Do you know a
place where teenagers from Bundaberg to Southport to Pittsworth can meet
together and enjoy the freedom they have in Christ? Where teenagers struggling
with their identity, spirituality, and morality can share their fears in a
vibrant Christian community? Where young women and men with disabilities can
sit down and have lunch with star athletes and delight in all they have in
common and the great leveller that is Jesus? I do. It’s called Senior Ichthus and it’s changing lives
in our church family!
Senior Ichthus is a camp for students in Grades
10-12. This year’s camp took place at the Glendalough Outdoor Education centre
on the Sunshine Coast. 33 campers and a support team of 21 came together on 29
June - 4 July for a week focused on the book of ‘Galatians’ and the rich theme
of ‘Freedom’ that it conveys. While it’s impossible to share everything God did
at Senior Ichthus this year, here are some quick snapshots from the five days
of camp.
Day 1: Excited
campers arrived bringing emotions of excitement, uncertainty and everything in
between. As day gave way to night, out came pool noodles and spotlights for a ‘Jailbreak’
wide game. Evening prayer introduced the major themes for the week, leaving our
campers keen for Day 2.
Day 2: This
will always be remembered as ‘Messy Games’ day. After an awesome talk, quiet
time, and Bible study session, campers prepared themselves for a ‘Prison
break’, meeting a number of challenges to gain their freedom. Challenges included
Slime Apple Bob, Rotting Fruit Ninja, Messy Trivia and Obstacle Course, Chewing
Gum Sculptures and Shaving Cream Snowman Building. There was one final skirmish
as campers dodged colour powder bombs. Never enough excitement for one day, an
awesome trivia night followed, complete with a magic show, crazy dancing and a
performance by Ichthus’ very own Burundi choir.
Day 3: As
campers began to settle into the swing of camp we got truly stuck into
Galatians and enjoying the fact that ‘for freedom, Christ has set us free!” The
whole team pushed themselves on a high ropes course at Noosa North Shore. A
relaxing evening was spent around a campfire singing songs and telling stories.
Every evening concluded with ‘Dorm wrap’, a chance to discuss questions about
God and life choices among friends.
Day 4: On Thursday,
campers were challenged to take a look at their own life journey. After the
morning, the team got to put faith into action with a service activity at
Honeybee Farm, a respite centre for people with disabilities. Groups divided to
paint a chicken coop, bake biscuits for guests, plant trees, and clear lantana.
Honeybee’s manager Phil later remarked that: “Seeing such happy, enthusiastic
and helpful young people really restored my faith in humanity”, and the campers
shared what they had learned on the trip home. Challenge Night encouraged
campers to wrestle with the baggage in their lives and how the negativity we
hold onto clouds the freedom we share in Christ. As campers shared stories, and
chose to forgive past wrongs, spirits were lifted and lives were changed.
Day 5: ‘What
next?” By now, campers were spending time
reflecting on how to apply all they had learned about God, themselves and the world
around them. A trip to Peregian Beach gave time to relax, swim, play beach
football and unwind. We danced the night away at a ‘Shipwrecked’ themed party,
complete with an overflowing photo booth and some bizarre nautical dance
moves. The final morning of Ichthus on Saturday included a campfire
Eucharist to farewell graduating campers and pray for their journeys ahead.
Senior Ichthus 2015 was another huge success. Building on a legacy of people who have invested time and energy into past camps and drawing from the creativity and enthusiasm of people currently involved with this ministry, Ichthus has a very bright future. Many thanks must go to parents and church families who supported their campers to come along to Ichthus this year as well as the many church communities who sent along their best and brightest leaders to serve on the camp. We are so thankful to our generous and liberating God for His guidance and inspiration throughout the week and are so delighted that so many campers remarked that camp had brought them closer to God than ever before.
If you might
like to get involved in the Ichthus
ministries, Junior Ichthus will take
place from 27 September – 2 October, and Primary
Ichthus from 14-16 January 2016. The Ichthus
camping ministry is a vibrant part of our Diocese and will no doubt continue to
grow the Kingdom of God among young people into the future.
