Linda Camenga in the Robe of Achievement, 2013

Linda was born in West Virginia to Pastor Delmer and Rowena Van Horn. She counted herself blessed knowing she was saved at a very early age due to Christian parents who taught her to love and serve God with her whole heart. Her parents helped her develop a true servant’s heart, bringing her up to find the need and make sure it was taken care of.

Linda graduated high school while her father served the Adam Center NY Church and she then attended Salem College. During her time there the followed her heart and married Pastor John Camenga knowing she would continue to be in God’s service with this life choice. While she did not complete her degree in Music Education she later completed her training and was certified in Early Childhood Education. Linda and Pastor John were blessed with four children. Their children along with their spouses blessed them with 13 grandchildren.

Following her husband to churches he was called to serve, Linda helped fill the holes she found. They served in Salemville, PA; Dodge Center, MN; Little Rock, AR; Blountville, TN; Shiloh, NJ; Daytona Beach, FL; and Brisbane, Australia. Whether changing diapers, teaching Sabbath School, leading and planning VBS, directing choir, playing the piano or organ, or serving as a deaconess she tackled each task with a desire to make sure her Lord and Savior was glorified.

One of the first ways Linda served the denomination was by regularly contributing to the Sabbath Recorder writing and illustrating the Children’s page with Racco Raccoon and friends. When the Women’s Board moved to Florida She was serving that church and she was very involved with the board move from Shiloh, NJ and worked hard to make the transition go smoothly. She was glad to be involved with SCSC, serving as chairman of that committee. She also served as Vice President of the Women’s Board. She had a vision of changing the SCSC program to a more educational focus and had a real heart for the young adults of our denomination, wanting to keep them actively involved in furthering the work of Christ and SDBs. It was during her time working with the SCSC program that she came in contact with some young adults in Australia. She encouraged their involvement in the program and even set up an exchange program for the US young adults to go to Australia and serve in an SCSC project ‘down under.’

Linda worked in a hospital, as a foster mom, played piano/organ for community churches, worked in children’s centers as an early childhood teacher/lead teacher, as a substitute teacher and music teacher, set up and ran a child care center in her home and worked in a Dollar General. She always worked very hard to help provide for her family and worked in addition to meeting all the expectations that came along with being a pastor’s wife.

For the last few years she struggled with heart problems and had to find less active roles to fill but her health did not stop her heart’s desire to be a servant leader. She was excited to take on the challenge of missions work in Australia and picked up a more active role as she began this new ministry. She served the Kissimee, FL SDB church where the youth and young adults sought her out to mentor and encourage them. She and Pastor John provided breakfast for the church on a weekly basis even though they traveled over an hour to get to the church. They also opened their home to the whole church on Sabbaths when they couldn’t use their facilities and they hosted a spring retreat for their church in their home as well.

Linda’s humble servant’s heart was exhibited through her life. 2 Corinthians 12:9 encapsulates it best, “But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” Her faith and servant’s heart impacted her family, the churches she was a part of, and the communities she lived in. Linda never sought attention or credit for her work. Her hope was that her service would further God’s Kingdom and draw people to a saving knowledge of Christ.