Preparations for PY Summer Camp 2026 are well-underway and excitement is already building. One of the things we love most about camp is the opportunity to open God’s Word together, diving deep into a book or topic that helps us draw closer to God and each other.

In 2026, we will be looking at ‘The Good News’ from the Letter to the Romans with camp speaker, Andrew Vines.

Andrew is the minister at Hurstville Presbyterian Church, having moved up from Victoria about 18 months ago. Still getting his bearings in Sydney, he’s already deeply connected to the life of PYNSW, serving as a committee member and investing in the next generation.

But for Andrew, speaking at Summer Camp isn’t just another ministry event on the calendar — it’s personal.

“Being on a summer camp has been so much a part of my New Year’s Eve experience,” he says. “New Year’s Eve without summer camp seems to be missing something.”

A childhood faith

Andrew grew up in Melbourne, with parents who brought him along to church from the time he was three years old. His faith didn’t begin with a dramatic turning point, it began early, with the simple clarity of the gospel.

He still remembers a moment in Sunday school when he was seven.

“There was an older lady named Mrs. Betts… and I remember her saying, ‘Now kids, if you confess your sins to God and ask for forgiveness and you ask Jesus to come into your life… he’ll forgive you and he’ll give you a new life.’”

For young Andrew, it clicked immediately.

“I remember sitting there as a seven-year-old thinking, ‘Wow, that makes so much sense. Why didn’t anyone explain that to me before?’”

That night, he went home and prayed.

“I confessed my sins. And I woke up the next morning feeling like yes, something about me was new.”

The impact of camps

Andrew is quick to point to youth camps as a major part of his Christian growth, not only spiritually, but personally and relationally too.

“Going to PY Victoria camps was a big part of my Christian growth, maturity, and early training in ministry.”

He reflects on the power of clear Bible teaching, and the friendships formed in those intense teenage years.

“The really clear gospel teaching was so helpful for my personal relationship with God. And the friends I made going along to those camps have been really, really important for me.”

Those friendships, he says, lasted far beyond school.

“My PY friends… became some of my long-term friends. We learned to serve Jesus together.”

Andrew also experienced something that many campers can relate to — the sense that God’s work is bigger than your local church bubble.

“There was something special about coming to statewide camps and just remembering that what God’s doing in my generation is a lot bigger than what I saw from Sunday to Sunday.”

Why Romans? 

Andrew will be teaching from the first half of Romans at Summer Camp 2026, a book that shaped him deeply as a teenager.

“I remember a camp where we went through the gospel from the letter to the Romans… and how much that gave me clarity in my thinking.”

Now, he’s eager to pass those same “gold nuggets” on.

“I’m really excited to be able to unpack some of those gold nuggets from the letter to the Romans and pass it on to the next generation.”

His hope is simple but profound. “I’d love for the next generation to be excited and thankful and empowered by the grace of God.”

What will the talks be about?

Andrew’s sessions will explore the heart of the gospel, both the bad news and the breathtaking good news.

“There’s a lot of bad news in the world today. There’s a lot of bad stuff in our own lives. But in the middle of all this, God has some profoundly good news for us and our world… Come to camp with a willingness to think about yourself, God, and the life that’s ahead of you… and be willing to ask the big questions.”

Across six talks, campers will dig into questions like:

• What’s wrong with us humans?
• What has God done through Jesus?
• What does it mean to be justified?
• If Jesus has saved us, why be good?
• How do we keep trusting God through frustration?
• Where does real hope come from?

Andrew wants teenagers to walk away thinking, “Wow, the good news is better than I realised.”

A word to parents

Andrew understands that for many families, sending a teenager to camp is a big decision — spiritually, emotionally, and financially.

“This is such an important time in their lives,” he says. “Learning to think the right way about life and the world in this phase of life can be a blessing for years to come. It’s a chance for your kids to be with others who will be a blessing and an encouragement and a good influence.”

And those relationships can help carry young people into adulthood.

“Your kids can form relationships which are going to help them navigate the big transition to adulthood.”

See you at camp!

Andrew Vines is bringing deep conviction and a passion for the gospel of grace to PY Summer Camp 2026.

So whether you’re a teenager coming along, a parent sending your child, or a leader ready to serve, this is a week to look forward to.

Come ready to discover again that in Jesus…

“The good news is better than you’d realised.”