March Family Camp

Martin eating a surprising camp meal!

The puzzle of being a multi-age church

Lesley and I were asked to speak at the combined Goodwood and Mowbray church camp out at Kanonkop Farm near Klapmuts. Our brief was to engage everybody, young and old, in teaching sessions that were fun for everyone, boring for none, and spiritually challenging for all. And to do it outside, without electronic media!

This is the sort of challenge we love!

We chose to do the whole of the sermon on the mount, interpreted through the core values of the 9 beatitudes. The 100 or so camp delegates were skilfully divided by the camp committee into ten intergenerational and intercongregational groups. We got each group to produce a scrap book of pictures, poems and observations based on one of the big nine Kingdom values: humility, empathy, meekness, fairness, purity, mercy, peace-making, courage and commitment. to Jesus. It wasn't rocket science theology, but we aimed at introducing the concept of Jesus' core Christian values; or doing a refresher course for those who have been living them out for years.

It was great to be working together as a team again. Lesley and I enjoy doing our tag-team talks! And I found that if I slept between sessions I had just enough energy to carry me through.

WIth a campfire, games, a spectacular cross zen-garden, and lots of conversation, it turned out to be a very effective experience. Many people discussed issues raised by the implications of Jesus' teachings with us. But my favourite piece of feedback was from a ten-year-old girl who told me that our talks were the "funniest thing in the day" :)