Many changes have taken place through the years at Salem Campgrounds, site of the annual Salem Camp Meeting at Salem United Methodist Church, 1647 Salem Road.
People no longer camp on the grounds for nearly two-week stays as they did in the past, but camp meeting oldtimers say the mood of revival and renewal bring back the faithful each year for the outdoor religious experience under the arbor.
Organized in the 1830s, Salem Camp Meeting has been the site of continuous annual camp meetings since 1867. Before that time, meetings had been suspended for a time because of the Civil War.
The arbor currently in use was built in 1913 and moved to its present location in 1955.
Singing, worship, fellowship and refreshments will be included at the upcoming Salem Camp Meeting that begins Sunday, June 21.
The old-fashioned camp meeting services will continue through Sunday, June 28, with the Rev. Kevin Lyons of Henderson United Methodist Church in Little Rock as the evangelist.
Lyons, a native of West Virginia, spent much of his early years between that state and Texas.
He spent one of his high school years in Ponce, Puerto Rico, while his father served as Union Carbide plant manager.
During his early years Lyons dreamed of playing major league baseball — specifically, he wanted to be the shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He said the dream died when he realized he couldn’t hit a curve ball or a fast ball. “Even the slow ones gave me trouble,” he said.
He attended Baylor University and dental school at West Virginia University. More than two years later, he left the school and entered Memphis Theological Seminary, where he “retooled” and then said he decided “to follow God’s plan for his life.”
“And the rest, as they say, is history,” he added.
He has served churches in various capacities in Pine Bluff, West Memphis, Lincoln and Morrow, Beebe and Little Rock and has led revivals in Little Rock, Paragould, Marianna, Jonesboro, Brinkley, Hot Springs, Murfreesboro and Ben Fee and Salem camp meetings.
Serving as this year’s songleader for the Salem Camp Meeting will be the Rev. John Moore, a recruiter for the University of Arkansas.
Originally from Malvern, Moore is also engaged in ministry at the Morrow United Methodist Church near Fayetteville.
He often serves as a camp meeting singer, speaker and youth leader.
He has been involved in the Ben Few Camp Meeting for seven years. He plays the piano and keyboard and performs various types of music including gospel, hymns and contemporary Christian selections.
He teaches courses in leadership, human resources and business communications for Northwest Arkansas Community College, John Brown University and UA.
He says that music “should lift people to worship and should in itself be a message of inspiration.”
Kathleen Dockery of Oaklawn United Methodist Church in Hot Springs is returning as pianist for the camp meeting.
Dockery plays all the old-time hymns “with fervor, reverence and gusto, providing a real spiritual treat,” said a camp meeting board member.
Special performers will get under way at 6:30 each evening before the camp meeting services. Featured music for the week will include several groups, beginning Sunday evening with the Salem United Methodist Church Choir.
Other groups will include Parkview United Methodist Church Choir, Messengers of Song, Paul and Joann Shuffield, Level Ground, Haven United Methodist Church Choir, Turnpointe Church of Conway Singers and Salem United Methodist Church praise team.
The Rev. Chester Jones, superintendent of the South Central Arkansas District of the United Methodist Church, will preach on the evening of June 28. This service also will include the camp meeting’s traditional memorial service.
Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall after each evening service, except for the first Sunday when a cookout/potluck meal and activities under the direction of Richard Bondurant will take place. These events will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Leading a children’s crusade Monday-Friday will be Donnie Baer of Salem United Methodist Church and Flower T. Clown, who is returning for another year.
Host pastor for the meeting is the Rev. Denman Gillett, pastor of the Salem church.
The public is invited.
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