A collection of reflections on Christmas from mainstream and Christian media.
Monthly Archives: December 2017
US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S DECLARATION ON JERUSALEM: Who Cares?
Therefore, I have determined that it is time to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel — US President Donald Trump
You would have thought the sky had fallen!
( US & Israeli flags at the Jerusalem Municipality. Courtesy of Teach All Nations)
US President Donald Trump, no stranger to controversy, made a simple statement on 6 December 2017, stating that the United States recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Mr. Trump was honouring a campaign promise, which some of his predecessors also made but did not fulfil.
Though Trump sought to be calming, even-handed, and concilatory, there was a strong reaction from key parties. When it comes to Jerusalem, it can be a very emotive. In this article, we will find out who cares about the issue.
Before making his statement, President Trump called Egyptian President Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah, Saudi King Salmon, and Palestinian Authority President Abbas, explaining his actions. He confirmed that the US is still open to the internationally-endorsed ‘two state solution,’ meaning the holy land is to house two nations for two people, ‘living in peace side-by-side.’ What is not directly stated, but implicit, is that along with ‘two states’ there is also to be ‘two Jerusalems,’ one city but divided into two capitals for two peoples.
The 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act overwhelmingly passed in the US Congress, 374-37 votes in the House of Representatives and 93 to 5 votes in the Senate. In 2017 the act was symbolically passed again unanimously in the Senate. It stipulated that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and that the American embassy should be re-located there. However, the President can postpone the move every six months to ‘protect the national security interests of the United States.’ Then US President Bill Clinton signed the twice yearly postponement waiver for the rest of his administration. George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama did the same.
Mr. Trump has gone against decades of US policy vis a vis Jerusalem. America has refused to publicly recognise the holy city as Israel’s capital and has kept the embassy in Tel Aviv, 65 kilometres away, as are all foreign missions. Americans born in the holy city have only ‘Jerusalem’ written in their passports, not ‘Jerusalem, Israel.’
Yet, while de jure recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has been denied, de facto has been operative for years: US presidents, secretary of states, and military leaders have met with their Israeli counterparts in the holy city.
The reason for this ambiguous policy is that Jerusalem is a hyper-sensitive issue with the Arab and Muslim worlds; therefore, its final status should be determined by negotiations. If and when that happens, then embassy might be moved, either to a united or divided Jerusalem. Trump believes this long-term ambiguity vis a vis Jerusalem has not worked, will never work, nor has it brought peace any closer; It is time to face facts and move on.
Mr. Trump said that his move was merely a ‘recognition of reality.’ What is that reality? In a population of 880,000, the Jews number 563,200 (64%), and Arabs 308,000 (35%). Jerusalem has been Israel’s declared capital since 1949, just as it was for a thousand years from the time of King David (1000 BC) to the time of Christ (70 AD). This capital status is mentioned frequently in the Bible, along with 100s of references to Jerusalem. It serves as the seat of government. Israel’s parliament, The Knesset, the Supreme Court, government ministries, official residences of the President and Prime Minister, are all located in Jerusalem.
From the Arab point of view, they are the majority of the population in the Old City, which is the historic, original Jerusalem (30,000 Muslims, 5,600 Christians, 3,000 Jews). They also possess 14 hectares of sacred space known as Al Haram Al Sharif (the ‘Noble Sanctuary’), known in English as the Temple Mount, arguably the single most important piece of real estate in the world. Though historically Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Muslim or Arab entity, the Palestinians say that it will be the capital of their future state.
WORLD REACTION
So who cares about this declaration?
Apparently the entire world!
First, the mainstream US media attacked the President for being ‘reckless.’ This reaction should surprise no one.
The Pope urged him to respect the status quo, namely, ambiguity and keep the American embassy in Tel Aviv. Britain’s Theresa May and other European leaders spoke of the move as being ‘too risky.’ Sweden’s foreign minister called Trump’s declaration ‘catastrophic.’ Russia and China are nervous, too.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterated that the ‘2-state solution’ to peace with Israel/Palestine is the ‘only way’ to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict. There is no ‘Plan B.’
