It’s encouraging to hear how churches are partnering with their local campsites across the country to point people to Jesus.
I loved hearing about Manawarū Bible Chapel's church day camp at Tōtara Springs Christian Centre. The morning sessions were set up for church members with Daryl Bay, Lead Pastor at Hope Community Church, as the guest speaker.
The message was centred on focusing on people in our community by speaking on 1 Peter 2:12. This time was followed by Justin Thompson interviewing a few people on the importance of community in their own lives.
Richard Davis (Manawarū Bible Chapel and CCCNZ Camping Enabler) writes:
“The beauty of the day was that the church had invited the local ‘non-church’ community of Manawarū to come out and spend the afternoon and evening at camp. 35 people came out from Rally families, those families that receive from the church food bank, youth from Te Aroha and other contacts.
"It was an awesome opportunity for the whole church to connect and build relationships with those in Manawarū. Christian camps with their fun activities, awesome sites and wonderful food provide that opportunity to bring the community together. Whether it was playing mini golf, riding the giant waterslide, go-karting, having meals together or enjoying a fun ‘minute to win it’ contest, great connections were being made.”
A few people from the community who went to the day camp also attended the chapel service on Sunday and a few kids went to Rally on Monday!
This is such a wonderful example of church and camp coming together to serve the church’s vision for the lost in their community.
By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador
