I searched the Internet for stories and articles about George Havens and/or Cowboy Camp Meeting. I’m finding we have to pay to access old newspapers. Then I/we have to pay Adobe for a downloadable PDF format. Well, as the chorus goes: “We’ll not be defeated!”   I was able to print the newspaper articles and I copied them here.

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Abilene Reporter-News, Fri. Jun. 18, 1976, page 30

Cowboy Camp Meeting Gets Under Way Friday

Santa Anna – The 10th annual Cowboy Camp Meeting organized by “little George” Havens and his wife Lucy begins Friday at Flying H Acres between here and Coleman.

About 400 persons attended the week-long event last year and Havens expects as many again this time.

The meeting features chuck wagon suppers and 8 p.m. daily religious gatherings through June 27.

“This year, to celebrate our nation’s Bicentennial and Coleman’s centennial, there will be special exhibits of crafts and skills once utilized by practically every pioneer or frontier home in early America,” Havens said. “We plan to have a display or exhibit of the use of the spinning wheel, of quilt-making, churning and butter-making, bread-making, tortilla-making, horse shoeing and the actual building of a log cabin.”

Flying H Acres is located between Santa Anna and Coleman alongside U.S. 84 on the Old Western Cattle Trail which cattlemen used to drive herds from South Texas to Dodge City, Kansas.

“Just what kind of people were the cowboys of the Old West?” Havens asks in a meeting announcement.

“According to the Hollywood version, they were men who rolled their smokes from a Bull Durham sack, drank from the whiskey bottle, cursed at the drop of a 10-gallon hat and came to town every Saturday night to shoot up things.

“True, there were some cowboys who were like this. But there were also those who were God-fearing men. The prairie was their sanctuary, the stars at night were their object lessons that God is still in his heaven, and they sang, and picked such songs as ‘Cowboy’s Lament’ or ‘The Great Roundup in the Sky’.”

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I (Lorraine) added the link to the song “Cowboy’s Lament.” I searched the Internet but couldn’t find “The Great Roundup in the Sky”; I wonder if George meant “The Last Roundup.”

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Brownwood Bulletin, Fri. Jun 17, 1977, page 2

Santa Anna – Dr. Marvin Sheffield of Brownwood will be one of the guests speakers at Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting which gets underway today.

The 11th annual Camp Meeting will be held at Havens’ Flying H Acres on U.S. 84 between Santa Anna and Coleman.

About 15 covered wagons will be drawn up around the huge gospel tent where a number of evangelists and preachers teach and preach the old-time Gospel. Youngsters who are attending the camp meeting, which continues through Sunday, June 26, will sleep overnight in the wagons.

Twice daily, at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. visitors from Texas and surrounding states will hear the Gospel preached by such speakers as Rev. Buck Hatfield of Snyder, Rev. Bob Muncy of Dalsy, Okla., Dr. Sheffield and Havens, founder and director of the Camp Meeting, Bobby and Margie McMeens will direct the musical program. The boys choir from the Christian Corral Boys’ Ranch will also participate.

After each evening’s services, campers and all others who may be interested gather around the campfire to sing and play their musical instruments.

Chuck wagon suppers will be served to the public at 6 p.m. the two Saturdays of the meeting. The camp will furnish meat, sourdough biscuits, coffee and tea. Those who come from nearby areas are asked to bring vegetables, salads or dessert.

Havens, who spent about 10 years in Hollywood as an actor and stunt man in Western films, has recreated the atmosphere of the old-time Camp Meetings of the early days of the frontier that are believed to have started in 1800.

The public is invited to attend the meetings.

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I’ll add more… as I find them.

Cowboy Camp Meeting prepares for 42nd year near Santa Anna

Photo contributed — Paul and Christie Newberry will provide special music at the 38th annual Cowboy Camp Meeting held in Santa Anna beginning Friday and running for 10 days. The Newberry’s will be just one of many special guests and entertainers for the more than one week-long event.

Old-time cowboy camp fellowship returns

By Misty Bowers — Brownwood Bulletin | Posted: Thursday, June 17, 2004 12:00 am

If you’ve ever wondered what an old-time cowboy camp meeting was like, you’ll have a chance to find out Friday through June 27 at Rolling H Acres, off of Highway 84 between Coleman and Santa Anna.

That’s the site for the 38th annual Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting.

The old-fashioned camp meetings are reminiscent of the original meetings when cowboys from all over would ride in to enjoy one another’s fellowship.

“We wanted it to be like camp meetings of bygone days when this country was sparsely settled and the faithful circuit-riding preacher gathered the ranchers and cowboys with their families to a scenic location for a time of worship,” said Lucy Havens.

