Over the Easter weekend I travelled down to Southern Eastercamp held at Spencer Park in Christchurch with approximately 70 people under the Nelson Anglican umbrella. We were privileged to be joined by Emerge Youth from Atawhai Community Church, Richmond Community Church, and Motueka Baptist Church who run an interdenominational youth group in Motueka, as well as All Saints and St Barnabas’ youth groups.
We travelled down on Thursday to be some of the 3,500 people who were in for a very wet but impactful weekend.
Despite the rain and the mud, that did not stop the rangatahi from experiencing the Holy Spirit and being impacted by the speakers and the workshops at Eastercamp. Standing in the main tent, known as the Big Top, surrounded by 3,500 people worshipping together, was a beautiful example of unity.
During one of these Big Top sessions, the speaker was Jess Bond, who created the art series depicting Jesus washing feet with different people in the seat. She had a seat on the stage, and invited the youth to picture themselves sitting there, with Jesus washing their feet—or them washing someone else’s feet if they felt called to serve and humble themselves. Eastercamp then provided the opportunity for people to have their feet washed and wash each other’s feet.
This was a moving expression of humility to see happening all around me, as I watched leaders wash their youths’ feet, a son washing his father’s feet, friends washing each other’s feet, and youth washing their leaders’ feet.
Another moment that impacted me was the leaders’ meetings, which might have seemed like just another admin meeting. However, there were hundreds of leaders present from all across the country (including a few youth groups from Wellington). Every single one of them had given up a quiet Easter at home to be wet and cold in tents—but they were all there to serve their youth and walk alongside them as they journeyed through the Easter story, turned to God, recommitted themselves, or dealt with other issues. It was amazing to see hundreds of leaders all packed into a marquee, praying together and all sharing the same goal: guiding the youth in their faith journeys and supporting them as they took big steps in their faith.
I am also very grateful for the crew of leaders and youth group parents that we had with our Nelson Anglican combined group, who all supported each other and handled situations that came up very quickly and efficiently, which included many wet pillows, sleeping bags, drying out wet campers, and praying with and ministering to youth.
Thank you for your prayers for safe travels and an impactful weekend. We would appreciate continued prayer for the youth as they settle back into their normal rhythms, some of them with a newfound faith or strengthened faith. Also, please continue to pray for the leaders—that they would have opportunities to rest and be filled up after they have given much of themselves—their time, their energy, and their Easter—to be at Eastercamp with these youth.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Over the Easter weekend I travelled down to Southern Eastercamp held at Spencer Park in Christchurch with approximately 70 people under the Nelson Anglican umbrella. We were privileged to be joined by Emerge Youth from Atawhai Community Church, Richmond Community Church, and Motueka Baptist Church who run an interdenominational youth group in Motueka, as well as All Saints and St Barnabas’ youth groups.
We travelled down on Thursday to be some of the 3,500 people who were in for a very wet but impactful weekend.
Despite the rain and the mud, that did not stop the rangatahi from experiencing the Holy Spirit and being impacted by the speakers and the workshops at Eastercamp. Standing in the main tent, known as the Big Top, surrounded by 3,500 people worshipping together, was a beautiful example of unity.
During one of these Big Top sessions, the speaker was Jess Bond, who created the art series depicting Jesus washing feet with different people in the seat. She had a seat on the stage, and invited the youth to picture themselves sitting there, with Jesus washing their feet—or them washing someone else’s feet if they felt called to serve and humble themselves. Eastercamp then provided the opportunity for people to have their feet washed and wash each other’s feet.
This was a moving expression of humility to see happening all around me, as I watched leaders wash their youths’ feet, a son washing his father’s feet, friends washing each other’s feet, and youth washing their leaders’ feet.
Another moment that impacted me was the leaders’ meetings, which might have seemed like just another admin meeting. However, there were hundreds of leaders present from all across the country (including a few youth groups from Wellington). Every single one of them had given up a quiet Easter at home to be wet and cold in tents—but they were all there to serve their youth and walk alongside them as they journeyed through the Easter story, turned to God, recommitted themselves, or dealt with other issues. It was amazing to see hundreds of leaders all packed into a marquee, praying together and all sharing the same goal: guiding the youth in their faith journeys and supporting them as they took big steps in their faith.
I am also very grateful for the crew of leaders and youth group parents that we had with our Nelson Anglican combined group, who all supported each other and handled situations that came up very quickly and efficiently, which included many wet pillows, sleeping bags, drying out wet campers, and praying with and ministering to youth.
Thank you for your prayers for safe travels and an impactful weekend. We would appreciate continued prayer for the youth as they settle back into their normal rhythms, some of them with a newfound faith or strengthened faith. Also, please continue to pray for the leaders—that they would have opportunities to rest and be filled up after they have given much of themselves—their time, their energy, and their Easter—to be at Eastercamp with these youth.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
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