Hundreds are expected to gather under the Hartselle Tabernacle Sunday night as the annual Camp Meeting kicks off.  

According to its website, the revival event – which is in its 121st year – began with the purpose of proclaiming faith in Jesus Christ and a lifestyle of scriptural holiness. Every year, young men and women have participated in the camp throughout the week, while the community at large has turned out to participate in the revival services. 

Plans for this year’s event became unclear when the novel coronavirus first made its way to the area, but President Rob Cain said the facility on Tabernacle Road is naturally conducive to adhering to social distancing recommendations.  

“One of the positives for us is that we’re an outdoor event, so people feel a little more comfortable with that,” Cain said. “There aren’t walls confining you in … You can get a little bit of space. 

“A lot of people, even traditionally, bring lawn chairs and sit around the outside of the building,” Cain added. “Junior Hill brings a big crowd on the first night … That will be our highest–attended night of the week.” 

Featured speakers include Hill, who for the past 14 years has kicked the meeting off Sunday night, Paul Lawler of Birmingham and Mason Tanner of Nashville.  

Cain will bring the week to a close as the speaker June 19, and he said he believes the event will be well attended even though the goal is to keep the number of attendees lower than normal.  

“We feel like we will be able to do things at 50 percent capacity and that people will understand. People are just ready to come back to worship; they miss hearing the Word in person,” he said. “We are a source of proclamation of the Gospel and have been for a very long time, but we certainly don’t want to put anyone at risk and don’t want people to feel like they are pressured to come – but we are going to open it up and have a full camp with on-site lodging and daily services.”  

The Tabernacle will be the gathering place for the two daily worship services, one at 10:30 a.m. and the second at 7 p.m. Student campers, sixth grade through college, will enjoy fellowship meals, devotionals, Bible studies and recreation time throughout the day. 

While the worship services are free and open to the public, student registration for the camp is still open and costs $175. The fee includes lodging, 16 meals, the camp program and transportation to and from off-campus activities. 

For more information or to register, visit www.hartsellecampmeeting.com.