Salem-The 187th Salem Camp meeting begins July 10 with supper at the Salem Hotel and the Covington UMC Picnic at the pavilion at 6 p.m.

The camp meeting will last through the following Friday, July 17th with a candlelight closing service at 9:30 p.m.

This year’s camp meeting features leaders Dr. Stephen Rankin, Dr. Benny Tate, Thomas Roberts, Alice Walker and Becky Ramsey, Rev. Jonathan Anderson and Rev. Andrew Covington.

Dr. Rankin currently serves as Chplain and Minister to the University at Southern Methodist. He regularly blogs at steverankin.wordpress.com and he recently published a book, titled Aiming at AMaturity: The Goal of the Christian Life.

Dr. Benny Tate is originally from McMinnville, Tennessee and has served for more than 25 years as the Senior Pastor of Rock Springs Church in Milner. Dr. Tate has also served as Chaplain for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. He has authored: One More Night wit the Frongs, Happy Wife/Happy Life and When you Follow a Star and Find a Stable.

Roberts has been the music director and platform leader at Salem Camp Meeting since 1989. He serves as Principal and Chief Operations Officer of Green3Power Operations, Inc. and BioPower Operations, Inc.

Walker and Ramsey, identical twins, are duo pianist who both hold BA degrees form Agnes Scott College, have earned two certifications from the American Guild of Organists Colleague and Associate and have been pianists at Salem Campground since 1971.

Alice Walker is the Organist and Director of the Ambassador Choir and Handbell Choir at First Presbyterian Church of Covington and Becky Ramsey is the Organist and Director of Music for Senior Adults at Covington First United Methodist Church.

Anderson is an Associate Pastor at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church in Dacula.

Covington is the lead pastor at Connexion UMC at North Covington and was the Minister to Students and Contemporary Worship at Conyers First United Methodist Church.