Our Heritage

In September 1941, a small group of Methodist pastors and laypeople gathered at Woodlawn Methodist Church near Excel, Alabama, united by a common vision: to create a camp meeting dedicated to the proclamation of Scriptural holiness and the deepening of Christian faith. Organized originally as the South Alabama Holiness Camp Meeting Association, the founders desired a place where believers from various denominations could gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, and spiritual renewal.

Among those early leaders were Rev. Henry A. Screws, Jr., Rev. O.D. Williams, Rev. Enoch Johnson, Rev. G.M. (Mack) Hamby, Riley Kelly, and many others whose faith, sacrifice, and labor laid the foundation for what would become Beulah Camp Meeting.

One of the most significant gifts came from Riley Kelly, who donated the land on which the camp was established. In the earliest days, trustees met around what is now known as the Prayer Stump, seeking God’s direction and blessing for the ministry they hoped would impact generations to come. That Prayer Stump remains on the grounds today as a reminder of the prayers upon which Beulah was built.

At a trustee meeting on May 26, 1942, Rev. Enoch Johnson proposed the name “Beulah Camp Meeting,” and the motion was adopted. The name “Beulah,” drawn from Isaiah 62:4, speaks of a place of blessing, delight, and covenant relationship with God.

The camp quickly grew beyond a local gathering. Early workers and evangelists came from across the South and beyond, including leaders from Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, and other states. Beulah developed meaningful relationships with the broader Wesleyan-Holiness movement, welcoming faculty and leaders connected to Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. These connections helped establish Beulah as a respected interdenominational camp meeting committed to the historic message of holiness.

By the late 1940s, the camp grounds included a hotel, cabins, and facilities to accommodate the growing number of attendees who traveled to Monroe County each summer. Worship services, prayer meetings, youth gatherings, and preaching services filled each day as families returned year after year to seek the Lord together.

Many of the physical landmarks from those early years remain today. The Prayer Stump still stands. The historic hotel remains a visible reminder of the camp’s earliest days. Several of the original cabins continue to bear witness to the sacrifices of the founding generation. These places connect today’s campers with the men and women whose vision, generosity, and prayers established Beulah more than eight decades ago.

Since 1941, countless lives have been transformed on these grounds. Generations have gathered beneath the tabernacle to worship, pray, hear God’s Word, and experience His sanctifying grace. While much has changed through the years, the mission remains the same: to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, encourage believers in holy living, and provide a place where people can encounter God.

Today, Beulah Camp continues to promote the message of sanctification. Beulah Camp runs for 10 days every summer beginning on the 2nd Thursday in June. Beulah Camp is proud to have growing children, youth, and young adult programs along with ministering to adults of every age.