• ‘I don’t need to be perfect’

Major Bill Geracia (back left) and Aux-Lieutenant Lauren Luiker (front right) with other leaders enjoying a messy activity at the camp.

“It’s given an eye-opening experience where I don’t need to be perfect, and I don't have to be a certain way to follow God.”

This was the response from one young adult who attended the recent NSW/ACT Division Youth and Young Adults camp at the Collaroy Centre on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Around 310 young people from across the NSW/ACT division attended the camp, with 60 leaders.

More than 370 young people and leaders gathered for the camp from 30 September to 4 October to “encounter God”, said Aux-Lieutenant Lauren Luiker, Youth and Young Adults Secretary for the NSW/ACT Division.

Lauren shared some additional comments from the campers.

“I’ve learnt to show my faith through leadership, but it has also connected me closer with God and finding his word in the Bible.”

“Camp impacted me by hearing life experiences of others going on the same journey as I am.”

“As a team, we are thankful to all the local expressions who trust us with the discipleship of their young people,” said Lauren.

“It is a tremendous privilege to partner together to see lives transformed. We celebrate the local investment into the lives of the 310 campers who gathered.

Major Bill Geracia cops a bucket of slime over his head during the camp.

“We are grateful that young people are a priority in our division and that many local expressions are reaching, engaging and journeying with young people.

“We now ask you to pray that the Holy Spirit sparks that were ignited at camp would grow into wildfires. That the same fire would catch around these young people, and we see our world radically different because of Jesus alive in them!”