The worldwide community of the New Message from God recently gathered in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for the 2018 Encampment. The Encampment has been an annual event from 2008 to 2016. It is now being held every two years. I have attended the Encampments in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

I have been called, others are being called

As religious gatherings go, all the Encampments have been relatively small events. The 2018 Encampment had the most attendees of any Encampment. I take particular happiness in the fact that people gathered from 26 different countries. This is also the most of any Encampment. We may be a small community, but the phrase “worldwide community” is not an idle boast. In fact, we may be the most geographically dispersed spiritual community of our size in the world.

I have been called, others are being called. The average age of Encampment attendees could be said to be “middle-aged.” And yet, at every Encampment there have been some people attending of a younger age. I have taken great encouragement in this for the future progress of the New Message from God. I recalled a portion from Step 309 of the 365 steps of Steps to Knowledge. Steps to Knowledge is the book of spiritual practice of the New Message from God. Step 309 is “The world I see is attempting to become one community.”

“Remember, you have been called and you are responding to your one true purpose. In time, others will be called and they will respond.”

I didn’t think of myself as responding to a call, when I resumed my study of Steps to Knowledge in 2010. I thought of myself as looking for a way to frame the events of my life, that didn’t hurt. But between then and now, my engagement with the New Message from God looks more like a response to a call. I don’t have a certificate of any kind saying I have been called. All I have is many small confirmations and ratifications. All I have is many instances of taking the next step, doing the next thing, showing up again. Many of my fellow attendees report similar experiences.

I have been called, others are being called. I look at this Encampment and see many people I have only known online. I look at this Encampment and I see people I have never met before, online or otherwise. I look at this Encampment and think to myself “Others are being called, and they are responding.”

Welcome to Mystery of Ascension! We are students and advocates of the the New Message from God. We are members of a worldwide community. We seek to assist the world in successfully navigating difficult times ahead. We seek to assist the world in successfully emerging into a greater community of intelligent life. You will also find some poetry. Find out more about us here. Contact us here.