Communities
editThese are the best camps, meetings, conferences, trips, holidays and community gatherings which I have heard of! I have experienced all but one on the list. If you have never been to anything like these before, then let me tell you - you're missing out!
Big Camp (northern NSW, Australia). An annual camp at Yarrahapinne in northern NSW, run by the Adventist church. A great time to hear some great speakers, enjoy worship music, and fellowship with friends, family and others.
Hillsong Conference (Sydney, Australia) run by Hillsong Church which is world-famous for its worship music. I attended in 2006, when it ran from July 3-7.
Taizé Community (eastern France). Taizé is a community run year-round by a group of "brothers" (essentially monks, but they prefer not to use this word because they reject any connotations of isolationism or exclusiveness). They accept no money for themselves, instead living by their own means. Young people from all across Europe and other continents gather for a week of prayer, community, and small groups Bible study and music. Two European friends of mine raved about it to me! He is German and pays about 50 euros for a week's food and accommodation, whereas she is Hungarian and pays about 20 euros for the same. Attendees from wealthier countries effectively support those from less wealthy countries. As I understand it there are no speakers or sermons per se, but the emphasis is on community and fellowship between Christians (other religions welcome too, I understand). Taizé certainly has a very different approach to spirituality than Hillsong Conference for example, but both are equally valid in my opinion.
"A week in Taizé is a way of realising the intimate relationship between an experience of communion with God in prayer and personal reflection on the one hand, and an experience of communion and solidarity among peoples on the other."Taizé website
StormCo is an acronym for "Service To Others Really Matters" ("co"mpany). It is a concept which originated in Queensland, Australia within the last 20 years or so. It involves groups of young people going out into communities (typically remote, largely Aboriginal communities) to serve the community. There is a particular emphasis on working with the kinds of the community. Organised by the Adventist church, team members often also include Christians from other denominations or even people not identifying with Christianity. It is not about "preaching" (in the negative sense of the word) or "Bible-bashing". This is about showing much-needed and appreciated love to kids! StormCo teams return yearly or even twice-yearly to the same communities, and a strong relationship is built. Activities such as craft, face painting, balloon sculpting, games of touch football, swimming in the river or town pool, and just hanging around and talking are typical. My personal favourite is giving shoulder rides!
StormCo's are loads of fun. I have been 6 times, and all to the same town - Walgett in western NSW. Our Christian faith is shared primarily through giving time and attention to the kids. Does StormCo make a difference? It is also a great bonding time for the team, with many new friendships being made. The five foundations of StormCo are: No Agenda, No Expectations, No Walls, No Limits and No Fear.[1]
China trip. In December 2005 a group of 22 (mostly) young people from (mostly) Australia spent a couple of weeks in China, developing friendships Zhejiang University students and others. Afterwards I spent a month in Hong Kong at Kowloon Sam Yuk high school, teaching English and making friends with the students. It was one of the best times of my life!
Of course it is just my opinion that the above events are some of the best happenings in the world. But seriously, if you haven't been to anything like this, you're missing out!
Cambodia trip. This ran from December 2006 to January 2007. I was part of a team of 34 people mainly from Avondale College in Australia. We spent about three weeks at "Wat Preah Yesu", a Christian orphanage in Cambodia, followed by a week in the jungle at "Jombok Hoas" retreat, and then some touring in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. After four days in Thailand, the group flew home but I travelled to Hong Kong for two weeks. The trip was amazing and I received so much warmth and kindness from the Khmer people as well as friends in Hong Kong. It was a life-changing experience.