Young Revivalists Junior Camp

Come and Dine: A recipe for a delicious and spiritually nutritious Victorian Young Revivalists Junior Camp

You will need:

38 x mid-sized (grades 4-6) children

18+ leaders (more if the quality is available – it was)

3 teams – Chicken Wraps (yellow), Saucy Choc Pudding (brown), Lasagne (red)

8 purple people (parent/teacher types)

5 days (Spring break variety)

Living Water

6 campfires

1 x flying fox

Peaches (of the ‘Princess’ variety. Axel might reluctantly explain this)

Raw eggs

Chocolate, paint, sharpies & beads (for decoration)

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What do you get if you mix together children from Spirit-filled families across Victoria at Weekaway Camp in Macedon Ranges for several days? Fun, fellowship and friendships that will last for years to come.

September school holidays once again saw junior and senior camps for Victoria’s Young Revivalists children. This year’s theme was ‘Come and Dine’ – exploring the scripture Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: For they shall be filled.”

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Junior camp followed senior camp, with several seniors staying on for the junior camp to act as junior leaders. Both were held at ‘Weekaway’ camp near Lancefield, an hour and a half north of Melbourne. This year’s team names were inspired by the favourite meals from last year’s camps, and once again we were spoilt with great food as well as great facilities provided by the camp hosts.

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With settling in and getting to know each other on Wednesday September 25th, the first full day (Thursday) kicked off with a morning tea race complete with rain, hail and sunshine, followed by damper lunch around the campfires.

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At other times, there were camp activities that included canoeing, archery, a flying fox, bike riding, a soccer match, the curiously named ‘breeding game’ and a plethora of craft activities. There were side servings of pillow fights, sock wars and Chinese wrestling. We even squeezed in a bit of Grand Final action, for those who couldn’t resist watching the game. Hawthorn’s victory left several Vanderstadts smiling, and two teams scoring extra points for the sheer fact that their colours were yellow and brown.

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Young Revivalists camp is really all about the kids. They ran the two meetings held each day, lead choruses, played musical instruments to accompany the choruses, gave short talks and told their own personal testimonies of how the Lord is already working in their lives.

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The children spent some of the camp working in teams, scoring points for doing their duties well, in team challenges and in other activities. Tiana even got bonus points for chivalry (defending Emma Leckenby against potential Paul Leeson-induced hearing loss), Harry was a star in the physical challenges and Alicia got an extra quiz point for simply amusing Pastor Ewan!

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Each team performed a song and a play on the final night. Chicken Wraps’ play featured a fake charity (Save the Fairies!) and demonstrated the idea that you reap what you sow (incidentally, Pastor Ewan’s code of conduct for canoeing). Saucy Choc Pudding’s play encouraged people to seek the Pudding Tree of Life and not get distracted along the way. Lasagne’s play showed the power of prayer in restaurant success and the Lord’s ability to provide (specifically, to provide delicious lasagne).

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Best of all, the children forged great friendships, learnt about their own individual relationships with God and three children received the Holy Spirit. It’s often said ‘the proof is in the pudding’ – these kids have the assurance of the Holy Spirit because they spoke in tongues, just as the early church did in the Book of Acts.

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“Where do the raw eggs come into it?” you may ask. Well, it wasn’t only the children having fun and forging friendships. There was plenty of fun and shenanigans had by the junior and senior leaders. Ask them to tell you about it some time. As with all good recipes, there was plenty of gentle stirring.

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The children and leaders alike had a great time. Thank you to all those who made the camp a reality, for the hard work that went into organising the camp and for the donations that helped make it happen. We hope to see you at Young Revivalists Camp in 2014.