Down by the river

*Local minister joins hundreds for eight-day Pecos River Encampment in Texas desert

by AMY DAVIS
TENNESSEE BIBLE COLLEGE

COOKEVILLE — It happens each June on a hot, dry patch of desert land along the Pecos River in southwest Texas.

Hundreds converge in tents, RVs and existing buildings on the 10-acre encampment area between the towns of Sheffield and Iraan, stirring up the dust eight days a year for a spiritual session offering preaching, gospel singing and Bible classes galore.

The Pecos River Encampment, as it is known, is an annual calling for many attendees, some of whom make the desert pilgrimage annually with the whole family. This year marked the 65th consecutive encampment since 1944, with the young and old alike braving the rugged elements and intense heat for a one-of-a-kind spiritual atmosphere without the distractions of modern-day life, despite temperatures that average around 102 degrees on a good day.

"Folks don't go because it's comfortable. And the kids don't go because it's all fun and games," said Tennessee Bible College teaching assistant Paul Wilmoth of Sparta, a new face among this year's group of 250 campers.

Tennessee Bible College teaching assistant Paul Wilmoth of Sparta joined 250 for an eight-day encampment along the Pecos River in southwest Texas this past June. He described the spiritual session as an enjoyable, "life-changing experience," despite temperatures averaging 102 degrees. Above is the tabernacle, a metal structure where the people gathered daily for worship and gospel singing. 

Wilmoth, who also serves as associate minister at Northeast Church of Christ in Cookeville, described the event as "life-changing" for him.

"I'd never seen nor heard of anything like this," he said.

And he kept himself busy.

"In eight days, I preached fifteen sermons, taught eight adult Bible classes, attended six Bible classes and seven early morning devotionals, drank no coffee, took no warm shower, saw no television, heard no radio and ate goat for the first time," he said. "It was quite an experience!"

The encampment is under the oversight of Sheffield Church of Christ in Texas and attended mostly by folks from the immediate area, as well as some from Arizona, California, New Mexico, Mexico and elsewhere. Attendance is free, with freewill offerings collected to cover the cost of meals and such.

Wilmoth had heard about the encampment from TBC President Malcolm Hill, who had attended in the past. When the invitation came this year, Wilmoth jumped at the chance to go and assist.

"When I retired, I had hoped to do some traveling and preaching like that," said Wilmoth, former postmaster for Tennessee Tech University, who stepped down in 2006 after almost 40 years of service.

While on the Pecos River, Wilmoth boarded in one of almost 30 permanent buildings on the property, a small white house with a screen door and a broken window over the head of his bed.

"Some of the ranchers had built their own cabins and come back to them every year," he said. "The preacher's house I stayed in has an air-conditioning unit, but it's not air conditioning like we're used to. It runs off water (evaporative cooler), and in the day time, it was still so hot you would sweat!"

It was also hot in the large gathering place known as the tabernacle, where Wilmoth spent much of his time preaching. The building consisted of a metal roof with no walls, and metal benches for worshippers to sit on.

But the majority of the campers — locals who are used to the soaring southwestern temperatures — endured the heat just fine.

"It didn't seem to bother anybody," Wilmoth said. "And the wind blew all the time, which kept us fairly comfortable. It was like being at the beach!"

As for the food, Wilmoth had no complaints.

"It was delicious!" he said. "We had pork chops, chicken... and everything was cooked outside."

He added, "Used to, goat was the main thing served. They would slaughter 100 goats during a camp meeting. We had goat once this year, but it's not served as often now because of the price — goats are expensive!"

While 250 gathered for this year's encampment, as many as 500 have come together in the past — and continue to go back year after year.

"One man told me he was 50 years old and that he'd been going since he was born," Wilmoth said. "There were folks there from two months old to one man who told me he'd soon be 94. Another man celebrated his 89th birthday at camp. One family had five generations present, and at least two families had four generations."

Campers were awakened each morning at 6:30 by the ringing of a big, old iron bell. By 7 a.m., they had gathered at the tabernacle for a short devotional, followed by Bible classes. A worship service was held daily at 11 a.m., and, after lunch and some recreational activities, campers met in small groups to discuss the morning's sermon. Singing at 7 p.m. kicked off the evening activities, followed by another worship service — and as many trips to the river as necessary.

Wilmoth said the experience was "really something," as he could hardly get back to his cabin after services for all the questions, prayer requests and responses to the gospel invitation for baptism.

"I saw a man baptize his wife, another man baptize his son and another man baptize his grandson," he said. "One particular night, we made three trips to the river. And it was about a quarter of a mile, walking through the dust! The old-timers said they couldn't remember as many adults being baptized as there were at this camp."

He recalls plenty of joyful tears shed at Pecos River.

"I believe that's the sentiment of the whole group of people who come each year," Wilmoth said. "You can tell they just love each other. There's no way to explain it without being a part of it. It has to be the spiritual atmosphere that keeps bringing them back."

He added,"I thoroughly enjoyed it. As hot as it was, and as uncomfortable as it was, I wouldn't take anything for the experience."