A Holy Covenant at OOB

by Robert Mitchell and Hugo Bravo

The 2026 OOB Camp Meetings “re-Bible-ing” marks a deliberate and historic shift from event-based programming toward Scripture-centered discipleship and covenant renewal and revival.

The Bible-intensive 2026 Old Orchard Beach (OOB) Camp Meetings in Maine ended on a high note with a Wednesday concert in the Seaside Pavilion and Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz promising more of the “Our Holy Covenant” theme.

“We pray that God has spoken to your hearts,” said Commissioner Ralph, the USA East Territorial Commander. “What you have heard, what you have experienced, is just the beginning.”

This year’s camp meetings (July 25–29), featuring Commissioners Devon and Verona Haughton from the Caribbean Territory as guests, were dramatically different from past years. Pier ministry and community outreach were no longer an emphasis. Instead, the focus was purely discipleship: six morning Bible studies spread out over three days, all livestreamed. In his closing, Commissioner Ralph urged people to go back and listen online to any sessions they missed, and to tell others about them by sharing on social media.

Christian speaker Jeniffer Dake, during Tuesday morning’s Bible study, said she heard from many Salvationists that this year’s meetings felt smaller (in size, though not in spirit). She quoted Zechariah 4:10, which warns not to despise small beginnings.

“This is the small beginning of an incredible revival, but revival always starts with re-Bible-ing,” she said. “So, this new format of Bible, Bible, Bible is the beginning of revival for your territory.”

Holy Spirit breathes on OOB

The camp meetings began Saturday night in the Pavilion, which was transformed into the “upper room” from Acts 2 by Commissioner Susan Bukiewicz, Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, who spoke on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The meetings featured Spirit-filled performances by the New York Staff Band (NYSB), Eastern Territory Staff Songsters (ETSS), Unbound, a choir from the Adult Rehabilitation Center, the Territorial Arts Ministry Bureau, MOVE Dance Co., Mass Brass, and various others.

Commissioner Susan read Acts 1 and 2 before her remarks, describing the Holy Spirit coming upon the early Church at Pentecost. The 120 believers who received the supernatural gifting of the Holy Spirit changed the world after saying “yes” and being obedient by waiting in Jerusalem.

“When we say a fresh ‘yes’ to God, we are not in this alone,” she said. “We are part of the bride of Christ, and we help one another. We’re all given our spiritual gifts at the point of our conversion.”

Turning to the NYSB and ETSS seated behind her, Commissioner Susan said, “When you are all working in your giftedness, with hearts that are filled with the Holy Spirit, nothing can top that — nothing.” Addressing the audience, she said, “And when you’re all operating in your spiritual gifts, nothing can stop you because it’s the Holy Spirit who empowers you.”

Commissioner Susan invited people to come to the mercy seat for prayer.

“God is just asking you for a fresh yes,” she said. “Be engaged. Be engaged with the plan of God for the salvation of the world.”

Who I am in Christ

Colonel Stewart Dalrymple, Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army Eastern Territory, began Sunday morning’s service by explaining the meaning behind “Our Holy Covenant.”

“Our prayer for the camp meetings is that the Holy Spirit would come and speak in a powerful way,” he said. “We want everyone to come anticipating that, because He will do that if we open our hearts and minds to Him.”

During the morning’s closing message, Commissioner Ralph shared a testimony on being “made for more,” which began with his own interest in learning more about his genealogical roots. In his research, he came across a relative named George Perry, the son of Commissioner Ralph’s great-grandmother Victoria Perry. Victoria’s obituary read that George was in prison for shooting a woman whom he married bigamously. The day of Victoria’s funeral was the same day that George would be arraigned in court.

“That’s my kin,” said Commissioner Ralph, laughing. “But is that my identity? Do I have George’s DNA in my bloodline? It’s an interesting story to pass along, but God does so much more to define our identity than our surname, family heritage, or what others tell us we are.”

Evil, explained Commissioner Ralph, will always defy God’s righteousness. When God tells us who we are, evil will try to cloud, confuse, and destroy His message.

“As God’s people, we must take a firm stand and say, ‘No. THIS is who God says I am.’”

A public march and witness

The NYSB, led by Bandmaster Derek Lance, received a warm welcome as the musicians marched toward the OOB Pier on Sunday afternoon. As the NYSB played a mix of traditional Salvation Army songs and more familiar, contemporary hits, people in the audience and even workers at the pier food stands stopped what they were doing to snap photos or chat up the Salvationists in the crowd.

Majors Amber and Kyle Maynor, corps officers for The Salvation Army of OOB, addressed the crowd between the musical performances.

