Ministry & Youth: PYV 2018 Summer Camp

Teenagers continue to amaze me in a variety of ways. Today I was amazed at just how much some people can eat for breakfast. I don’t normally eat breakfast, so watching teenagers eat three bowls full of cereal and then porridge and then fruit, is astonishing!

While the campers are in their study groups, the pastoral care team meet together to pray. During this time we are able to pray for the study leaders and the campers in their groups, sometimes praying in response to specific requests from those leaders. Because this camp has the days beginning with the study groups, it also means we are able to pray for God’s Spirit to move in our worship session coming up after morning tea. Today, this was a significant prayer.

Our camps are always evangelistic. We want teenagers to come to faith in Jesus Christ, and so at each camp we have a sermon that is strongly calling people to follow Jesus, and today was that day. At the end of the service everyone was given a response card to fill in to let their study leader know if they are a Christian, if they would like to be a Christian, or if they have any questions. I don’t know how the teenagers filled in their cards, but I did see what was happening at the end of our worship.

Toby spoke today about the arrest and trial of Jesus, which was an act of great injustice. Toby painted the picture of Jesus being put on trial in a kangaroo court, and the religious leaders finding something they could pin on Jesus. But when they went to Pilate, they accused Jesus of something else! The injustice of this trial was made even clearer when Barabbas was set free even though he was absolutely guilty of the things that Jesus was falsely accused of. A terrible injustice indeed. But it was the injustice we all need.

I have no doubt that God’s Spirit was indeed moving among us this morning in our worship. This is evident for me in the silence that followed our worship, in the groups of two and three sitting and praying together or weeping together. As someone who gets to attend a lot of camps, this is one of the things that keeps me encouraged. God is changing the lives of teenagers. Hallelujah!

We not only have the PYV Summer Camp happening here, we also have the YouthMETRO Summer Camp intensive happening. There are fourteen people spending the camp together learning some theology with Matt Deroon and evangelism with Nate Barbieri. Today I spent some time in their room as Matt was teaching them about the Church. I’m pleased to know that there are young people being trained as leaders in our denomination. I’m also pleased to know that having been through the evangelism training, these young leaders are sharing the gospel with the teenagers here at camp. Through this, some have come to faith.

YouthMETRO learning about the Church

Portraits of the Church

After lunch, we had another session of activities. With good weather around us, we were able to be both outside and inside for various games. Everyone had an opportunity to take part in all the activities. I was looking after the Basketball game, and it’s fair to say we have some people here who do pretty well at basketball. Not too many, but a few. Other activities included water balloons, dancing, slip and slide, and a weird equestrian event with a broomstick.

Fun in the sun (and water and detergent)

Following on from the response cards, some of the leaders have begun having conversations with the campers. I’ve probably said it before, but it always encourages me when I see these conversations taking place at camps. Please be praying for our leaders and campers for God to work through these conversations.

Tonight we have spent over 90 minutes in a Question and Answer session. Teenagers always have plenty of questions, and it’s really important that they have the opportunity to ask them and to find answers. It was a good panel of experienced people answering the questions about Bible translations, what happened to Jesus between his death and resurrection, sexting, self-identity, and other things.

After a short supper we had our final version of The Late Late Late Late Show with Bec and Matt. Now, my wife Anne is here at camp providing morning tea and supper for everyone. You need to know that so this next comment makes sense. During the late show, things were read out that campers had written and placed in the late show box. One of these said,

“At camp I like to keep a look out for couples at meal times. Is it just me or is Brian spending a lot of time with the morning tea lady?”

This was one of the funniest things ever said at a camp show. It may lose something in translation, but Anne’s stomach was hurting from laughing so hard.

Now it’s time to go to bed. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and that means it’s going to be a very long day for us all. We’ll see if I can get another blog post ready so you know what has happened.

Enjoy your day. We are certainly enjoying ours.