The Palestinian Authority vigorously condemned the move, called for a ‘days of rage.’ Hamas, who rules the Gaza Strip, said Trump’s statement ‘opens the gates of hell.’
At an emergency meeting of the 22-member Arab League, they denounced Trump’s move as a ‘shameless attack’ on the Arab nation, the rights of the Palestinians, and of all Muslims and Christians. They warned that recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital threatened regional peace and stability.
Turkey, whose previous Ottoman Empire occupied Jerusalem for 400 years (1517-1917), declared any change of status in Jerusalem would be a ‘catastrophe.’ Protests were held from Beirut to Jakarta.
Yet, at a local level, things were relatively calm. Yes, there were demonstrations here and there but nowhere nearly as expansive or ferocious as was anticipated. This author happened to be in the country when the Trump’s declaration was made. From personal observation, it was ‘business as usual’ in key cities like Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Life can and will go on.
STAKEHOLDERS
When it comes to Jerusalem, it has the distinction of holding ‘universal name-recognition’ and international concern. From the Amazon Basin to the highlands of Papua New Guinea, the whole world knows about Jerusalem. Since the mid-19th Century, major western powers have established a presence, consular and otherwise, in Jerusalem.
Concerning the status of Jerusalem, the current stakeholders include (but are not limited to):
• Israel
• Palestinian Authority & Hamas
• The Arab League
• The United Nations
• The United States
• The European Union
• Russia
• The Vatican
• Iran & the ‘Shiite Crescent’ from the Persian Gulf (Iran) to the Mediterranean (Lebanon), & Shia Islam
• Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
• The Orthodox Church (they own much land in the holy city)
• The Jewish world
These parties all claim a vested interest. In theory, many, if not all, can have a veto over any agreement involving ownership of the holy city, which has been undecided since the Ottoman Turks lost it to British General Edmund Allenby in December 1917.
Analysis of The Trump Jerusalem Declaration
On reading Trump’s Declaration on Jerusalem, he still pledges openness to the ‘two-state solution,’ if both parties want it. Also, the President recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital but did not use the phrases ‘united’ and/or ‘undivided.’ This also, in theory, leaves open the possibility of the redivision of the holy city into two capitals.
He gave no timeline for when the embassy will move. Nor did he offer to immediately convert the current US consulate in Jerusalem into an embassy. Apparently, he also signed the December 2017 waiver postponing the move of the embassy for another 6 months, as he did the first time in June 2017.
So it appears that Trump’s declaration was more symbolic than substantive. Yet, make no mistake about it, symbols can be very potent. Jerusalem testy status makes that plain.
If the world were committed to a two-state, two-capital solution, why the fuss of recognising Israel’s sovereignty at least over part of Jerusalem? Could it be that major stakeholders object to Israel’s rule over any part of Jerusalem, not just the whole?
Twenty-five hundred years ago, the prophet Zechariah (12:3) warned the world that Almighty God would make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people. Are we seeing a fulfilment of that prophecy before our very eyes? For seasoned observers, there is no doubt that this city will continue to concern and confound the nations in the days to come. Just keep watching this space.
Royal Commission Report
On 15 December 2017 the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse presented a final report to the Governor-General, detailing the culmination of a five year inquiry into institutional responses to child sexual abuse and related matters.
The BUV welcomes the release of the final report, and BUV staff will be reviewing the Commission’s findings and recommendations and considering how our Union can best respond in keeping with our ongoing commitment to a strong culture of safety for children and other vulnerable people across our churches and agencies. The BUV office will keep churches informed of developments throughout 2018.
It is also recommended that churches become aware of the recommendations and plan to attend training and information sessions early in 2018 to ensure. The Report of the Royal Commission can be accessed here.
Our BUV provides Safe Church Awareness and Refresher Workshops for pastors and leaders, designed to help churches to develop a culture of child safety. To book a workshop for 2018 visit www.buv.com.au/resources/safe-church-training or contact Kim Messieh.
Source: BUV News
Royal Commission Report
On 15 December 2017 the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse presented a final report to the Governor-General, detailing the culmination of a five year inquiry into institutional responses to child sexual abuse and related matters.
