How can teenage Christians be supported at New Year? Pressure from the media and peers encourages many of them to just ‘go along with the crowd’.
Yorkshire’s answer was a special New Year camp on the outskirts of Leeds. 22 teenagers, ten leaders and three days of great fun organised by newly formed ‘Yorkshire Camps’ which had two aims: to give the teens a great time and to help them keep walking with Jesus.
With lots of food and plenty of time to chill out, the teens enjoyed activities including archery, pyrography (wood-burning), wide games and a formal dinner, plus, most importantly, talks from the Bible. Jonathan Carswell spoke, taking them through the Book of Philippians. Time was then spent in smaller groups, discussing and applying what had heard and read. Seminars were available on how to live for Jesus at home, university and school. They learned the first part of Philippians 2 by heart, with the help of some modern music.
That combination resulted in one of the teenager lads saying: ‘The camp was the best New Year’s celebration I have ever had!’. He added: ‘It was great to see so many other Christians my age and to grow with them because of the Bible teaching’.
New Year was celebrated on a cold and dark night around a blazing campfire. The close of 2013 was certainly memorable for those who were there.
A spokesperson said: ‘ “Yorkshire Camps” prayer is that these teenagers would be “on fire” for Jesus in a dark world, not only in 2014 but throughout their lives’.
More camps are planned in the county throughout the year, for different age groups, themes and for both Christians and the unchurched from all backgrounds.
