ARKANSAS—On August 29, members from Arkansas, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma gathered at Mt. Hensley Hideaway in Clinton, Arkansas, for the third annual Labor Day Arkansas family campout. All week the weather forecast showed rain, and all of us were praying for cooler temperatures and that God would clear out the rain. It rained hard on Thursday before the campout, which was a blessing because it lifted the burn ban, enabling us to have a bonfire. It also toned down the dust on the gravel road and campground.

The weekend kicked off with split Bible studies, with the first one given by Local Elder Jason Hensley about Satan trying to waste our time and for us to examine what we should prioritize in our lives. Local Church Elder Darren Verbout gave an interactive Church history lesson with a slide show on the start of the sixth era, the Elijah work in Eugene, Oregon, and how the PCG in the Laodicean era must now finish the Elijah work.

Arkansas member Donna Floyd said, “God really blessed this family building campout! The weather was lovely, everyone had a beautiful time and it gave us all an opportunity to practice once again working together as God’s family.”

Sabbath morning began with a brunch followed by Sabbath services, a game of Bible baseball and a brisket dinner before heading back to the campsite. Members played games and shared fellowship that evening.

Nicole Wynne from Oklahoma said it was “a family event that we looked forward to all year. All of it was amazing, from the food to the fellowship!”

Sunday morning began with a 5k run and walk to get the blood pumping. A group breakfast gave the group fuel for the favorite activity of the campout: speeches given by 18 teens who had attended the 2025 Summer Educational Program in Edmond, Oklahoma, with a couple teens volunteering for impromptus. The teens spoke on how they gave God victories at SEP.

Arkansas member Caity Boren said she “really appreciated the teens giving their speeches about giving God victories. This really brought the camp theme home. It was a perspective that we all needed and learned from.”

After the speeches, everyone was on the move once again with wacky games, kickball, capture the flag, and a Ladderball tournament won by Gabe Baas from Oklahoma.

On Monday, everyone packed up, cleaned up and said their farewells.

Kansas member Misty Lowe said, “The Hensley property is beautiful, and we appreciated their hospitality. I also loved seeing all the teens and kids having a good time together.”

Her son Riley said, “It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed all the games and fellowship as well as giving and hearing the speeches.” Her daughter Makayla said it was the best Labor Day ever.

Her other son Gabe rated the campout 10 out of 10, saying it was the best he had ever been to.