Central California Conference
Soquel Camp Meeting Expands Participation Via TV, Internet
Ramiro Cano and Ken Bullington congratulate theme winners.
Carlton Byrd makes a passionate appeal.
An Inspiring Theme
Perhaps the most exciting part of this year’s theme was the process by which it was chosen. The conference organized a contest through which all Central schools were encouraged to submit student entries for a theme based on education. Hundreds of entries poured in. The resulting theme, “Transformed: Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow” was the combination of two entries, submitted by Lana Kidwell, a fifth-grader from Fresno Adventist Academy, and Ahmiyiah Hudson, a fifth-grader from Bakersfield Adventist Academy. Both students received a cash gift of $100, $500 toward tuition, with an additional $500 for their respective classrooms. “It was a blessing to have Adventist education featured throughout the 2016 Soquel camp meeting. The theme provided an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of educating our young people with Christ as the foundation,” says Ken Bullington, Central’s vice president for education.
The Central California Conference once again brought to life its picturesque Pacific Coast campus on July 14-23, 2016, to host the conference’s 136th camp meeting season. This year’s camp meeting theme, titled “Transformed: Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow,” centered on education. Throughout the 10-day event, Central celebrated its commitment to all aspects of transformational education through all life stages. “We wanted to emphasize the important role that education plays in every believer’s life,” explains Ramiro Cano, president. “Whether we are enrolling students in Adventist educational institutions, engaging with them in public or homeschool settings, or simply encouraging all believers to have an ongoing posture of learning, we are preparing effective leaders for both today and tomorrow.” Speakers and seminar presenters discussed what education means and how a commitment to excellence and education today will produce leaders for tomorrow. “If you are content with the best you have done, you will never become the best you can be, because excellence is not an option,” said Carlton P. Byrd, speaker/director of Breath of Life Ministries, who delivered Soquel’s first weekend keynote address. “Why, then, should we strive for excellence? We should strive for excellence because we serve a great God, and our God deserves our best.” Onstage discussions naturally included the Adventist educational system. Central operates 29 schools throughout its territory and works closely with both Pacific Union College and La Sierra University in the education of its students. Special guests, including Dr. Heather Knight, president of PUC, spoke on critical aspects of Adventist education. “The fantastic thing about schools like PUC is that we integrate faith and learning, so you have the best of the academic world integrated with our Adventist worldview,” emphasized Knight.
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Steve Green hits a high note accompanied by the camp meeting choir.