After a yearlong delay due to the pandemic, a prominent religious event returned to the region: Camp Sychar, a non-denominational holiness camp meeting whose history dates at least to the 1870s.
Part of the Ohio State Holiness Camp Meeting Association, the camp’s purpose is “the promotion of scriptural holiness as interpreted in the Arminian Wesleyan tradition,” as noted on its Facebook page.
The camp is at 201 Sychar Road in Mount Vernon.
During the 10-day event, from July 22 to Aug. 1, different preachers present sermons to the crowd. The group’s website listed this year’s speakers: Michael VanZant, a professor at Mount Vernon Nazarene University; evangelists Billy Huddleston and Jonathan Morgan; and song leader Wesley Rouse.
“Last year was the first time there was not an in-person camp meeting in the entire 150 years that it has been open,” Lori Hoff, an attendee, said in a letter to the Mount Vernon News. “So many people that drive by our holiness camp don't understand what it is. We would love to share what we are all about with others as well as how God is moving mountains in the lives of those that attend.”
Other speakers were listed in the camp’s brochure: Bible mentor Dr. Gary Cockerill; missionaries Brian Kushman, David and Marty Meek, and Dan Schafer; children’s ministry co-leaders Charissa Buchanan and Tim and Laura McCoy; and preschool co-leaders Carmalita Tyler and Nicola Clark.
To document this special 150th installment of the camp, organizers scheduled a commemorative photo shoot of all of this year’s attendees by Nicole Miller of Nicole Leone Miller Photography in Mount Vernon. The picture will be followed by a butterfly release, a song of worship and cake for all who attend, Hoff said.
New to the festivities this year is a self-guided tour describing the site’s buildings and history.
“This year marks the 100th year of our tabernacle as well,” Hoff said. “The structure is truly breathtaking, and the way it was built so many years ago is like nothing we see today.”
