25 Jun 2026, 08:29Charlene Martin and Gabrielle Smith-Strachan
Rediscovering Seventh-Day Adventism - Part 2 - Camp Meeting 2026
For those attending, this was not just another year of any event. The North England Conference (NEC) 2026 Camp Meeting took place at the Yarnfield Training and Conference Centre from the 27th to the 31st of May. Attendees returned to spend time delving into truths that some may have been taught but that others may be hearing for the first time under the theme, Rediscovering Seventh-Day Adventism Part 2. What was in store for the delegates over the week was conscientiously planned and delivered by the NEC to build a deeper understanding of identity. Those who attended the previous year would continue to rediscover who they are biblically, uncover truths by digging deeper to find what God intended to be understood and lived, leading to revival. Equipping many for the mission field, whether that be at home, work, school or further afield. Those attending for the first time, as one delegate shared, were excited to gain new learning that would be useful to spread the gospel back home. The excitement on their faces was evidence of this.
Part of that excitement was due to the array of guest speakers. Local Pastors, presenters and international speakers came to take part in rediscovering Adventism. Children’s Ministries Director, Bekezela Peters, along with her team, created a children’s programme entitled ‘Identity Lab’.
The children discovered they were created by God for His purpose through song, activities and presentations brought alive by Pastor Wezley Bishop, who himself enjoyed the science experiments which helped the children to understand the lessons.
Pastor Derek Simon, Youth Ministries Director and Elder Horace Radcliff, Teen Ministries Director, worked together to once again ensure the youth and teens had a space where they could not only sit and listen but could also lead conversations on what impacts their identities in the world they live in. Encouraging these conversations was Pastor Adam Ramdin, who presented to the teens the need to ‘find a purpose greater than themselves’. Pastor Steven George, the youth speaker for the week, discussed service, participation and pouring our worship out onto God. Additional presentations following the theme of discovering who they are in Christ ensured a deep understanding of what their lives are made for. The youth and teens also enjoyed spending time together off-site, taking part in various activities.
The Adults were blessed to have as the main speaker Pastor John Lomacang, pastor of Thompsonville Seventh-Day Adventist Church and Director of World Evangelism for 3ABN. Pastor Lomacang ministered through song and presentations for the delegates to discover personally what Adventism is, moreover, becoming ‘sons and daughters of God’. The Bible is our guide to this understanding, which Pastor James Rafferty, Director of Discipleship Ministry for 3ABN, taught in the daily Bible study hours. Pastor Rafferty took time to speak with all those who questioned him throughout the days at camp meeting, reiterating the importance of staying connected to Jesus.
Echoing the importance of staying connected to Jesus, Rise Rafferty, a registered dietitian and health educator, instructed attendees on how to ensure the body is well taken care of. Giving practical advice on how to sustain health in the ever-busy world, Sister Rafferty broached topics on the brain and the gut, two major parts of the body that can affect communication and responding to God. Learning how to communicate with and respond to God begins in the home; therefore, it was only fitting that Family Ministries speakers Dr Zebron and Dr Peggie Ncube each day discussed identity within the family. Dr Peggie shared that, ‘planting seeds ready to be nurtured to bloom and flourish’ is extremely important in the family setting and indeed important for the wider church family as the church works together to spread the good news of Jesus.
The family at prayer is a place of surrender to God, where sons and daughters can hear from God what they are to do. Delegates were able to attend early morning prayer sessions, and the NEC Prayer room was available throughout the day as a quiet space for reflection and personal prayer. On-site, the Adventist Book Centre was accessible each day. Walking through the book centre were not only delegates to Camp Meeting, but also visitors attending other conferences at Yarnfield, another great witnessing tool.
Yet another great witnessing tool throughout the week was the praise team, led by Dionne Ray. The praise team ensured that songs were chosen to uplift and praise God with words that spoke to the hearts of many. Don’t forget the Sabbath was the sound to open communion, reminding us of the rest the Father calls us to. Tara Goddard presented the special item, prompting us that nothing, but the blood of Jesus can make us whole, which led beautifully into the solemn communion service. That night, the congregation were there to ‘celebrate the blood of Jesus Christ’. Pastor Lomacang spoke on the importance of Jesus and how He saved His people from their sins. Delegates partook of the emblems, symbolic bread and unfermented wine, representing the sacrifice of Jesus. The bread as His body and the unfermented wine as His blood. Without which there would be no forgiveness of sin.
Camp Meeting is a time for focus. A time to leave the disruptions of everyday life to learn, understand, and embed wisdom only given by God. Whilst rediscovering Adventism it is important to rediscover as individuals what commitment to God looks like each day. With the array of presentations throughout the week, delegates started to pinpoint the areas of their lives that needed changing, revamping and beginning. Delegates rediscovered their journey of faith.
