Many were the vocal responses from saints in this corner as well as from the rest of the congregation. Another essential accessory was the Amen Corner where the "patriarchs" sat. Old rocking chairs were found for the comfort of creakyīones, especially those of aged grandmas and aunties. Since campers could always expect “a real soaker” (therefore lots of mud!) during the week, the farmers brought in loads of wheat and oat straw and scattered it throughout the aisles, between the seat (backless planks) and around the “mourners’ bench” at the front. Small family tents dotted the grounds on all sides-reminiscent of the 12 tribes of Israel encamped around God’s tabernacle in the wilderness. How excited the young people were when they saw a huge tent slowly billowing outwards as men tugged at the ropes and pushed on the poles to get it upright! The youngsters had never been in a “tent church” before. Next was a tent large enough to hold services for the throngs whoĬommon Bonds: The Story of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada.Ĭalgary: The Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, 2002. The first step was the acquisition in 1905 of five acres of land right in the centre of Didsbury. Not long after the settlers arrived in the west, they began planning for a camp program. Missionary Church had moved from place to place before a permanent site was chosen. In 1999 it was exchanged for a much more spacious facility. Over the years, powerful messages from bishops, evangelists, and missionaries made Elkton Valley Camp dear to the hearts of many Albertans. They also had plenty of space for trailers and motor homes. Three years later they also provided spruce benches (pitch oozing out was a dubious bonus), and much later, a dining hall, more dorms, and heated cabins. They built a 40’圆0’ tabernacle, a five-room dormitory, and two small cottages for speaker and workers. Plans were made to erect buildings during that winter, so preachers and laymen a like endured days of unaccustomed exercise in cutting down spruce trees in minus 30 degrees Celcius weather. It was on the same river, but this site spread across 18 acres of space. The following year they purchased their own campground. Meals had to be cooked on open fires even water had to be hauled in form a nearby farm. There were no conveniences at the camp, but being hardy souls, they didn’t mind roughing it for seven or eight days. They pitched the old white tent that belonged to the conference to use it again for services. Men came from different churches to set up the camp. A search was made, and a rented site on the Little Red Deer River was chosen. It was too far to go to Saskatchewan in 1938, so Conference approved their request. When Echo Lake Camp (in Saskatchewan) proved to be such a success, the AlbertaĬhurches also wanted a camp of their own. A campfire crowned the activities of each evening hearty singing, interspersed with testimonies, inspired the youth as they watched the sparks drift upward. The morning was devoted to Bible study, music and teaching, while the afternoons were taken up with recreation. The murmer of open water, however, did have a special appeal and in 1929 the Evangelical congregation in Didsbury conducted a ten-day “Holiday Camp School” at Sylvan Lake. People came daily from milesĪround to partake of the inspiration, and many of the early member were converts from these camps. They chose a farmer’s field or a church property, put up a large tent, and preached the gospel each afternoon and evening for two or three weeks. The lack of lakes and rivers did not curb their zeal. As early as 1906 the Evangelicals held a camp meeting near Neudorf, Saskatchewan, and churches in Alberta organized camps of their own. The love of camp meetings migrated with the pioneers to the West.
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