DISCOVERY CAMP

Getting a bunch of teens from different backgrounds together to sit, listen and learn about an ancient narrative where all the world will be restored and all evil vanquished should be easy enough right? 

Since South Africa’s lockdown we have struggled to gather.  The world and how people meet has changed dramatically since this pandemic began. We planned to run a camp in July this year, but Covid regulations thwarted our plans. Finally, it is October and we managed to run one of our newly launched Discovery Camps.  These camps were designed over lockdown as we wrestled with what to do to tackle the ripple effect of the devastation of Covid.  After much thought, conversations and prayer, we decided that understanding the Word of God and how it relates to our very existence needed to be on the forefront of these camps.  

Now the question is….how do we get teenagers to understand, let alone want to read the bible?  With Generation Z, data has shown that 68% read their bible only 3 to 4 times a year.  Shockingly, only 9 % use it in their daily life.  The bible has been likened in the mindsets of the younger generation to the Koran or Hindu wisdom literature. Or just boring historic literature.  How did this happen?  We believe it simply was because the bible wasn’t being taught outside of church walls.  Which means so many have been missing out.

Full Disclosure: all of the participants knew beforehand that were teaching about the bible and willingly and voluntarily, without coercion or any bribery. We offered an invitation and they accepted.  

In the span of the school holidays we took it upon ourselves to teach the whole bible in a week.  Genesis to Revelations.  How it started, where it all went wrong, were is went wrong again over and over and over and over and over again, and then Jesus! and then! ….HIS RETURN! Yes! What a great and hopeful reminder,  Jesus is coming back!

When all is said and done and the King commands: “Behold, I make all things new!” 

The Restoration of ALL things awaits us.