The BUV welcomes the release of the final report, and BUV staff will be reviewing the Commission’s findings and recommendations and considering how our Union can best respond in keeping with our ongoing commitment to a strong culture of safety for children and other vulnerable people across our churches and agencies. The BUV office will keep churches informed of developments throughout 2018.
It is also recommended that churches become aware of the recommendations and plan to attend training and information sessions early in 2018 to ensure. The Report of the Royal Commission can be accessed here.
Our BUV provides Safe Church Awareness and Refresher Workshops for pastors and leaders, designed to help churches to develop a culture of child safety. To book a workshop for 2018 visit www.buv.com.au/resources/safe-church-training or contact Kim Messieh.
Catalyst Church Life Snapshot
The five-yearly National Church Life Survey that helps churches across Australian understand signs of health and vitality also coincides with an Australian Community Survey. If we want church to be relevant to those outside church, then we have to listen to rather guess about their perspectives. The best listening is 1-to-1 with our neighbours and friends. But the Australian Community Survey offers an insightful overview of how people in Australia view spirituality, religion and God.
When a representative sample of Australians were asked, “Is religion good for society?” a large proportion said yes – 39% agreeing or strongly agreeing. 40% were neutral or unsure. 21% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Some Australians are sceptical and negative about religion, but this is only a minority.
The survey also asked how important religious faith or spirituality is in shaping life decisions. Similar to the previous question, 39% said it was important or very important. Interestingly, this was only slightly higher than those 36% who said it was not important, and 25% said it was of little importance. For many Australians religion and spirituality is important, but for the majority if Australians it is of little or no importance. There are many other things that are more important for many Australians in shaping decisions.
One of the most interesting questions the survey asked was about whether people had ever had a mystical or supernatural experience. 28% said they had, and another 34% said they knew someone who had such an experience or believed it could happen. Many people are open to supernatural and mystical experiences. This is a question that could helpfully asked in conversation 1-on-1: Have you ever had a supernatural or mystical experience yourself?
Another interesting question, and one that we could also use to prompt conversation, is whether there is a God or spirit or life force that exists. 24% of Australians said they did believe in a personal God. A quarter is a significant number on one hand, but it is also significant that this is a clear minority and more Australians (35%) only believe in “Some sort of spirit or life force” whereas 19% are not sure. There is also a significant secular minority (19%) who do not think there is any such God, spirit or life force. It is helpful to understand where people we talk to are coming form with their idea of whether God (or at least some kind of sprit or force) exists.
A similar more explicit question was asked about belief of God, and whether this has changed for people. The largest proportion of people, or 40%, say they do believe in God and always have. Comparing this to the previous question, it is evident not all these people would believe in a personal God, but many do. Interestingly, 14% said they used to believe in God but don’t know. And 5% now do believe in God, even though used not to. So, some people are turning towards belief on God, though a greater proportion (almost three times as many) are moving away from belief. 21% were and remain atheist and another 20% said they could not choose from these options. How have people in your networks changed in terms of their beliefs, or not, over recent years?
It is helpful to understand not just what Australians believe about God and religion, but to what extent they practice it. One, but by all means nit the only way religious faith is expressed, is through pubic worship or religious services. Religious attendance is much lower than decades ago. Nevertheless 11% of Australians say they attend services at least weekly, another 7% attend at least monthly, 8% several times a year, and 6% once a year. So, 32% attend services at least once a year and so have some contact with a religious group. Interestingly 47% never attend, and another 21% attend less frequently than once a year. A clear majority of Australians never or very infrequently attend services, even though we know from previous questions that numbers of these believe on God or have some form of spirituality.
30% of Australians reported praying or meditating at least weekly. Apparently individual spiritual practice is more common than corporate attendance at religious services. Yet another 38% never practice prayer or meditation. What conversations might we have with people about how they pray or meditate, or in what ways could our churches offer prayer and meditation as a resource for relating to God and to face the challenges of life in contemporary society?
NCLS suggest discussing what these results reveal about Australians? Does this information surprise you and those you attend church with? How might these insights influence how you connect with others in a diverse and changing society?
This article was written by the BUV Mission Catalyst Team.