“Miss Lucy,” to those who know her best, and her husband, the late “Little” George Havens, began the camp almost four decades ago. “Little” George was a Hollywood stunt double for child actors in the 1940s and 1950s until he converted to Christianity in the ’50s and left Hollywood to become an evangelist.

In the beginning, Havens said, it was nothing to have 1,000 people attend every night, many riding to the meetings on horseback and bringing only their bedroll.

Amenities have been added since then for those who prefer not to “rough it.” Havens said there are a few cabins and tent dormitories for both men and women.

Visitors are also welcome to bring their campers, RVs or tents. The campsite is complete with electricity, water and bath houses. Havens said there are also motels nearby.

“Things have not changed much as far as our camp is concerned,” Havens said. “George never wanted to build much. He wanted people to come and take care of themselves, putting emphasis on being together and hearing the Word of God.”

Chuck wagon suppers are served each evening at 6, and, new this year to the camp, chuck wagon breakfasts will be served each morning. The camp furnishes the meat, tea and “creek-bank coffee,” but visitors are invited to provide vegetable, salad or dessert. O.D. Warnock is the chuck wagon cook.

Arena events will be held in the afternoon, so Havens suggests visitors bring their horses. Special guest Del Bowman will be at the event with a trick rope Gospel presentation as a treat to the children. Havens said Bowman will be there on June 21 through 23.

The children will be under the direction of Betty and James Murray of Mabank, assisted by Jeff and Pansy Waller and their children’s ministry of San Angelo.

Services will be held daily under the big tent at 10 a.m., except on Saturday, and at 8 p.m. in the evenings. Havens said this year, she is receiving quite a bit of help from Cowboy Churches throughout Texas. In fact, many of the services from Monday through Thursday will be led by preachers and founders of Cowboy Churches.

Havens said the primary evangelist on Friday through Sunday will be Rick Ingle of Denton. Ingle, a pastor for 10 years in Texas and Arkansas, has conducted more than 1,300 revival campaigns and is the author of seven books including, “If I Had My Ministry to Live Over I Would…”

Paul and Christie Newberry of Dallas will provide special music Friday through Sunday. Another special guest who will minister Saturday, June 26, will be Clifton Jansky, the 2002 Christian Country Music Association’s Male Vocalist of the Year.

Havens said she is excited about working with all of the special guests, especially the Cowboy Churches. Havens said she’s been receiving calls from across the state of Texas from members of Cowboy Churches who have said they were coming to the camp meeting this weekend.

Havens said they will hold a Hispanic Camp Meeting from June 30 through July 4, with Evangelist Sammy Fuentes bringing the message.

Several pictures….

George Thomas Havens 17 Sept 1920 – 26 Oct 1988

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Schedule

The only thing that disturbs my sleep is the biting insects. I have a citronella candle burning day and night to hopefully keep mosquitoes, flies and “no-see-ums” out of the T@B. I am covered with bites!! Because of the heat, I leave the door and one window wide open day and night; I have two fans moving the air in the trailer.

As I started for breakfast, I felt a drop or two of rain. I took a previously unused umbrella from the KIA. Before I got to the screened dining area, it was pouring rain. I didn’t stay long; I headed back to the trailer to close the door and window. I got soaked; I changed pants. It got so cool, I took out a sweater. But the sweater was quickly abandoned when it stopped raining and the sun came out. A pleasant 73 degrees inside the trailer as I type this at 10:25 AM.

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The contents of these blog messages were typed into the Open Office (free) word processing program prior to “copy and paste” to this location. I had no Internet access; my Verizon “hot spot” did not work. Sunday (yesterday) morning I attempted to access my email messages and prepare a brief blog message saying I arrived safely. At first the message: “No Internet access.” I explored… looking for an answer. My computer indicated I was connected and had a strong signal. Finally, after several attempts, after about ten minutes, I got Google but could not load my email messages. Frustrated, I abandoned the project. Later in the day I learned the nearest Verizon tower is in Austin (one-hundred-sixty miles away). I’m in AT&T country.

Horse Back Trail Riding was on the schedule for 8:00-10:00 AM. Obviously, due to rain, that was canceled. I skipped Morning Bible Study because I want to prepare a message while details are fresh in my mind.

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Just as I was typing the previous paragraph a neighbor lady arrived to tell me the group (at the Bible Study) missed me and hoped I’d join them. I waded through the standing water and joined the fellowship. Later, coffee, conversation, and homemade banana tea bread. Because no noon meals… it was decided that four of us would run into Coleman “for a bite to eat.” Miss Lucy shared that she and Owl Pharmacy are the same age. She wanted me to see the picture of her on a parade float (hanging on the back wall). She is well-known so lots of people stopping by to talk to her; three of us wondered if she would be able to eat her lunch because so much conversation. One guest was glad to take our picture.

