“How many hundreds, thousands, have come to Christ on a PFU, PFA, or PY camp?” asks Rev. Andrew Campbell. “And how many, through Presbyterian camps, have
given themselves to serve the Lord Jesus as ministers and pastors, missionaries and elders?”
These are rhetorical questions, of course. But the implication is clear: for more than 100 years, PY camps have excelled at the ministry of creating a significant temporary community in which to be taught God’s Word.
In an attempt to honour the history of the camping ministry, and embrace its future, PYNSW have recently released a coffee table book to that effect. The book—a huge project which has taken seven years to complete—is called Think Christ. Live Christ: A history of camping in the NSW Presbyterian Church from 1919.
“It isn’t just dry history,” Andrew explains. “It’s a challenge to take up for the future. Not many people are aware that for a hundred years the PFA was far more conservative, evangelical, biblical and reformed than the denomination. The changes in the Presbyterian Church since 1977 have come about through prayer. And this book tells that story.”
Modelled on the famous Keswick Convention in the UK, the first Presbyterian Easter Fellowship Camp was held at Richmond in 1911, followed later that year by the inaugural PFU Summer Camp at Wollongong.
Chris Quirk has been involved with Presbyterian camps for almost as long as she can remember.
“I first came to hear about and attend Summer Camps as a young adult back in the 1970s,” she says. “I was immediately captivated by meeting people my age who loved the Lord as much as I did! The fellowship we shared meant so much to me. It was wonderful and those friends still hold very warm places in my heart. Attending Summer Camp and other camps was a time of enormous spiritual growth for me.”
Chris says that for her, the impact of the camps has been lifelong.
“The significance of the camps became very evident to me years later when I mixed with believers from many denominations who had never enjoyed such good teaching at that vital age,” Chris shares. “PFA camps profoundly developed my Bible knowledge and reformed theology, and made me more spiritually discerning because the Bible was always faithfully taught.”
After experiencing the blessing of attending camps as a young adult, Chris and her husband ended up serving as camp parents for more than 20 years. Their three kids grew up attending the camps, too.
“Seeing so many youth impacted by PY camps (especially country kids), and experiencing again the solid Bible teaching, made us renew our involvement but now as a family,” Chris explains. “Camp mentors were introduced by PY to care for the leaders at camp and I was fortunate enough to be part of that team for many years. It was exciting at each camp to sit with the hardworking and selfless leaders and hear them speak of their faith, and encourage them to grow and persevere.”
Andrew has been equally encouraged through his camping experience.
“PY camps have excelled at the ministry of a temporary community hearing God’s word and living together; all in a recreation and relationship context,” he says. “Personally they have been and are still significant spiritual milestones in my journey. I know many, many people today who came to Christ through Christian camping. PY was at the forefront of Christian camping for a hundred years.”
Chris encourages anyone who has ever been on a camp to get their hands on the book.
“You need to get a copy to revive those memories and then search the photos of the people who impacted you,” she says. “It will put a smile on your face and cause you to rejoice.”
Bringing the gospel to teenagers and helping them grow closer to Jesus through camps is an incredible opportunity. Would you consider supporting the work of PYNSW in growing its camping ministry?
Make a donation to this year’s Christmas Appeal here.
To purchase a hard copy of the book, or to view it digitally, head here.