“Where God’s Word is read and listened to in the midst of community, stuff happens.”
That’s what PY Summer Camp 2024 Speaker, Russ Smidt is most excited for about camp this year. He shares, “This is arguably even more true in the context of young people. The ‘stuff’ that often happens is many being brought to faith for the first time, others becoming established in faith, and others also being encouraged to persevere in faith.”
Russ is married to Naomi, with four sons, two dogs, and deep connections to his community in Canberra through not only church, but also sport, and music. Russ currently works at Ministry Training Strategy – MTS, helping pastors equip and train future pastors through ministry apprenticeships.
World turned right side up
In his early years, Russ grew up going to church, believing in God and that there was a heaven and a hell. Russ’ view for much of his schooling was that the way to win God over and get to heaven was to live a “good enough” life. He says, “I lived my life committing to just being ‘good enough’, until I realised that wasn’t enough, and nothing I could do ever would be.”
This moment came for Russ at an evangelistic event he attended at age 18. Russ reflects, “The speaker said that ‘salvation is not achieved, but received’, and that just rocked my world. This meant that though my conviction and commitment may wane, I would always be accepted by God.” At the same time, Russ had just joined a young adults Bible study group where they were going through Ephesians 2.
Ephesians 2:4-5 // But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
“God really turned my world right side up. From that moment I began thinking about ministry on the basis of, ‘If I could be 18, growing up in country NSW, being part of a church, and not hearing or understanding grace fully until now, how many more are there?’
“Since becoming a Christian, I am continually captivated by grace. Grace shapes everything that I do in life, and so I live it out… Serving and helping others to know grace for themselves too.”
A heart to see youth discover grace
Russ, his wife Naomi, and their kids, first went along to PY Summer Camp in 2011.
“We went along just to help out for one camp but once we were there we thought, ‘Hang on, this is something special. We need to be here every year as often as we can’, and so we have been. Naomi and I have served as mentors of the small group leaders at camp, doing daily devotions for them, sometimes I have given evangelistic talks. Basically, we are enthusiastic background supporters of what goes on at PY camps.”
Russ is utterly convinced that “stuff happens” when you bring together a temporary, interim Christian community where everyone is being challenged, convicted and has the opportunity to grow.
“Helping youth discover grace is a wonderful thing to contribute to, and if you don’t have a heart for it yet, coming along will give you a heart for it. You won’t be able to resist wanting to be involved.”
A fearless faith
Fearlessness is not the absence of fear, but the courage to confront fear with faith. Every day a pressure pushes in on you to abandon what you believe, love and value — to give up on following Jesus. At PY Summer Camp in 2024, Daniel’s story in ancient Babylon will stir up your courage to make sense of this world and truly live it out God’s way — fearless.
In his preparations for the talks at camp so far, Russ has been struck by the main character in the Book of Daniel. “The main character is not there to inspire us, or give us a model to follow. But the main character is there to steady our faith, grow our faith, give us courage in the face of persecution so that we will be fearless. So you can see that this main character cannot be a man. It is not Daniel, it is God. Through reading the Book of Daniel we come to see and know God more clearly, as he gives us courage to face the present and the future without fear.”
Check out this video from Russ encouraging you, your family, friends, and everyone you know to come to PY Summer Camp 2024. If you or someone you know is keen to come along, follow this link to find out more and register.