“It’s not every day that you see a wave of uniforms march down to the pier, and we welcome you to come even closer. We want you to hear what’s going on and more importantly, we want to share who we are,” said Major Kyle.

“Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet people in His name. It sounds like a lot, but really, we just want to say that Jesus Christ loves us. And because of that, we want to love every one of you too.”

Sunday night featured Commissioner Devon with the theme “The Altar: The Night of Consecration.”

“Tonight is our special night of consecration — a powerful moment to enter the presence of our living Lord and loving Savior, and to wholeheartedly dedicate ourselves to God’s divine will and purpose,” he said. He cleverly used the letters “AI” not to reference artificial intelligence but to being spiritually “all in,” totally surrendered to God, holding nothing back but laying everything on the altar.

Consecration, to be set apart, is a lifetime commitment to set aside our lives to be “holy and pleasing to God,” Commissioner Devon said. The consecration has a source: the “unmerited, undeserved favor of God,” and not by works but the Spirit of God received by faith.

“Our entire sanctification is God’s work received by faith,” he said. “God is the source of our consecration, and praise the Lord He is here tonight in the person of the Holy Spirit to seal our commitments as we make them to him.”

Spending the mornings with God

Commissioner Devon and Dake, the Christian speaker based in Nashville, Tennessee, taught the morning Bible studies at 9 and 11 a.m. Each session built on the one before.

Dake began Monday’s study with an acknowledgment of the importance of The Salvation Army’s presence in the world. With six out of 10 adults in the country reporting feelings of loneliness and isolation, the Army’s gifts of building community have never been more crucial.

“The U.S. Surgeon General has even started a campaign to end loneliness, with four markers that they believe if met, will cure loneliness,” said Dake. “First, people need to serve others. Second, they need to take personal time for reflection, which is the Sabbath, though they won’t call it that. Third, they need deep interactions. And fourth, they need shared activities.

“To me, that sounds a lot like The Salvation Army,” said Dake. “I am not a Salvationist, but I have spent many of my days attempting my best to encourage the community and the officers of The Salvation Army to stay the course and continue serving others. That is the model that we have been shown through Scripture.”

Commissioner Devon’s study focused on outward expressions of holiness.

“One of my greatest joys in ministry,” he said, “is witnessing to people and watching as they surrender themselves to Jesus.”

The commissioner recalled a time at his first appointment when, after a Sunday holiness meeting, a young woman asked if she could sing a song at an upcoming meeting.

“She was not a Christian, but I felt a strong impression and said yes,” he said. When she sang, it moved everyone listening to tears, and she gave her life to Jesus midway through her song.

“This prompts us to ask: Who is your holiness guiding you toward? Who has become a beneficiary of your sanctification?”

LEAD 2026: Learning to lead and tips for a better corps

During the camp meetings, LEAD 2026 met Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the OOB Corps with the theme “Kingdom Movement: Pray. Go. Disciple.”

About 24 lay leaders and corps officers met for leadership development focused on evangelism, discipleship, and helping newcomers assimilate into The Salvation Army.

Each session opened with worship and prayer before breaking off into two workshop tracks: “Pray and Go: Your Invitation to Become a Great Commission Church” and “From Guest to Soldier: Building an Assimilation Pathway.”

The special guests were Majors David and Ellen Oh, corps officers from the USA Western Territory.

“This week is all about moving toward God’s Kingdom and expanding His Kingdom on earth,” Bryan Cook, director of the Corps Leadership Development Bureau, told delegates.

The first day focused on The Salvation Army being uniquely positioned to welcome people walking through the door looking for a church home. The next two days focused on follow-up and being intentional about making people soldiers and disciples.

The “Pray and Go” movement presented by the Ohs involves a simple strategy of praying for neighborhoods, knocking on doors, and leaving a door knocker if no one is home.

“This is a culturally relevant method,” Major David said, noting the program is easy to start and has virtually no budget.

Major Ellen said, “When we tried it, we had new people every week.”

First-time delegate Envoy Felix Ortiz, who leads the Pittsburgh Westside Corps, along with his wife, Envoy Carmen Ortiz, said he enjoyed hearing the advice shared for welcoming visitors.

“We have people coming and going,” he said. “We’d like people to come back and stay, so I think this conference has been helpful in that sense.”

Another delegate was Kristine Collins, who leads the Singing Company at the Lewiston/Auburn Corps in Maine. She was raised in The Salvation Army but drifted away before returning. Last year’s LEAD conference at Camp Allegheny, she said, “changed my life.”