This data and the infographics are from Ruth Powell and Miriam Pepper, Australian Community Survey [Data file]. Sydney, Australia: NCLS Research, 2016, www.ncls.org.au/2016-ACS. Graphics by Edi Sizgoric.
Source: BUV News
Kingville Zotung Baptist Church Pastor Awarded PhD
Rev Dr San Lian was conferred the Doctor of Philosophy degree on the 30th November 2017 by the University of Divinity. He is the first person from a Zotung background to have achieved this in Australia – possibly also the first one in the world.
His thesis is titled “Christian–Buddhist Dialogue in Myanmar: A Spirituality of Involvement in Social and Ethical Transformation” and this is the abstract of his work:
This thesis attempts to promote Christian-Buddhist dialogue based on Buddhist notion of social engagement and the Christian vision of the Kingdom of God in the context of the suffering people of Myanmar. Primarily, it aims to address social realities in order to advocate justice, peace and social harmony in Myanmar.
Rev Dr San Lian is currently the Pastor of the Kingsville Zotung Baptist Church and providing much needed leadership and direction to the Zotung community in Melbourne. His aim in doing the research is to find a way for promoting peace in Myanmar – a country deeply affected by decades of conflict. This is his dream – as written in his thesis:
This thesis examines the possibility of promoting Christian–Buddhist dialogue in Myanmar, where both Buddhists and Christians (especially those of the Protestant churches) have neglected and avoided interfaith dialogue up to the 21st century. In Myanmar, differences in faith and ethnicity tragically lead to religious marginalisation, violence and ethnic conflict. In this unstable situation, politicians exploit an amalgam of hatred, mistrust and fear rooted in ethnic religiosity, which often fuels the anger of defensive religious leaders. In response, this thesis advocates for the promotion of interfaith dialogue based on socially engaged spirituality for Myanmar people at the grassroots level, which may in turn lead to moral and social transformation.
Catalyst Church Life Snapshot
The five-yearly National Church Life Survey that helps churches across Australian understand signs of health and vitality also coincides with an Australian Community Survey. If we want church to be relevant to those outside church, then we have to listen to rather guess about their perspectives. The best listening is 1-to-1 with our neighbours and friends. But the Australian Community Survey offers an insightful overview of how people in Australia view spirituality, religion and God.
When a representative sample of Australians were asked, “Is religion good for society?” a large proportion said yes – 39% agreeing or strongly agreeing. 40% were neutral or unsure. 21% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Some Australians are sceptical and negative about religion, but this is only a minority.
The survey also asked how important religious faith or spirituality is in shaping life decisions. Similar to the previous question, 39% said it was important or very important. Interestingly, this was only slightly higher than those 36% who said it was not important, and 25% said it was of little importance. For many Australians religion and spirituality is important, but for the majority if Australians it is of little or no importance. There are many other things that are more important for many Australians in shaping decisions.
One of the most interesting questions the survey asked was about whether people had ever had a mystical or supernatural experience. 28% said they had, and another 34% said they knew someone who had such an experience or believed it could happen. Many people are open to supernatural and mystical experiences. This is a question that could helpfully asked in conversation 1-on-1: Have you ever had a supernatural or mystical experience yourself?
Another interesting question, and one that we could also use to prompt conversation, is whether there is a God or spirit or life force that exists. 24% of Australians said they did believe in a personal God. A quarter is a significant number on one hand, but it is also significant that this is a clear minority and more Australians (35%) only believe in “Some sort of spirit or life force” whereas 19% are not sure. There is also a significant secular minority (19%) who do not think there is any such God, spirit or life force. It is helpful to understand where people we talk to are coming form with their idea of whether God (or at least some kind of sprit or force) exists.
A similar more explicit question was asked about belief of God, and whether this has changed for people. The largest proportion of people, or 40%, say they do believe in God and always have. Comparing this to the previous question, it is evident not all these people would believe in a personal God, but many do. Interestingly, 14% said they used to believe in God but don’t know. And 5% now do believe in God, even though used not to. So, some people are turning towards belief on God, though a greater proportion (almost three times as many) are moving away from belief. 21% were and remain atheist and another 20% said they could not choose from these options. How have people in your networks changed in terms of their beliefs, or not, over recent years?
