Newspaper article:Ohio Opens New Camp Site 1959 Evangel 5 1959 p 14 - Church of God Evangel May 4 2023
- Article title
- Ohio Opens New Camp Site, 1959
- Newspaper title
- Church of God Evangel
- Date of publication
- May 1959
- Page number
- 14
- Organization
- Industry
- Other Services > Religious / Grantmaking / Civil / Profession and Similar Organizations
Full text
"The camp meeting of 1959 will long be remembered in Ohio. July 27 dawned on a completely new camp site in a placid country area between Wooster and Massillon just off busy Highway No. 30. All day long, cars came. Area service stations rendered a new service-- directions to the Church of God campground. Before night of the first day, motels and tourist courts for miles around displayed "No Vacancy" signs.
This was hardly "just another good camp meeting. From the start the Spirit of God so effectively permeated the whole area that each attendant appeared endowed with an unusual receptivity from the moment of his arrival. Consequently, each part of each service seemed directed by God's presence. This receptivity was evidenced also in the fine altar responses each evening. Many seekers received the Baptism, others were saved, sanctified, healed and/or reconsecrated.
Much credit must go to the State Overseer, Brother D. C. Boatwright, the State Councilors and Boards, and Brother Parsons, the State Youth Director, who spent many hours of planning and working to complete the tabernacle, cafeteria, restrooms and bath facilities and the landscaping in time for this meeting. The ministry and the laity of Ohio looked forward in prayerful and thankful anticipation to this occasion-- the first Ohio State camp meeting in our own facilities.
The twenty strategically located acres of choice level land were donated to the Church of ra camp site by Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Horst of Massillon, Ohio. Brother and sister Horst will be long remembered in the State of Ohio for their thoughtfulness and consideration in this fine donation of land for a camp which is named "Doyle C. Horst Memorial Church of God Campground" in honor of their only son who lost his life in the war.
Services were scheduled to begin mornings at 6:30 and to terminate evenings when the last seeker was satisfied at the altar. Each speaker, devotional leader, musician, singer, and committeeman was at his best. Reverand Earl Paulk, Sr., executive representative; Rev. O. W. Polen, Youth Department representative; Rev. T. L. Forester, Missions representative; Rev. Harry Mushegan, evening speaker; Rev. E. O. Byington, Bible teacher; and all the other participants were outstanding. The capable State administration under the Rev. D. C. Boatwright, State Overseer; and Rev. C. Milton Parsons, State Youth Director; all together contributed to what was undoubtedly Ohio's greatest camp meeting.
Many spontaneous expressions reveal the spiritual impact of the meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Horst-- "We surely expected no such beginning as this. We looked for fewer the first year, but the place is filled." Reverend O. W. Polen-- "This is beyond my fondest expectations." A West Virginia pastor states that this is one of the finest camp meetings and facilities he has ever seen. A Pennsylvania evangelist states, "This is the most wonderful camp meeting I have ever attended." One Ohio past says, "I have attended all of the camo meetings in Ohio except one, and this is the greatest one of them all." Another Ohio pastor says, "This is the greatest camp meeting in Ohio." A Canton Church layman states, "This is the most wonderful camp meeting." An Ohio evangelist feels-- "It is outstandingly wonderful." Yes, we all agree that God has done a marvelous thing among us.
This indeed was a historic camp meeting. All honor and credit to whom honor and credit is due, but all praise be to God for the eternal blessings of this meeting. -- H. A. Norman, reporter."