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Camp Meeting 2025:
Let it Rain
June 20-28

Wisconsin Conference camp meeting is a nine-day religious convention of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Religious training is provided for people of all ages, from infants to senior citizens. Attendees camp in cabins, motor homes, trailers, tents, or commute from their homes. When camp meeting is in session, attendance swells to nearly 5,000, making it the largest “town” in the county.

Camp meeting is live streamed on our YouTube Channel each year. For those on the grounds of Camp Wakonda the meetings are also broadcast on your radio at 87.9 FM.

Camp meeting is held on the grounds of Camp Wakonda near Westfield, Wisconsin, and is open to the general public. Reservation is only required for on-site accommodations.

Hispanic camp meeting is usually scheduled to be held in August. More information will be available soon.

2025 Guidebook
Let It Rain: Here

For programming from Pioneer Pavilion, click or scan the QR code below to find the Wisconsin Camp Meeting YouTube Channel

Online Reservations

FAQ’s

Policies

Weekend/Evening Speakers:

Opening Weekend:

John Wesley Taylor V serves as president of Andrews University. Born in Puerto Rico, he has worked as a teacher and administrator in various institutions, including Montemorelos University in Mexico, the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) in the Philippines, and Southern Adventist University in the United States. Prior to joining Andrews University, he served as Associate Director of Education at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, as well as an editor of College and University Dialogue, Board chair for The Journal of Adventist Education, and Executive Secretary for the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA). He has supported educational systems in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Taylor holds bachelor’s degrees in health science and in religion, master’s degrees in educational administration and in instructional technology, and doctorates in curriculum and instruction (Andrews University) and in educational psychology and research (University of Virginia). Areas of professional interest include the philosophy of Christian education, data-driven decision-making, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, spiritual leadership, special student populations, and strategies for high-level thinking and for nurturing faith. Personal interests include camping, mountaineering, gardening, music, and the study of cultures. He is married to Miriam Wells, and together they have a daughter, Carolyn, and a son, John Wesley.

Sunday Evening:

Currently serving as president of the Wisconsin Conference, Titus Naftanaila joined the Wisconsin Conference as a pastor in 2007. During his time in Wisconsin, he has pastored several districts along with serving as Religious Liberty Coordinator, Stewardship Ministries Coordinator, and Personal Ministries/Lay Pastors Training Program Coordinator.

Elder Naftanaila loves to preach God’s word with the desire to encourage others to give their hearts to the Lord.

Mon-Thurs Evenings:

Lee Venden, a pastor, educator, and author, has worked as a revivalist since 2008. Empowered by a love for Jesus and a passion to see the revival of God’s people worldwide, Lee and his wife Marji have offered revival seminars to support pastors and churches seeking to deepen their congregations’ spiritual lives by guiding individuals in their personal walk with Christ. They believe the Good News about Jesus is simply wonderful—and wonderfully simple.

Closing Weekend:

Tim Madding serves as Director of the North American Division Evangelism Institute in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Beginning his ministry there in the Fall of 2021, Tim’s focus is on church revitalization and church planting, equipping students at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary and pastors throughout the North American Division. Tim did his BA in Pastoral Ministry at Weimar College and has a DMin and MDiv from Andrews University.

Tim has served in ministry for 29 years and believes that the local church is God’s primary tool for the salvation of the world. Tim is most often known for his passion for church planting, helping Beltsville Adventist Church become a multisite church by launching multiple campuses, and living homeless in Washington, DC for a week in an effort to bring awareness to the need.

Morning Prayer Time and Seminars:

Morning Prayer Time:

Lesa Budd has always found prayer to be a natural part of her life—from childhood evenings kneeling on her “prayer pillow” each night to quiet nature walks spent talking with God.

Now serving as Wisconsin Conference’s Prayer Ministries Coordinator, Lesa sees her lifelong connection with prayer as a calling fulfilled. She finds it a deep honor to be used by God and to help others discover the joy of talking with God and the peace of His presence.

