OHIO—Members from Maine to Virginia gathered at Camp Buckeye for the Canton family weekend August 29 to September 1. This year was the biggest group yet, with 235 members attending Sabbath services. The activity began in 2008 and has continued almost every year since.

Pastor Cal Culpepper established a family reunion theme for the weekend in his opening prayer on Friday evening. That night, Preaching Elder Greg Nice led young children and teens in a tic-tac-toe Bible question-and-answer game.

The next morning, Mr. Culpepper gave a Bible study titled, “Honor God With Your Family.”

“God’s mind is on family,” he said, encouraging members to live the family way. In the afternoon, members listened to Pastor General Gerald Flurry’s recorded sermon “A Survey of Ezekiel 1-5” in the peaceful outdoor setting.

Members said a highlight of the campout was when Mr. Culpepper ordained Indiana member Kelly Havens to the office of a deacon.

“I was just in shock,” Mr. Havens said as brethren crowded around to express their love and congratulations.

After the Sabbath, members shared an evening of Hawaiian snacks, drinks, dancing and karaoke at a festive Hawaiian-themed luau under the pavilion. Members wore flowered shirts, skirts and leis. Local Elder Victor Vejil emceed the event, announcing group dances including the hokey pokey, line dances, the Virginia Reel and the chicken dance.

A light rain provided cooler temperatures and cleared out mosquitoes before members dispersed to various housing arrangements—tents, cabins, RVs or a local hotel.

“We built unity by enduring the challenges of heat, bugs and rain with laughter,” member Laurel Quigley said. Members joked, “Next year, the mosquitoes will not be invited!”

On Sunday, children’s games took place under the pavilion because of the rain and soggy fields. Members played board games and conversed at the dining lodge and on the porches.

Several members said the rain helped to develop greater unity among members as it drove them to deeper conversations about family, trials and examples of God working in their lives.

The sun broke through the rain in the afternoon, so many went to the pool, scaled the climbing wall, played softball, or took hayrides through the countryside before relaxing around a bonfire that evening.

Member Christine Creager called it “the best Canton Family Reunion ever by far, especially the people and the unity.”