The newly designed main auditorium stage featured more space.
VICTOR CARREIRO
Central California Conference
Faces of Soquel: Maxine Smith
M
MARK BRUNIG
Brain, Body and Weight in the Game,” with brain expert Arlene Taylor, “Achieving Abundant Family Health,” with psychologist Carlton Oler, an exercise class offered by Esther Alonso-Neal, and “Eat More Rainbows,” a cooking class by Charmaine Vierra. Spiritual growth seminars included “The Psychological Ramifications of Righteousness” by Faith with Ty Gibson, “Defining Discipleship” with Leah Jordache and Don MacLafferty, a current events seminar with Steve Wohlberg, and a history and archeology seminar with Tony Moore. Other offerings included an informative financial stewardship
seminar with Ed Reid, a wills and trusts seminar with Chuck Simpson, a how-to seminar on mastering Bible software e-Sword, and a ham radio training course. “The seminars at Soquel have urged David and Maxine Smith me to prepare for the coming of Christ now!” says Joyce Gregory, an attendee from Cutler, Calif., commenting on Wohlberg’s seminar.
Kenny Fraser, prayer team member and pastor of the Mountain View church, welcomes campers as they arrive on campus.
Soquel 2.0
One of the most notable changes this year involved the design, staging and technology in both the main auditorium and the Hispanic tent. Both stage sizes were expanded significantly to allow for more programming variety, with an additional 200 square feet of stage space in the main auditorium alone. Sergio Cano, CCC lead graphic designer and director of creative services for camp meeting, designed both stages to accommodate larger platforms, utilizing
axine Smith has been coming to camp meeting since it was first held in Soquel in 1948. As a girl, her family came only on Sabbaths and didn’t start camping until VICTOR CARREIRO 1953. “We stayed in a tent that first time; we didn’t get a trailer until the second year,” she said. The oldest of seven children, she remembers smashing boxes and sliding down the side of the hill with her siblings. “We would keep going until we heard security calling for parents to come and get their children off the mountain,” Smith laughs. Smith and her family came to camp meeting faithfully for decades. She has fond memories of worshiping in the junior and youth tents, memories that come flooding back whenever she sings hymns like “Lift Up The Trumpet” and “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.”“We would stand up and reach for heaven!” she remembers. “We would rock this place when we sang in that tent.” In 1984, with a family of her own, her responsibilities made it difficult to continue attending. Now a grandmother, Smith has returned so her grandchildren can have the same kind of experience she did. “There are so many trailers now and all the technology and screens are wonderful,” Smith comments. “But even though a lot has changed, it’s still the same camp meeting I remember. It’s so great that everybody can still come together and bond together like this.”
Taneshia Kerr August/September 2015
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