“Mamre Farm” at Alectown and Headquarters of Vision Ministries Inc. is being well prepared for a special 20th year Celebration of the annual “Old Fashioned Revival Camp Meeting”. The Camp will run from Saturday 3rd to the 8th October and everyone is invited to attend and enjoy this very unique Australian Christian gathering which has obviously maintained its popularity now for over two decades. This year will provide the same kind of program that has always proved successful over the years of ministry to the whole family including special children and youth activities along with the regular morning and evening sessions in the main auditorium of the “Bush Cathedral”. 2009 will also see Vision Ministries hosting folk from throughout Australia and again from overseas. Meetings take place each morning at 9.00 am and of an evening at 7.00 pm. The afternoons are always free to share with others and in some cases make friends for life. The Canteen is always available to purchase food.
When Harry & Doreen Westcott held their first “Old Fashioned Revival Camp Meeting” in September 1990 it was in very humble, make shift circumstances. A borrowed Tent, from Ps. Arden Burrell, of Dubbo, hot water per kind favor of the Army with their “Chuffer” and toilets and showers built within covered wheat mesh bins. Every thing was basic even the food was prepared in the old machinery shed which had a dirt floor. The 130 people who attended that first Camp all went home rejoicing and not one person became sick. We’re sure if OH&S had looked us over we’d have never got started!!
Over the 20 years of conducting Camp Meetings many improvement have eventuated that has greatly assisted our ability in holding these annual national and also international gatherings. The Parkes Shire Council has made a commitment to keep Mamre Road from Alectown to Mamre Farm in good order which has been a wonderful help. At our first Camp one person actually got bogged half way between Alectown and Mamre Farm!! Those 6 Klms from the Newell Hwy are important to all that happens in the future here on Mamre Farm. It has become a very busy road and Harry’s sure will be sealed in his lifetime!
Over the years the main changes have been in providing comfort to all our visitors, especially those who travel from overseas. Good hot water, flushing toilets, excellent showers, a wonderful kitchen capable of preparing meals for all who require them and an eating area that can accommodate up to 150 people. We also have a group of seven new Cabins (2 completed) under construction because there is always pressure on us to provide accommodation for those who do not have camping equipment. Apart from our homes we also have three other Cabins in existence. That is a huge leap forward from Harry and Doreen’s spare bedroom!!
At Camp Meeting 1997 just after Harry had been consecrated in London as a Bishop of the “International Communion of Charismatic Churches” (a world wide communion of over six million Christians), Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa from Nigeria, Bishop Michael Reid from England and Rev Ron Halvorson from the United States all came and established Harry as Australia’s first ICCC Bishop. And at the same time Dedicated the newly built “Go Forth Faith Arena, Australia’s Bush Cathedral” to the work of the Lord God Almighty. In seven short years we were transformed from the basics of our beginnings to an Auditorium capable of seating more than a thousand people. It has been nothing short of a miracle!
Just as time certainly brings about many changes, so too is it true about Ministry and Leadership of that Ministry. Five years ago Harry and Doreen Westcott began the process of handing the Ministry of Vision Ministries Inc. over to Rev Jeffrey and Rebecca Evans who have been very active in encouraging many to become involved in Vision Ministries theme; “Mobilizing Australians for Jesus”!