AUBURN - Summer and camping just seem to go hand in hand.

It's an idea that was not lost on Alberta Whitaker, pastor of Holy Ghost Deliverance Center, and her sister, Eloise Benjamin.

Benjamin said Whitaker used to live in Melone Village in Auburn and would look out on the field in the center of all the apartments and think about how nice it would be to have an event there.

It was while Benjamin was in Africa that the idea came to her.

“It was a vision,” Benjamin said. “God gave me the answer, and that is how all this started nine years ago.”

Friday marked the kickoff of the three-day Joshua Generation Community Summer Camp Meeting.

“We've had a lot of community involvement,” said Benjamin, a coordinator of the event. “So this is something that we want to share with the community and give back to the community and to bring everyone together as one community.”

Two subjects that are the prevalent themes of the entire weekend gathering are hope and belief.

“The whole idea is to encourage belief,” Benjamin said. “Belief and hope and to let people know that people still do care and that the community cares.”

Benjamin said that the meetings with Whitaker draw a diverse crowd.

“You get black and white, Hispanic,” Benjamin said. “It brings everybody together, kids and adults, and really we need that today, that is just the kind of thing we need.”

Marie Spinosa, of Auburn, has been a dedicated follower of these meetings since they began.

Along with attending the meetings, Spinosa also helps out with the camp. This year she will be dressing up as a clown on Saturday.

“I love the Lord,” Spinosa said. “I just do what I can to help out. I love children and I'm very glad to see something like this reach young people.”

Benjamin said that the meeting has received a great deal of support from the Auburn community.

“Everyone has been so supportive,” Benjamin said. “So many businesses have donated food and things like that and really been supportive of what we are doing here. Auburn is a very supportive community, especially when it comes to the community and children.”

Numerous residents have also volunteered their time to help get the meeting together, from putting up tents to organizing food and other events.

“This really brings people together,” said Becky Allen, who has been helping for three years. “It is something different and it is great for the kids.

“We all really look forward to this. Once everything is taken down, we can't wait until next year for it to happen again.”

Much of the weekend event is tailored to children, and along with guest speakers there will be live music, puppet shows and a little bit of outdoor camping for the children, even it is only a few feet away from home.

“The children really enjoy it,” Benjamin said. “It is really camping in your backyard. You aren't too far from home, but you get to get out and have that kind of experience of camping outside. It is just something a little bit different.”

And as the festivities kicked off this year, there was no absence of children.

Brittney Jenner, 13, said that she has been coming to the camp for the past five years.

“I just really like it,” Jenner said. “And every year I'm happy to see it again.”

Craig Martinez, 11, has been coming to the camp for six years, and even after moving away, still wanted to come back again this year and lend a helping hand.

“I helped move stuff and set up,” Martinez said. “I like all the music and food and everything. It is a lot of fun and it is nice to come back and see it again this year.”

The celebration will continue Saturday and Sunday, with events throughout the day, including cookouts, ice cream and games, as well as music by the Anointed Wonders.