Workday planned for 158th Balls Creek Campmeeting

July 15, 2011

Although the Balls Creek Campmeeting is a month away, “tent” owners are beginning to prepare for the 158th year of the historic campmeeting.
The wooden shacks, called tents, are cleaned, painted and aired out in anticipation of Sunday, Aug. 14, opening day for the annual campmeeting.
Campmeeting will commence with the 7:30 p.m. service and will close with the 7:30 p.m. service on Sunday, Aug. 28.
According to Robert Eades, chairman of the Board of Trustees for Balls Creek Campground, a workday will be held Saturday, July 16.
“There are a variety of tasks to perform, such as landscape work, general cleanup and painting,” Eades said. “We’ll begin at 9 a.m. and work ‘until.’ It’s housekeeping to get ready for campmeeting.”
This will be the 49th campmeeting for Eades, 49.
The historic campmeeting draws several thousand folks, especially Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m. for “The Big Sing,” featuring the Cockman Family.
Saturday, Aug. 27, at 7:30 p.m., features local singing — another popular event.
“Anyone is welcome to Campmeeting,” Eades said. “You don’t have to own a tent to attend. Also, anyone is welcome to come to workday Saturday.”
Annual religious revivals started during the late 1790s at in eastern Catawba County. The tradition continued in 1853 when Balls Creek Campground was constructed on Buffalo Shoals Road, in Catawba. That year, Rev. H.H. Durant and Rev. Lewis Scarborough held religious services under a brush arbor at the site.
Those who attended the fist campmeeting made their way to the campmeeting site along dusty dirt roads in covered wagons. They remained at the site for the duration of the campmeeting living in their covered wagon or in canvas tents. About 10 or 12 families built permanent wooden structures or “tents” for the purpose of the 1853 services. Campmeeting has been held each year in August since its formation. The Campground and its 300-plus tents are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sunday, Aug. 14
6:30 p.m., A Celebration of Campmeeting — Mt. Pleasant UMC, Old-Time Hymn Sing.
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship — Mt. Pleasant UMC, Rev. Joe Westfall, Mt. Pleasant UMC, Sherrills Ford.
Monday, Aug. 15
6 p.m., Children’s Service — Gail Hildebran and Rose Bibeau, Hopewell UMC
7:30 p.m. Evening Worship — Cornerstone Church, Rev. Jonathan Foster, Cornerstone Church, Maiden.
Tuesday, Aug. 16
6 p.m., Children’s Service — Gail Hildebran and Rose Bibeau, Hopewell UMC.
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship — Mays Chapel UMC, Rev. David Kelley, Mays Chapel UMC, Maiden.
Wednesday, Aug. 17
7:30 p.m., Youth Rally.
Thursday, Aug. 18
6 p.m., Children’s Service — Gail Hildebran and Rose Bibeau, Hopewell UMC.
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship — Centerview Baptist, Rev. Glenn Sellers, Centerview Baptist, Maiden.
Friday, Aug. 19
6 p.m., Children’s Service — Gail Hildebran and Rose Bibeau, Hopewell UMC.
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship — Mt. View UMC, Rev. Richard Irwin, Mt. View UMC, Claremont.
Saturday, Aug. 20
7:30 p.m., Big Sing, featuring The Cockman Family.
Sunday, Aug. 21
9:45 a.m., Sunday School — pianist: David Adams, emcee Henry Detter, adults: Lewis Campbell, youth: Angela Detter, children: Gail Hildebran.
11 a.m., Morning Worship, pianist: David Adams, emcee: Ron Caldwell. Rev. Terry Duckworth, WNC Conference Evangelist, Asheville.
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship.
Pianist: David Adams and emcee, Ron Caldwell. Rev. Terry Duckworth, WNC Conference Evangelist, Asheville.
Monday, Aug. 22
10:45 a.m. Morning Worship — emcee and pianist, Jason Myers. Rev. Ron Lytle, Shiloh UMC, Claremont.
6 p.m., Children’s Service — Gail Hildebran and Rose Bibeau, Hopewell UMC.
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship — pianist David Adams and emcee Ron Caldwell. Rev. Patrick Purdy, Mt. Ruhama Baptist, Maiden.
Tuesday, Aug. 23
10:45 a.m., Morning Worship — emcee and pianist, Jason Myers. Rev. Trevor Batchelor, Mt. View-Wesley Chapel, Troutman.
6 p.m., Children’s Service — Gail Hildebran and Rose Bibeau — Hopewell UMC.
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship — pianist David Adams and emcee Ron Caldwell. Rev. Richard Tuttle, Catawba UMC, Catawba.
Wednesday, Aug. 24
10:45 a.m., Morning Worship — Senior Citizen’s Day, emcee and pianist, Jason Myers. Rev. Robert Silber, executive director of ECCCM, Newton. All senior citizens are urged to attend this service and to bring a covered dish for a shared lunch. Cup plates, forks, spoons, ice water and drinks will be provided by the campground.
Come join us rain or shine.
7:30 p.m., Youth Rally.
Thursday, Aug. 25
10:45 a.m. Morning Worship — Traditional Preacher’s Day. Emcee and pianist, Jason Myers.
Rev. Terry Duckworth, WNC Conference Evangelist, Asheville.
All are urged to bring a covered dish for a shared lunch to help feed the ministers in honor of their service. Cups, plates, forks, spoons, ice water and drinks provided. Come join us rain or shine.
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship — pianist David Adams, emcee Ron Caldwell. Rev. Terry Duckworth, WNC Conference Evangelist, Asheville.
Friday,Aug. 26
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship — pianist David Adams and emcee Ron Caldwell. Pastor Andrew Weisner, Lenoir Rhyne University, Hickory.
Saturday, Aug. 27
7:30 p.m., Local Singing — emcee Jason Myers, Mt. Anderson.
Sunday, Aug. 28
9:45 a.m., Sunday School —pianist David Adams and emcee Henry Detter. Adults: Shirley Beatty, youth: Angela Detter, and children: Jamie Stilwell.
11 a.m. Morning Worship —
pianist David Adams and emcee Ron Caldwell. Rev. Bob Kerr, Rehobeth UMC, Terrell.
7:30 p.m., Evening Worship with Communion — Friendship UMC, Rev. Brad Thies, Friendship UMC, Newton.
Visit www.ballscreekcampground.org