More than 1000 people gathered in Townsville (Qld) for the Northern Australian Conference (NAC) Big Camp held from June 27 to July 5. Themed “Devoted Disciples—Living for Christ in the 21st century”, the event featured a variety of speakers from Cooranbong, Melbourne, Sydney and the United States.
Along with the regular night meetings in the big tent, various workshops and plenary sessions highlighted topics such as salvation, stewardship and helping children grow in Jesus. There were also activities such as the ADRA Fun Run, a Sanitarium-sponsored breakfast and Family Fun Day, which featured markets, a petting zoo and jumping castles.
In a session highlighting mission within the conference, Pastor Simon Gigliotti, NAC president, introduced NAC for Christ. The initiative will be an “intentional missional journey” across the conference and part of AUC for Christ 2028.
“Local churches will flourish if we start to take discipleship seriously . . . and it starts now. The vision moving forward is that every person in NAC will be a disciple-maker,” said Pastor Gigliotti.
The final Sabbath featured 17 young people publicly giving their lives to God through baptism.
“It’s awesome following up from last year’s baptisms to have another group of young people get baptised this year,” said Pastor Matthew Pearce, NAC secretary. “The momentum we have is exciting and our goal next year is going to be even bigger.”
Camp ended on Saturday night with a program in which each children’s division performed a song they had been learning throughout the week.
“I pray that from here we will go away renewed, refreshed, recommitted and ready to do the thing Jesus asked us to do,” said Pastor Gigliotti. “To ‘make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’” (Matthew 28:19, NIV).