“It brought me back to The Salvation Army and made me want to be more involved than I was before,” she said. “I saw how much love they had for everybody, and they wanted us to know more about God and how we could spread that and be helpful.

“I came to LEAD to become a better leader in my church and to see how I can make a difference and how I can get the community to come into our church. I want to communicate with the people in my town and to let them know God is here.”

The devil’s fiery darts

On Monday night, enthusiastic campers enjoyed a rousing concert by the NYSB and ETSS. Among the selections the NYSB played were “Living Hope,” “Steadfast,” “My Treasure,” “My Strength, My Tower,” “Washed,” and “Dynamis.” The ETSS sang “Fear Not,” “Just Where He Needs Me,” “Lead Me to the Rock,” “All There Is of Me” and others, to thunderous applause. The night ended with several NYSB alumni coming forward to sing on the final song.

Commissioner Verona offered a devotion on “facing giants” and putting on God’s full armor from Ephesians 6. She explained each piece of armor and told the audience to be mindful that Christians are subject to spiritual attacks because the devil “comes to steal, kill, and destroy.”

“I would like to remind you it is your Christian duty to put on the complete armor of God if you want to stay alive and finish your race well,” she said.

Commissioner Devon, in the next day’s Bible study, dealt with the issue of drifting spiritually. Some Christians respond with judgment when they see a brother or sister struggle, but he said that’s not the correct response.

“We are not immune to the same attack and temptation,” he said. “The Church needs to understand and hear that and watch the heart of Jesus as He dealt with persons who drifted or strayed.

“People drift, but God provides a way back. There is a way back to the Lord. When we’ve drifted, mercy restores.”

Dake, in the next study, said believers can drift after a spiritual high like OOB and that “living out your covenant in the Lord is hard.” Preaching from John 15 and Jesus’ words about the vine and the branches, she focused on remaining in Him.

“If you want to remain in the Lord, you worship the Lord,” she said. “You want to feel the power of God in your life, you worship the Lord. It is in that space that He will speak to the depths of your heart.”

Let the little children come

The laughter of children filled the OOB campgrounds on Family Fun Night as everyone enjoyed a bounce house, mini-basketball, wall climbing, face-painting, balloon animals, an inflatable slide, swings, a bungee trampoline, a petting farm, and snacks.

The children who attended the kids’ meetings also sang and batted beach balls around the Pavilion. Many wore capes. Major Amanda Krueger, Territorial Youth Secretary, got into the spirit of the superhero theme by saying the greatest power is not flying, teleporting, strength, or speed.

“Your superpower is the ability to love people,” she said.

In the next day’s Bible study, Dake said that love can be expressed through mentoring and discipleship of a new believer.

“Discipleship is how we pass the covenant forward,” she said.

Dake said failing to disciple others can lead to a time like that mentioned in Judges 17:6, when Israel had no king and “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

“We are one generation away from losing the spirit of God in our churches and in our homes and in our country,” she said. “If we do not disciple the next generation, we do not prepare the successors, then there is no one to pass on the stories.”

Commissioner Devon, in the next study, urged people to come forward and renew their covenant vows to God like in the time of Joshua.

“All that has been happening over these days bring us to this moment — this time when we are called upon to make a vow,” he said. “We are called upon to covenant with God. We are called upon as a territory to be the change agents for this country that we dwell in.

“My vow with God is everlasting and it involves faith. That’s the message.”

The camp meetings closed Wednesday with New England Night, featuring Mass Brass and other artists and musicians from the division. Mass Brass performed “Glorifico Aeternum,” “The Joy of the Lord,” and “Make His Praise Glorious,” among others. The Mass & New England Chorus sang a moving rendition of “Worthy of It All.”

Major Shaun Belanger, Divisional Commander for Northern New England, took the pulpit for the night’s sermon, recalling how 28 years before, he had been in the Pavilion with his wife, Kimberly, and the two ran to the front to pray after hearing General Paul Rader speak.

“It’s where the Lord’s commission really started to come into effect within our own life,” he said.

Belanger spoke from 2 Timothy, which was written by the Apostle Paul from prison and is generally considered his last epistle. He quoted 2 Timothy 1:12 many times: “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”

“Do you believe tonight that God is able? That’s our conviction. That’s our commitment,” Belanger said.

“I believe that before we leave these camp meetings, that the Lord is encouraging us to persevere in our relationship with Jesus.”

The night — and the camp meetings — concluded with Mass Brass playing as the congregation sang the classic hymn “I’ll Go in the Strength of the Lord.”