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Amusing detail; you can laugh: I went into Coleman to buy toothpaste. Originally, I planned to stop at Kroger’s in Brownwood to buy some groceries and toothpaste. I was weary from the long drive—and miles from my destination so did not stop. The past two days I have rationed the amount of toothpaste on my brush. Guess what: Miss Lucy bought toothpaste and Nell bought denture cream. We all had the same “need” but only learned of one another’s purchases after-the-fact. (Are we vain to want sweet-smelling breath when we talk to one another?)

Impulse purchase: See the adorable lioness?! At first I thought I’d be content with a picture (because she was so expensive). But her entire body is a continuous display of Smiley Faces. I’ve collected Smiley Faces for decades!! The tag identifies her as “Lizzy”–and “Lizzy” has a new home. Because there was a full-length mirror near the cashier I took the self-portrait (LOL!!!!).

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It’s 3 o’clock and we just returned to camp. It is 92 degrees inside the trailer—a very hot, humid, 92 degrees!! (Hard to reconcile in my mind that a few hours earlier I was wearing a sweater.) There is still a lake between our trailers and the screened dining area and open-air food preparation area. I’m told we can expect three days of rain. Local people are glad because (they say) a drought in this area. Curious that we (in East Texas) had so much rain the last eight months and Central Texas experienced a drought.

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Back again; 8:25 PM; 98 degrees inside my little trailer (with two fans going). I’m weary of sitting but rejoicing in a wonderful evening of singing and preaching. ~~ In the course of the afternoon—or evening—I learned we had more than three inches of rain. With “a drought” I would think the soil would soak up the water like a sponge. Not so; look at the standing water between our trailers and the screened dining area and chuck wagon.

Remember the familiar old poster “Uncle Sam Wants You”?

Let me say “We want you to join us next year.”

For additional information, visit American Fellowship of Cowboy Churches.

The campground has upwards to one-hundred sites. Water and electric is available; no sewage hookups.

Miss Lucy’s vintage Airstream trailer.

There are restrooms and showers.

Enjoy the view.

Bring insect repellent, sunscreen, and Benadryl

 Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Schedule

Somewhat reluctantly, I was out of bed, “bathed,” dressed and ready for breakfast when the bell rang. I took a picture of the sausage and egg burrito, ate one bite and threw the rest away. Not my kind of food. (I’m not critical; just “not my kind of food.”)

“Miss Lucy” is the star attraction at Camp Meeting and she quickly made me the prime focus in every meeting, every event. She is just thrilled that someone is in attendance saved under the ministry of evangelist Little George Havens. I’m “the lady from ‘Ore-ee-gone’ who knew George.” I tell the audience that I am now a Texas resident but saved sixty-four years ago in a meeting in Crescent, Oregon. I didn’t “know” the man, just influenced by his ministry. I’ve learned (listening to Miss Lucy) that George was saved during the 1950 Crusade with Billy Graham, in Los Angeles. So the former movie actor and stunt man must have quickly started his own preaching ministry?!

“Miss Lucy” and I have another bond (besides our advancing age, she is 90, I’m almost 80): Wycliffe Bible Translators. Miss Lucy was a missionary in Mexico. So I said: “You probably know the name Cameron Townsend.”  Of course!! She was trained in one of his Summer Institute of Linguistics and is still a member of Wycliffe. I shared that I volunteered for almost three years (in Orlando, and Waxhaw).

After breakfast, I walked around the campgrounds taking pictures.

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My pictures tell the story, I followed Miss Lucy as she gave a tour of the grounds, and the Pioneer Preachers Museum. She and George started the Camp in 1966, and operated it “by faith.” They have never charged for RV parking and meals. A hat is passed at the evening meeting—for donations. Miraculously, the expenses have always been met. 

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There was a time for stories at the re-dedication of the Little George Havens statue.

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The campground is very primitive; the facilities are “make do.” There are stoves in the screened dining area but—in the spirit of an old-fashioned camp meeting—food is prepared over an open fire near an old-fashioned chuck wagon.

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The music is good; the preaching is excellent!!

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I’m quick to tell the other guests “I’m not a cowgirl, I’m not a cowboy, I don’t ride horses, I’ve never attended a Cowboy Church.”  ~~ Dear reader: This is a unique, new experience for me. Oh, camping comes natural but the people (my brothers and sisters in-Christ) are different (a new experience for me). The preachers are ranchers who have everyday responsibilities. Their pattern of speech makes me smile, good old country boys!!

In bed before nine. This is only “day one” for me and I’ve already received such a blessing!!