It is helpful to understand not just what Australians believe about God and religion, but to what extent they practice it. One, but by all means nit the only way religious faith is expressed, is through pubic worship or religious services. Religious attendance is much lower than decades ago. Nevertheless 11% of Australians say they attend services at least weekly, another 7% attend at least monthly, 8% several times a year, and 6% once a year. So, 32% attend services at least once a year and so have some contact with a religious group. Interestingly 47% never attend, and another 21% attend less frequently than once a year. A clear majority of Australians never or very infrequently attend services, even though we know from previous questions that numbers of these believe on God or have some form of spirituality.
30% of Australians reported praying or meditating at least weekly. Apparently individual spiritual practice is more common than corporate attendance at religious services. Yet another 38% never practice prayer or meditation. What conversations might we have with people about how they pray or meditate, or in what ways could our churches offer prayer and meditation as a resource for relating to God and to face the challenges of life in contemporary society?
NCLS suggest discussing what these results reveal about Australians? Does this information surprise you and those you attend church with? How might these insights influence how you connect with others in a diverse and changing society?
This article was written by the BUV Mission Catalyst Team.
This data and the infographics are from Ruth Powell and Miriam Pepper, Australian Community Survey [Data file]. Sydney, Australia: NCLS Research, 2016, www.ncls.org.au/2016-ACS. Graphics by Edi Sizgoric.
Kingville Zotung Baptist Church Pastor Awarded PhD
Rev Dr San Lian was conferred the Doctor of Philosophy degree on the 30th November 2017 by the University of Divinity. He is the first person from a Zotung background to have achieved this in Australia – possibly also the first one in the world.
His thesis is titled “Christian–Buddhist Dialogue in Myanmar: A Spirituality of Involvement in Social and Ethical Transformation” and this is the abstract of his work:
This thesis attempts to promote Christian-Buddhist dialogue based on Buddhist notion of social engagement and the Christian vision of the Kingdom of God in the context of the suffering people of Myanmar. Primarily, it aims to address social realities in order to advocate justice, peace and social harmony in Myanmar.
Rev Dr San Lian is currently the Pastor of the Kingsville Zotung Baptist Church and providing much needed leadership and direction to the Zotung community in Melbourne. His aim in doing the research is to find a way for promoting peace in Myanmar – a country deeply affected by decades of conflict. This is his dream – as written in his thesis:
This thesis examines the possibility of promoting Christian–Buddhist dialogue in Myanmar, where both Buddhists and Christians (especially those of the Protestant churches) have neglected and avoided interfaith dialogue up to the 21st century. In Myanmar, differences in faith and ethnicity tragically lead to religious marginalisation, violence and ethnic conflict. In this unstable situation, politicians exploit an amalgam of hatred, mistrust and fear rooted in ethnic religiosity, which often fuels the anger of defensive religious leaders. In response, this thesis advocates for the promotion of interfaith dialogue based on socially engaged spirituality for Myanmar people at the grassroots level, which may in turn lead to moral and social transformation.
Source: BUV News
Wilson’s Promontory Beach Mission
As most of us head for a summer break after our Christmas festivities, we can still provide prayer support for the many outreach activities which happen around Beach Missions over the summer.
Here is a re-cap of one of last summer’s Beach Mission supported by Hawthorn West Baptist.
For a couple of weeks in early January, Scripture Union Family Mission (SUFM) and Theos run a beach mission program in Tidal River, Wilson's Promontory. I joined them as a leader for the first time, though I had participated in the program for many years as a camper. The program is essentially about loving and serving the kids and their families and spreading the good news of Jesus. As the team mission statement says: "TRSUFM are volunteers from churches across Victoria who want to care for and serve Prom campers, and to share the good news that God loves you!" Beach mission aims to be a relaxed and enjoyable environment to build relationships with campers and give them an opportunity to learn more about the Gospel.
The team this year included around 70 volunteers from churches around Victoria, with nearly half of the team coming from Hawthorn West Baptist Church. This year had many younger people on the team, with a much larger 18-21 demographic.