For those attending, this was not just another year of any event. The North England Conference (NEC) 2026 Camp Meeting took place at the Yarnfield Training and Conference Centre from the 27th to the 31st of May. Attendees returned to spend time delving into truths that some may have been taught but that others may be hearing for the first time under the theme, Rediscovering Seventh-Day Adventism Part 2. What was in store for the delegates over the week was conscientiously planned and delivered by the NEC to build a deeper understanding of identity. Those who attended the previous year would continue to rediscover who they are biblically, uncover truths by digging deeper to find what God intended to be understood and lived, leading to revival. Equipping many for the mission field, whether that be at home, work, school or further afield. Those attending for the first time, as one delegate shared, were excited to gain new learning that would be useful to spread the gospel back home. The excitement on their faces was evidence of this.
Part of that excitement was due to the array of guest speakers. Local Pastors, presenters and international speakers came to take part in rediscovering Adventism. Children’s Ministries Director, Bekezela Peters, along with her team, created a children’s programme entitled ‘Identity Lab’.
The children discovered they were created by God for His purpose through song, activities and presentations brought alive by Pastor Wezley Bishop, who himself enjoyed the science experiments which helped the children to understand the lessons.
Pastor Derek Simon, Youth Ministries Director and Elder Horace Radcliff, Teen Ministries Director, worked together to once again ensure the youth and teens had a space where they could not only sit and listen but could also lead conversations on what impacts their identities in the world they live in. Encouraging these conversations was Pastor Adam Ramdin, who presented to the teens the need to ‘find a purpose greater than themselves’. Pastor Steven George, the youth speaker for the week, discussed service, participation and pouring our worship out onto God. Additional presentations following the theme of discovering who they are in Christ ensured a deep understanding of what their lives are made for. The youth and teens also enjoyed spending time together off-site, taking part in various activities.
The Adults were blessed to have as the main speaker Pastor John Lomacang, pastor of Thompsonville Seventh-Day Adventist Church and Director of World Evangelism for 3ABN. Pastor Lomacang ministered through song and presentations for the delegates to discover personally what Adventism is, moreover, becoming ‘sons and daughters of God’. The Bible is our guide to this understanding, which Pastor James Rafferty, Director of Discipleship Ministry for 3ABN, taught in the daily Bible study hours. Pastor Rafferty took time to speak with all those who questioned him throughout the days at camp meeting, reiterating the importance of staying connected to Jesus.
Echoing the importance of staying connected to Jesus, Rise Rafferty, a registered dietitian and health educator, instructed attendees on how to ensure the body is well taken care of. Giving practical advice on how to sustain health in the ever-busy world, Sister Rafferty broached topics on the brain and the gut, two major parts of the body that can affect communication and responding to God. Learning how to communicate with and respond to God begins in the home; therefore, it was only fitting that Family Ministries speakers Dr Zebron and Dr Peggie Ncube each day discussed identity within the family. Dr Peggie shared that, ‘planting seeds ready to be nurtured to bloom and flourish’ is extremely important in the family setting and indeed important for the wider church family as the church works together to spread the good news of Jesus.
The family at prayer is a place of surrender to God, where sons and daughters can hear from God what they are to do. Delegates were able to attend early morning prayer sessions, and the NEC Prayer room was available throughout the day as a quiet space for reflection and personal prayer. On-site, the Adventist Book Centre was accessible each day. Walking through the book centre were not only delegates to Camp Meeting, but also visitors attending other conferences at Yarnfield, another great witnessing tool.
Yet another great witnessing tool throughout the week was the praise team, led by Dionne Ray. The praise team ensured that songs were chosen to uplift and praise God with words that spoke to the hearts of many. Don’t forget the Sabbath was the sound to open communion, reminding us of the rest the Father calls us to. Tara Goddard presented the special item, prompting us that nothing, but the blood of Jesus can make us whole, which led beautifully into the solemn communion service. That night, the congregation were there to ‘celebrate the blood of Jesus Christ’. Pastor Lomacang spoke on the importance of Jesus and how He saved His people from their sins. Delegates partook of the emblems, symbolic bread and unfermented wine, representing the sacrifice of Jesus. The bread as His body and the unfermented wine as His blood. Without which there would be no forgiveness of sin.
Camp Meeting is a time for focus. A time to leave the disruptions of everyday life to learn, understand, and embed wisdom only given by God. Whilst rediscovering Adventism it is important to rediscover as individuals what commitment to God looks like each day. With the array of presentations throughout the week, delegates started to pinpoint the areas of their lives that needed changing, revamping and beginning. Delegates rediscovered their journey of faith.
