Camp Moriah is a week-long summer camp that is owned and operated by Christian Activities, Inc.  It is affiliated with Primitive Baptist churches but is not sponsored by any church. The camp grounds are located on the border of Mississippi and Tennessee, near Walnut, MS.

"Camp," as we call it, is a week enjoyed with other fellow Christians and Christian families who like getting away from the world for a brief time. Many make this week their family vacation because it is such a truly wholesome experience. We have morning devotions, Bible studies, and worship services to draw us nearer to God. There are also many recreational activities such as softball, basketball, volleyball, and canoeing. Kids enjoy daily arts and crafts, and adults love the many good folks with whom to fellowship. The grounds and accommodations are "rustic," which add to the fun of it all. Tasty meals are served three times daily. There are RV spots available and plenty of space for tents.

http://www.campmoriah.org/index.html New Website as of October 2009

To be affiliated with the Primitive Baptists is to wear the name Primitive Baptist. To claim it is not a church sponsored organization and thereby not violating scripture is very disingenuous on the promoters part. It is abundantly clear that there was no such practice among the Apostles in the early church nor have I discovered this practice to be common among any Primitive Baptists other than some Progressives. If it was not a part of the early churchs activities then certainly you couldnt regain the spirit of first century Christianity by practicing such. In fact you would be denigrating Christianity by its practice.

 But what about the argument that If the Scriptures are silent on an issue it may be implemented if it is not in violation of some clear instructions or New Testament pattern. Admittedly, it is not in violation of a clear instruction because there are no commandments saying do not have religious youth camps. That could also be said of other things the church has always stood against such as Gambling. By that standard we could allow card playing, lotteries or Bingo outside the church building in order to raise money and say that it was not part of the church, neither does it violate a clear instruction not to gamble. The fact that there is no New Testament pattern for religious youth camps, card playing, lotteries or bingo should be enough for peace loving Baptists to leave such things alone. Using the criteria mentioned above would open the door for all kinds of new practices that are not specifically mentioned in the scriptures.

 In recent years it has also been said If one should take the position that every detail of practice must be spelled out in Scripture, questions could be raised about the use of hymn books, The promoters of this erroneous idea are implying that any new thing they desire to start could be justified, by comparing it to our use of songs books that are not specifically mentioned in the Scriptures. Their premise is flawed because the scriptures instruct us to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with melody in our hearts. By printing some of those hymns and spiritual songs for the members to use in following the instruction to sing them would not introduce a new unscriptural practice. Religious youth camps have no such related instructions that can be used to justify the practice as being a scriptural practice.

This latest attempt at reforming the church along these lines is not a new thing, it has happened before. Around 1900 the Progressive movement began among the Primitive Baptists and the same two arguments mentioned above were used by the reformers in that day.  This can be clearly seen in the following quote from the editorial writings of Elder C. H. Cayce. This was written in 1908 in response to those in Elder Cayce's day introducing false practices using the same arguments:  "Teaching or practicing those things which the Scriptures authorize or command does not cause strife and confusion, or distress, in the Church of God. It is the teaching or practicing of things the Scriptures are silent upon that brings distress, sorrow, strife and confusion in the church. When people decide to reform the church and "start right up-to-date;" or when they decide that the Baptist have been wrong along the line, and start out to carry them back to "primitive" doctrine and practice -- in either or both such cases, they usually bring trouble and distress in  the church. If the things the Scriptures are silent upon "are matters of privilege, and are to be used, or not used, as circumstances require," why not have an "ankle show'" or a "cake-walk," or an "ice cream festival," or an Epworth League, or a Baptist Young People's Union or Christian Endeavor Society, or "a living curiousity show," or any or all the many different  inventions of men practices "as circumstances require" in the name of religion and Christianity?" Just as in Elder Cayces day, the present day promoters of reforming the church are the ones causing dissention and trouble in the church, not the ones standing against them.

What should be our position concerning those who support this practice? Should we continue to embrace them? It is clear that religious youth camps intermingle worldly activities with spiritual things, which is in direct opposition to scriptural teachings. (II Corinthians. 6:17) The scriptural admonishment is to come out from the world and be ye separate. Not mix worldly things with spiritual things. What about those who do not directly support religious youths camps but continue to fellowship those who actively support them? The answer should be clear; we are instructed to withdraw from all unscriptural practices. This must include those who continue to fellowship the active participants of unscriptural  practices. (II Thessalonians 3:6)

In the year 1988 several ministers in the Atlanta area wrote a letter from which the following two quotes are taken. In accordance with Romans 16:17-18, we have marked certain preachers in the region of west Tennessee, East Arkansas, and North Mississippi as those who cause division, and are laboring so that Primitive Baptists in the Atlanta region might avoid them. These include Zachary Guess, Jerry McMinn, Bill Lee, Mike Strevel, Jerry Barber, and Bobby Poe. We have not done so for political or personal reasons, nor have we simply accepted the news from an unreliable grapevine, but feel that we have sound reasons for such a serious step.

2^nd quote While it may be true that these men met with the obstacles of traditions early in their efforts to preach, their harsh overreaction has extended to bitter disrespect of gentle older brethren. Some, having been excluded by churches that observed this reaction, ignored their exclusion and continued to partake of and administer a form of the ordinances, putting themselves above the ruling of the church of their membership. One in particular entered into a church where he was trusted, gained the confidence of many of the members, drew them out of their home church, pretended to serve them, and then left them. These brethren have organized a vacation spot which started harmlessly, but has regressed to the point where "Primitive Baptist Youth Camp" shirts have been printed, and counselors that are not ordained have been instructed to conduct religious training exercises. To have elders encourage the division of age groups for worship is clearly unscriptural (Malachi 4:6, I. John 2:12-14). These actions are all established on reliable testimony.

The letter was signed by the following brethren: Elders Elzie D. Speir, Jr. ,Gus Harter, Daniel R. Hall, James R. Bowers, James C. Heard, C. A. Keaton, R. E. Cagle, Gerald Autry, Brice Haigler, James Pruitt, Randall E. Cagle, Clyde D. Meek, Charles Westbrook, C. Wayne Clayton, Elzie D. Speir Sr. ,Martin K. Smith. The complete letter can be seen at the following website link

 http://www.pblib.org/Atlanta.html

Some of the brethren that signed the letter are now supportive of the marked men and their unscriptural practices as shown by their participation in the 1998 Shoal Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Newborn, GA, hosting of a "Retreat at the campgrounds of the FFA/FHA Center in Covington, GA.  Elders Jimmy Fulmer (pastor of Shoal Creek), Gus Harter, Zack Guess, Thomas Mann and Marty Smith participated in this youth retreat or camp.