In this interview, Amanda Bailey from South Wagga Anglican Church (SWAC) shares the “incredible” impact that KYCK conference had on her youth group, and why youth leaders should consider integrating KYCK into their youth ministry.
1. Why did you decide to bring a group to KYCK this year?
Camps have always been an integral part of our youth ministry at South Wagga Anglican. We know how special they are and that they are a place where youth make significant steps in their faith.
Our youth group is a bit odd; almost 70% of our youth come from non-Christian homes, most of them have never owned a bible, and a scary amount had never heard the gospel message until this year. We met most of our youth through Special Religious Education (SRE) class, and from there they have plugged into our Friday night youth group and become part of our family at SWAC.
So, when it came to choosing a camp, we wanted to choose one that could show our youth that living for Jesus was something people chose to do and prioritised in their life. That’s one of the tricky things about living in the country, but that’s exactly what happened! When we arrived, not only were they unable to comprehend how big God’s family was, but they looked around and saw other Christian youth and leaders committed to following Jesus. Their shock and excitement was utterly amazing!
2. What was your personal highlight for the weekend?
Watching 15 of our 19 youth stand up and receive prayer to either follow Jesus for the first time or recommit their lives to him was INCREDIBLE. It was such a special moment and one that we won’t forget as a stepping stone in their faith.
But more than that, watching our youth come home, passionate and confident in what they believe has been AMAZING. Three of our youth stood up and shared their testimonies for the first time at our church service the following Sunday, and many of them have started reading Mark’s gospel. We truly believe that God has done something special in their hearts, and for us, this has certainly changed the trajectory of our ministry.
3. Why do you think youth groups should prioritise conferences like KYCK?
I honestly believe that youth of every age and spiritual stage can draw something from KYCK. Whether your youth are sceptical to the faith or have been following Jesus for a long time, KYCK is a place that says, ‘come on in’. It’s both accessible and challenging, and the encouragement from being with other brothers and sisters is unreal.
We’ve loved that KYCK called our Christian kids to a higher understanding of faith but at the same time, made the gospel message clear to those who are wrestling. I would encourage all youth groups to make camps like KYCK a priority (they also have barista coffee on site for leaders…so that’s that).
Registrations for KYCK 23 opens 8th November!
KYCK 23 will return on the following dates next April and September:
Weekend 1: 14-16 April
Weekend 2 & Online: 21-23 April
Weekend 3: 28-30 April
Weekend 4: 22-24 September
Tickets will go on sale Tuesday 8 November, 9.30am AEDT from our website.
The KYCK Country Bonus will also return in 2023. To learn more or to apply visit our website: www.kyck.org.au/country-kyck-bonus/
