Over the last few years, Summit Camp has become a regular highlight for the youth of the southern Trinity Churches (Brighton, Colonel Light Gardens, Tonsley, Unley and Woodcroft). The most recent camp was no exception, with 72 youth and 25 campers spending April 11-13 enjoying quality time together in unseasonably warm weather at Dzintari Campsite, Normanville.
Simon Marshman (Senior Pastor, Trinity Church Brighton) was our speaker on the theme ‘no place like home’. With great warmth and exceptional clarity, Simon explored that our rightful home is with God, by taking the youth through three related concepts. First, that God graciously invites us sinners ‘home’ (from Luke 15). Second, that we can be encouraged that God is doing a great work through the struggles and difficulties of life as we ‘wait for home’ (from 2 Corinthians 4 and 5). And third, the sure hope that we are ‘on our way home’ helps us live faithfully and boldly now (from Hebrews 11).
Small group Bible study time helped the youth dig into these topics further. A number of campers requested that next year’s timetable allow more time to study the Bible together! This reflects how exceptional the leaders were on camp, with their deep care for the youth demonstrated in many servant-hearted ways.
Campers were very engaged in the three seminars they could choose from:
- ‘Do I need church … and does church need me?’ (on loving and valuing church)
- ‘Good news or fake news?’ (on the reliability of the Bible)
- ‘I have a Bible… now what do I do with it?’ (on practical approaches to grow in Bible reading and prayer)
Other highlights from camp included a night hike, incredible food from catering superstars Bik and Che To, and an all-in game of rob-the-nest modified for maximum fun and chaos in the dark. A particularly memorable moment of camp was the ‘star-side’ session – a time of singing praise and sharing stories of God’s grace around a (council-approved) campfire with hot chocolate.
Camper feedback provides great encouragement that God was at work in many lives over camp. The majority of the youth indicated that Summit Camp helped them grow in their relationship with God!
Enjoy, with thankfulness to God, some selected comments from campers:
- ‘Camp has built my perseverance to keep striving towards God. It has put life in perspective.’
- ‘I think quiet time (devotion) should have been longer.’
- ‘Camp brought me back to remember what actually matters. Longer quiet times please!’
- ‘I was impacted by the way God runs to us and welcomes us home.’
- ‘I was impacted by small group discussion on suffering and joy.’
- ‘I love Jesus.’
- ‘Camp strengthened my understanding of what it means to be ‘home’ and deepened my biblical knowledge.’
- ‘Summit reminded me God is always waiting for me no matter how far or how often I stray.’
- ‘The seminar on Bible reading was really helpful.’
- ‘Camp helped me get rid of things that distracted me from taking time to speak with God.’
