Serving The Next Generation In SGC UK
An update from Matt Chapman, Pastor of Grace Church Bristol, UK…
Since the summer of 2016, a multitude of volunteers from Grace Church (Bristol, England) have led an annual week-long youth camp (under canvas) in the sometimes sunny, sometimes soggy countryside of South Wales.
The camp was birthed from a desire to serve the 11-18 year olds in our church with an opportunity to step away from the routine of everyday life and to dig deeper into the riches of the gospel together.
From the very beginning the Lord opened the door for us to invite young people from other nearby, gospel-loving local churches too. Over the past 8 years, children from nearly a dozen other churches have joined us at G2 Camp and this year we welcomed our furthest travellers yet as Ed O’Mara and two of his children travelled over from Italy to be with us.
Each morning, we spent time in small groups revelling in the riches of Colossians. In the afternoons we organised games and crafts and off-site outings to the beach and elsewhere. In the evenings we worshipped and prayed and preached our way step by step through Two Ways To Live.
One of the richest encouragements to us over the years has been that while the camp looks far from glamorous or impressive, we see the Lord mightily at work in the hearts and lives of the campers every year. This year was one of our biggest yet with 32 young people attending. Several responded to Christ for the very first time and since our week away 12 have since been baptised, across four different churches.
If I had to highlight just a handful of things that our youth camp has taught us over the years it would be these:
Firstly, rich relationships across different age groups, with adults and parents involved too, plays a powerful role in pointing young hearts to Christ and showing them what it looks like to follow him.
Secondly, time away from the busyness of everyday life, not to mention from the distraction of phones and technology, is a great blessing for teens and really helps open their eyes wider to take in the wonder of creation and redemption, and the God who is gloriously revealed in them both.
But thirdly and most strikingly of all for those of us who have had the privilege to serve again this year, we come away reminded that the simple, unadulterated message of the cross, is the power of God for salvation to all who believe. Our young people don’t need another message, or to have it packaged (or even hidden) in a great rush of worldly thrills to win their attention. They recognise good news when they hear it and they are eager to hear more about the Saviour who laid down his life so that sinners of all ages could be redeemed.
And so once again we adult volunteers leave another year’s camp perhaps most blessed of all - we’re witnesses to the fact that of all that could capture a teen’s attention today, nothing compares to the might and the majesty, the mercy and the beauty of God, revealed in the gospel of his Son.
Youth ministry continues week in, week out here again in Bristol this Autumn - and it’s a privilege to pray for it and be a part of it. But I for one know that our team of parents and volunteers (not to mention our young people as well) can’t wait for next August to come around for another uninterrupted week of enjoying Christ together.
If you’d like to see more of our week together, here is a video of some of the highlights. Enjoy!