The first few days were spent setting up the campsite and spreading the word about the program, including by picking up rubbish around Tidal River in our team t-shirts. Some of the campers thanked us for the effort or asked jokingly that we clean out their caravan as well.
The program began on Sunday night with a family carnival with 100+ kids and their families attending. It included stilts, jaffa hammering, face paint, bubbles, sponge throwing, colouring in and playdough. There was also a man running around in a costume covered in lollies, quickly attracting a horde of kids.
The age groups included:
El Dads (years 10-12)
Tidal Waves (years 7-9)
Proms (years 5-6)
Kangas (years 2-4)
Koalas (kindergarten to year 1)
The program for the primary age groups consisted games and a morning concert. The secondary age groups have a less structured program, allowing time to hangout and talk in a more relaxed atmosphere. Each week included a family night and end of week concert to engage the families. The midweek sandcastle competition is often a highlight and attracted 300+ people. This year's theme was childhood and inspired many amazing creations.
The Tidal Waves group, which I helped lead, had a morning and evening program. The morning included games, pancakes etc. along with a bible study of the Gospel of John. The evening included more games and activities such as amazing race, trivia etc. and testimony from the leaders. The kids had a variety of backgrounds: some were from Christian households and went to church regularly, some go to Catholic schools and others had no experience of church at all. Some had been attending the program since koalas, others were coming for the first time. They were all able to engage with the material and were interested in learning more about the Gospel. For some of the campers Beach Mission is the first experience they have of reading through the Bible and seeing what it says about Jesus. By the end, many of the campers were eager to take bibles home. There was also a question box for whatever questions the campers have about Christianity or life in general. Some of the questions included: what do you think of belief in other/no gods? why is where an unforgivable sin? and why does God allow suffering in the world and many others? It was great to see the kids grappling with such serious issues and keen to learn more. Jono, one of the Tidal Waves leaders, said, he was "encouraged by the team and how Christ centered people are [and] also how receptive the kids are about the Gospel and big questions, evident in kids that have come for multiple years."
Speaking from my experience attending the program in previous years, the younger age groups were a lot of fun and were a highlight of my camping experience. Entering the older age groups such as El Dads, the program was a really formative experience of fellowship and learning that I found really helpful in my Christian journey.
For the parents it is an opportunity to send their kids to a program they can trust and gives them time to relax. One parent said "we knew it was fun and safe [for our kids]" and he appreciated that "it provided a fun experience and a good witness of Christianity with wholesome role models." Some of the parents, especially those who've been involved for multiple years, often have discussions with the leaders, join the bible study, or come along to the outdoor church service.
The Theos also minister to the 18+ in general. In the morning they cook a free bacon and eggs breakfast. Some people take the food and go, others stay around and talk. The campers are often willing to engage in deep theological discussions. In the afternoon they run beach games and similar activities. The open mic night had over 100 people in attendance. Some of the Theos were even invited to someone's campsite for dinner, which indicates how deep a connection they form with people. Dave from the Theos said it was a "good opportunity to meet new people and talk to them about life and to speak into people's lives." He appreciates the time to "get away from normal life for a bit a see what God might do."
As much as it is a service to the campers, Tidal River beach mission is a lot of fun to lead. Free time was spent reading, doing on of the many nearby walks, games on the beach or swimming in the picturesque Norman bay. I appreciated the opportunity to make new friends and learn more about theology from the morning devotions and discussions with other leaders. Jono said he "really enjoyed the worship with a team that are so passionate and joyous." Aysha, a Koalas leader doing her 9th mission, said beach mission is her "favorite time of year." She said it includes "lots of fun times, lots of tiring times – but its worth it all in the end."
Wilson's Promontory Beach Mission
As most of us head for a summer break after our Christmas festivities, we can still provide prayer support for the many outreach activities which happen around Beach Missions over the summer.
Here is a re-cap of one of last summer’s Beach Mission supported by Hawthorn West Baptist.
