 

Walla Walla Valley’s camp meeting convocation chose the theme “Created for Community,” featuring guest speaker Pastor Karl Haffner. Local Walla Walla Valley churches gathered at Walla Walla University Church for a time of fellowship, praise, and service. Attendance exceeded expectations, with almost 1,000 gathered for worship on Sabbath. 

“Perhaps the most heartwarming moment for me came when nearly 20 volunteers served 21 single parents with complimentary oil changes,” said Andreas Beccai, WWU Church lead pastor, “Two vehicles received much-needed new brakes, and another was blessed with two new front tires. These mothers and fathers were deeply moved by this unconditional demonstration of Christ's love, freely given without expectation of anything in return.” 

Wenatchee convocation gathered in August under the theme “On Call” with guest speakers David Jamieson, UCC president, and Eric Brown, UCC vice president for administration. Jamieson and Brown shared passionate stories of community engagement and finished the convocation with several service projects, a theme across this year’s regional camp meetings. 

Yakima closed out the camp meeting season with a focus on mission and service. 

“All told, we experienced significant growth in the number of individuals that received a blessing at the regional convocations as compared with the one large camp meeting at Upper Columbia Academy,” said Dustin Jones, UCC director of communications and camp meeting coordinator. “We were also able to accomplish this at a much lower cost than what our usual camp meeting costs.” 

Video recordings of UCC’s camp meetings are available at uccsda.org/campmeeting.