She is a proud mother of six adult children, grandmother to thirteen, and great-grandmother to four. Lesa gives all glory to a faithful God who continues to guide her journey.

9:30 am:

Dr. Rodney Palmer presently serves as the chair of the Department of Religion and Biblical Languages and Associate Professor of Religion, specializing in the areas of Homiletics and Practical Theology at Andrews University (AU). He is an ordained minister, a Formative Dialogue on Teaching Faculty Colleague, a Certified Trauma Support Specialist, an AU Advisory Board member for the International Center for Trauma Education and Care, NetVUE faculty fellow, president of the Adventist Society for Religious Studies, and chair of the Undergraduate Council.

Palmer was born in Jamaica and pastored in the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for nine years. Before coming to Andrews University, he served three years as a Senior Pastor in the Wisconsin Conference and as a Lake Union Conference Executive Committee member.

Palmer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica; a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Master of Divinity in Leadership from Liberty University; a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Prophetic Preaching and Praxis from United Theological Seminary; and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Andrews University.

Dr. Palmer is married to Alyssa (JD, UW-Madison), the Assistant Vice-President for Campus and Student Life and Title IX Coordinator at AU. The Palmers are the proud parents of Luke and Emerson.

11:00 am:

Karen and Steve Nicola — *Karen & Steve Nicola*

Steve and Karen Nicola have weathered the fierce storm of grief following the death of their firstborn, 3-year-old son, Dawson. Today, they work together helping others discover the tools necessary to cooperate with God’s faithful healing for broken hearts. They also educate well-meaning friends with skills to confidently step close and comfort those who grieve.

Steve and Karen come to this ministry with nearly 40 years of classroom teaching. Karen’s role in the team is the speaker, workshop instructor, grief coach, and author. Steve contributes to seminars and workshops with the male perspective. In addition, he brings valuable wisdom and utilizes his skills as a terrific listener. As the Director of sales for their book, Comfort for the Day, Living Through the Seasons of Grief, he arranges for personal and bulk orders. Together, it is their passion to encourage others toward God’s healing and learn how to support those who mourn.

In their personal lives, Steve and Karen enjoy great vegetarian ethnic foods, riding their Goldwing motorcycle, and hosting friends and family. They have two fabulous adult children and two beloved granddaughters.

Both Steve and Karen are Certified Grief Coaches through the American Association of Christian Counselors and The Grief Recovery Method and have training in Choice Theory.

2:30 pm:

Untitled design-13 — *Dr. Tim & Ashley Riesenberger*

Dr. Tim and Ashley Riesenberger are a passionate husband-and-wife team dedicated to transforming lives through ETERNAL LIFE. As a physician and dietitian, they have observed the limitations of the traditional healthcare system in helping people achieve their health and wellness goals. Through their study of the Bible and insightful books like “Ministry of Healing,” they have discovered a wealth of health-promoting remedies that really work because they were designed by God to restore vitality and longevity.

Together, they own and operate Only Longevity Health Coaching, where they partner with clients to uncover and address the root causes of disease. Find out more at www.OnlyLongevity.org.

4:00 pm:

Dr. Amir Gulzar was born and raised in Pakistan. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing, an MBA in Marketing, and a Ph.D. in Finance. From 1996 to 2002 he worked at Pakistan Adventist Seminary as an instructor and head of the Business Department, From 2003 to 2019 he worked as a missionary of the Seventh-day Adventist church at the Adventist University of Lukanga in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he worked there as an associate professor in the department of business, internal auditor, Chair for Business and Computer Science Department, and President of the university.

Since 2020, he has worked as the Business Manager at Milwaukee Seventh-day Adventist School, and in 2023, he accepted the call to serve as Executive Secretary/Treasurer for the Wisconsin Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

He is married to Shabnam Gulzar and has three children: Nathan, Nathalie, and Natasha Gulzar.