For a couple of weeks in early January, Scripture Union Family Mission (SUFM) and Theos run a beach mission program in Tidal River, Wilson's Promontory. I joined them as a leader for the first time, though I had participated in the program for many years as a camper. The program is essentially about loving and serving the kids and their families and spreading the good news of Jesus. As the team mission statement says: "TRSUFM are volunteers from churches across Victoria who want to care for and serve Prom campers, and to share the good news that God loves you!" Beach mission aims to be a relaxed and enjoyable environment to build relationships with campers and give them an opportunity to learn more about the Gospel.
The team this year included around 70 volunteers from churches around Victoria, with nearly half of the team coming from Hawthorn West Baptist Church. This year had many younger people on the team, with a much larger 18-21 demographic.
The first few days were spent setting up the campsite and spreading the word about the program, including by picking up rubbish around Tidal River in our team t-shirts. Some of the campers thanked us for the effort or asked jokingly that we clean out their caravan as well.
The program began on Sunday night with a family carnival with 100+ kids and their families attending. It included stilts, jaffa hammering, face paint, bubbles, sponge throwing, colouring in and playdough. There was also a man running around in a costume covered in lollies, quickly attracting a horde of kids.
The age groups included:
El Dads (years 10-12)
Tidal Waves (years 7-9)
Proms (years 5-6)
Kangas (years 2-4)
Koalas (kindergarten to year 1)
The program for the primary age groups consisted games and a morning concert. The secondary age groups have a less structured program, allowing time to hangout and talk in a more relaxed atmosphere. Each week included a family night and end of week concert to engage the families. The midweek sandcastle competition is often a highlight and attracted 300+ people. This year's theme was childhood and inspired many amazing creations.
The Tidal Waves group, which I helped lead, had a morning and evening program. The morning included games, pancakes etc. along with a bible study of the Gospel of John. The evening included more games and activities such as amazing race, trivia etc. and testimony from the leaders. The kids had a variety of backgrounds: some were from Christian households and went to church regularly, some go to Catholic schools and others had no experience of church at all. Some had been attending the program since koalas, others were coming for the first time. They were all able to engage with the material and were interested in learning more about the Gospel. For some of the campers Beach Mission is the first experience they have of reading through the Bible and seeing what it says about Jesus. By the end, many of the campers were eager to take bibles home. There was also a question box for whatever questions the campers have about Christianity or life in general. Some of the questions included: what do you think of belief in other/no gods? why is where an unforgivable sin? and why does God allow suffering in the world and many others? It was great to see the kids grappling with such serious issues and keen to learn more. Jono, one of the Tidal Waves leaders, said, he was "encouraged by the team and how Christ centered people are [and] also how receptive the kids are about the Gospel and big questions, evident in kids that have come for multiple years."
Speaking from my experience attending the program in previous years, the younger age groups were a lot of fun and were a highlight of my camping experience. Entering the older age groups such as El Dads, the program was a really formative experience of fellowship and learning that I found really helpful in my Christian journey.
For the parents it is an opportunity to send their kids to a program they can trust and gives them time to relax. One parent said "we knew it was fun and safe [for our kids]" and he appreciated that "it provided a fun experience and a good witness of Christianity with wholesome role models." Some of the parents, especially those who've been involved for multiple years, often have discussions with the leaders, join the bible study, or come along to the outdoor church service.
The Theos also minister to the 18+ in general. In the morning they cook a free bacon and eggs breakfast. Some people take the food and go, others stay around and talk. The campers are often willing to engage in deep theological discussions. In the afternoon they run beach games and similar activities. The open mic night had over 100 people in attendance. Some of the Theos were even invited to someone's campsite for dinner, which indicates how deep a connection they form with people. Dave from the Theos said it was a "good opportunity to meet new people and talk to them about life and to speak into people's lives." He appreciates the time to "get away from normal life for a bit a see what God might do."
As much as it is a service to the campers, Tidal River beach mission is a lot of fun to lead. Free time was spent reading, doing on of the many nearby walks, games on the beach or swimming in the picturesque Norman bay. I appreciated the opportunity to make new friends and learn more about theology from the morning devotions and discussions with other leaders. Jono said he "really enjoyed the worship with a team that are so passionate and joyous." Aysha, a Koalas leader doing her 9th mission, said beach mission is her "favorite time of year." She said it includes "lots of fun times, lots of tiring times – but its worth it all in the end."
Source: BUV News