The Western Australian Conference has purchased a new campsite from PCYC for $A2.3 million to be used for youth ministries.
Located 140 kilometres south of Perth, “Camp Mornington” is a 116-ha site with facilities including a caretaker’s residence, dorms, halls and activities with all gear—high ropes, low ropes, water activities, canoes and mountain bikes.
The purchase comes after Camp Logue Brook—a site previously owned by the Church and only a 30 minute drive from the new site—was destroyed by bushfires in January 2016. Since then, the Conference has hired out venues to run youth camps, but is excited to now have their own.
“Our Adventurers, Pathfinders, juniors, teens and youth will finally have a place to do lots of activities, build relationships and have lots of fun in a context that has Jesus at the centre,” explained WA Conference president Pastor Steve Goods. “[It will be great] having our own space that we can also allow community people to utilise. [It] is going to be a blessing.”
Earlier this year the WA Conference held a youth camp that resulted in many requests for baptism.
“[We were] blessed to use a private camp run by some church members, called Linga Longa. [At the teen camp], 55 requested to learn more about God and 16 want to be baptised. [For] juniors, 57 said they want to learn more about God, 40 want to have Bible studies and 42 want to be baptised.”
Pastor Goods emphasised the powerful impact of camps and events on young people’s spiritual development and gave credit to WA youth ministry directors Pastor Uili Mauga and Amy Turner for their dedication to the ministry and for empowering young people in leadership.
