Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association: About Us

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is a ministry organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for spirtual birth, growth, and renewal in a Christian seaside setting. Centrally located on the Jersey Shore, Ocean Grove is within two hours of both New York City and Philadelphia. Founded in 1869, the Camp Meeting continues to put on a vibrant program of preaching, teaching and celebration throughout the summer months. More recently, the Camp Meeting has also been providing more year-round activities.

::Trustees and Volunteers
The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is a non-profit corporation governed by a Board of Trustees. All Trustees are volunteers. By charter, all trustees must be members of the United Methodist Church. At least ten of these members must be clergy and at least ten must be non-clergy. There are also Associate Trustees which may belong to any Christian denomination. Board Meetings are held four times per year. There is an executive board made up of board elected trustees. It includes all officers (President, VP, Treasurer, Secretary), all four Committee heads (Program, Development, Finance, Operations) and two "at large" members. This executive committee also meets four times per year (spaced evenly between full board meetings)

:: Camp Meetings and Revivals

Definition:
Camp Meetings were an important aspect of evangelism and revivalism in the sparsely settled areas of the American frontier. These events were held in the open air and took place over several days. Because many attendees had to travel some distance in order to be there, it was common to simply camp out at the very spot, thus leading to the name. People were told to let go of their sins and dedicate themselves to God. Very often people would begin shouting in religious fervor.

Most historians believe that James McGready held the first camp meeting at Red River, Kentucky, in June 1800. It was so successful that he held a second one at Gasper River, Kentucky, just a month later. The largest camp meeting may have been the Cane Ridge Revival held at Cane Ridge, Kentucky, in August 1801. Lead by Barton W. Stone, it was attended by at least 10,000 people over the course of a week.

The Story of Ocean Grove
Written in 1919 in commemoration
of Ocean Grove, New Jersey
50th Anniversary

Referring to Dr Osborn...
A rugged, stalwart man of splendid physique–"preeminently a child and lover of nature"–with hair and beard to rival David’s; whose voice could easily be heard from the Auditorium to the ocean, and whose great ambition was to provide "somewhere along the sea, a convenient place where a few families of like mind can pitch their tents, and for a little while in summer enjoy the sea air, bathing, fishing, etc., having such social and religious exercises intermingled as convenience and inclination might suggest."

For more information on Ocean Grove History visit
Historical Society of Ocean Grove