JOYFUL: Happy campers at Mystery Creek Event Centre for the Baptist Youth Ministry (BYM) Northern Easter Camp. Photo by Ellyse Kelsen

ore than 4000 teenagers descended on Mystery Creek Event Centre for the Baptist Youth Ministry (BYM) Northern Easter Camp between April 5 and 9.

The camp has been running for 65 years, and this year’s guests included Wellington region youth worker Johanna Vannathy, motivational speaker Billy Williams, and home-grown hip-hop sensation Rapture Ruckus.

Camp director Blue Bradley says, “This year we had about 4350 kids and leaders. It doesn’t matter what denomination, what race, they are all welcome at Easter Camp.”

As well as waterslides and sports events, the teens got to enjoy a nightly jazz jam and show off their skills at the X factor talent quest. Seminars were also held for those who wanted to take time to explore their faith a little deeper.

“They say faith is becoming less and less relevant for young people; the Church is becoming less and less relevant. That may be so but Jesus is not,” says Mr Bradley.

“I think providing thought-provoking environments that are safe and not hyped, where kids can come and meet Jesus themselves and explore their relationship with him, it’s an amazing opportunity. The fact that the camp continues to grow is a testament to this happening in kids’ lives.”

Mr Bradley’s personal highlight of this year’s camp was when the fire alarm went off and everyone was evacuated on the Sunday night. “When we came back in, God’s presence was even stronger than when we went out. It was fantastic to see thousands of kids praying for one another, supporting one another and encouraging one another,” he says.

The ethos of Easter camp is that youth groups bring their camp to the campground. “We don’t run the whole thing. Leaders lead and pray with their kids. Our job is to serve and strengthen the youth groups that come, wherever they are at. The challenge is catering for the theological spectrum of where they are at. The faith journey of the kids is massively diverse. It’s a wonderful challenge,” says Mr Bradley.

By Gemma Margerison