When Leanne and Steve’s family settled in the regional town of Leeton, six hours west of Sydney and five hours north of Melbourne, they knew raising children in Christian community would be a challenge, with few peers their age nearby. What they didn’t know was how deeply PYNSW camps would shape not only their kids’ faith, but their friendships, leadership development, and long-term commitment to Jesus.
A first step of trust
With no local youth group and very few peers their age at church, Leanne and Steve took a step of faith when they first sent their eldest son Josh to a PYNSW camp in 2014.
“We had friends at our church who had sent their kids to PYNSW camps and spoke so highly of it,” Leanne remembers. “So we put Josh on a bus from a petrol station on a foggy morning with a few other camp goers. We didn’t know much about it, but we trusted the people who’d gone before us.”
Growing up, Josh didn’t know any other Christians his age apart from his siblings. “After my first PYNSW camp, I could name more than 10 people my age who went to church. I felt less isolated. I became a Christian through camp. Over the years I continued to be encouraged, trained, and grew in so many areas – reading the Bible, prayer, explaining the gospel, and seeing how all of Scripture points to Jesus.”
A place for the country kid
PYNSW camps aren’t just a fun getaway, for some kids, particularly those from small country towns, camp is often the only place where they can find Christian community with peers their age.
“Coming from a Christian family in a small town, there’s not a lot of other Christian kids around,” Leanne explains. “The most valuable thing was that our kids could go to PYNSW camps and realise they’re not alone. It was incredibly encouraging.”
Nathan, the second eldest, says it even more plainly: “PYNSW was the only place I had Christian fellowship growing up with others my age. It was crucial in my walk.”
That’s why Leanne sees a unique and irreplaceable value in PYNSW camps. “They’re perfect for kids from churches with no youth group, or only a small or medium-sized one. At camp, kids get put into a different small group each year, making friends from all over, and come back year after year to grow together.”
Faith that grows into leadership
All three of Leanne’s kids have remained connected to PYNSW into adulthood. Josh and Nathan now lead at camps alongside their wives, Ebony and Mackenzie. Emily, their youngest, recently completed the Lead for Life internship.
“It’s the pattern of the gospel,” Josh reflects. “I learnt the good news through PYNSW camps, and now I lead at those same camps to pass it on to the next generation. I know how important Christian community and solid Bible teaching is for youth from small churches.”
Nathan adds, “As a leader, you still benefit so much. There’s such a strong community around PYNSW. Campers grow as they sit under God’s Word, and leaders grow too. It’s been incredibly important in my walk with the Lord.”
For Mackenzie, who only attended a few camps herself as a camper, the impact was still strong. “Being able to connect with people my age from all different walks of life, but all with Jesus in common, was so meaningful. I think PYNSW is 100% worth supporting. Without it, I wouldn’t have met people who now mean so much to me in life and in my walk with God.”
A Christlike community
For Emily, now 19, PYNSW has been a source of deep community, especially during times when health problems have kept her from attending church regularly.
“She’s been isolated at times with health problems, which have stopped her attending church,” Leanne shares. “But the people she has met through PYNSW have consistently been a loving, Christlike community, even through online means. It has been incredibly important in her faith.”
Leanne adds, “After spending a week together, my kids come back with their bond strengthened. They reflect on talks, sing songs again, joke about hot chocolate and late-night stories, and they grow together in Christ.”
The ripple effect
The impact of the PYNSW community was especially clear when Nathan got married earlier this year.
“At his wedding, we met about six of his friends who he met at PYNSW camps,” Leanne recalls. “We were struck by their passionate love of God, solid understanding of Scripture, and desire to serve Jesus. All of them said PYNSW had such a massive impact on their faith.”
The cost and the benefit
Leanne is honest about the cost. “It’s not easy sending your kids away between Christmas and New Years. It’s expensive, especially with travel. And it’s hard to organise family holidays. But it’s so worthwhile. You can’t put a dollar value on what it gives your kids.”
“PYNSW camps evangelise, build Christians up, and disciple them to disciple future generations. Youth need investing in, it’s a critical time in their lives and a pivotal point in their faith.”
Josh puts it simply: “We need to tell youth about Jesus, bring them to salvation, and teach them to live for him. PYNSW is already set up to do that. Keep supporting them.”
