How can anyone put his faith in Christ if he’s never even heard about Him? How can he hear about Him if no one tells? Romans 10:14 Jesus... Our Lifesaver February 2016 IntraVic Newsletter a publication of VAC Victorian Adventists A note from the Editor’s Office IntraVic February 2016 A Blessed Three Weeks I had the privilege of being at Camp Howqua for Sabbath In this issue... at Junior Camp. I chatted to a number of the staff and campers. Mariah Reed is a young, experienced staff IntraVic Staff member who is studying to be a teacher. She sent me her ‘recap’ of her experience at this year’s summer camps. 04 Blessed...beyond measure Editor: Enjoy! Rosemary Andrykanus shares with us her first ever Pastor Graeme Christian Summer Camp experience, where she attended as a Assistant Editor: presenter. As you read, may you meditate on how you can Sherrie Courtney serve the Lord... [email protected] PO Box 215 Nunawading, 3131 Here is that recap I’d promised about some of the great things I 06 2016 and Beyond Phone: 03 9264 7777 witnessed this year at Summer Camp. What a blessed three weeks! In junior camp I had the honour of being counsellor to five girls - for VicYouth Director, Phil Hyland takes a look at the direction Website: he sees the youth ministry taking from here... vic.adventist.org.au three of whom this was their first experience of Jesus or Christianity. 08 Issue Schedule: Right from the get-go these girls were so excited and happy to be there. 08 Summer Camps 2016 Feb 27 Although a lot of what we did was new and strange, they didn’t hesitate Big Camp Edition - March 12 to take part and get involved. Before coming to camp, the word “God” Here we share an overview of the camp experience, and May 28 was just a curse word, and they didn’t know what prayer was. It was surprisingly, from many different contributors, it seems July 23 an incredible journey and an absolute privilege to be a part of what God that worship was a highlight! We also introduce the new Sept 24 was doing in these girls’ lives. camping initiative this year - GAP Camp... Nov 26 Each evening we would have worship with the whole camp. My DEADLINES SECOND MONDAY of girls loved every minute of it. Every day I would ask them what their 11 Victorian Pastoral Staffing PRECEDING MONTH favourite part of camp was and every day they would reply “worship” (or ‘workship’ as one of them called it). For the latest list of which pastors are serving which Want to receive you copy of churches for 2016 IntraVic by email? Register at But I think the most special moments occurred each night during cabin http://vic.adventist.org.au worship. We would all sit down in a circle on the floor and discuss the 10 12 Church News messages we’d just heard. Everything was new. Classic Bible stories Notices available at I’ve heard since before I could talk were unheard of for these girls. An update on Road to Bethlehem, a story of God’s grace http://Vic.adventist.org.au under They loved hearing from the Bible, and one night in particular we read and of a 90 year old’s endurance, plus more... the News & Announcements tab a whole chunk of Genesis. They had many questions, like “Why did they have to hurt Jesus?” That question in particular started a whole Cover Photo conversation about Adam and Eve, the first sin, and how the penalty of 16 Just for Kids Lauren McColl sin is death, but that Jesus took that penalty for us. Although hesitant at first about prayer, by the end of camp you couldn’t 18 Conference News have kept them quiet if you tried! In which country is there most persecution, introducing I gave my Bible to one of the girls on the last night of worship - and you World Day of Prayer 2016, news from our school system should have seen her face light up. That whole and from ADRA plus more... night she was clutching it close and didn’t put it down once. It was so special to see! 16 23 Notices All three weeks were such a blessing and it was an honour to witness some of the amazing things God did this year. Have a fantastic Sabbath, Mariah Reed 2 | IntraVic IntraVic | 3 Jesus was a servolutionary...the greatest leader who ever lived was one who served a bond with them. They came from a wasn’t the horse riding or the water diversity of backgrounds; some have sports, but it was the worship time! grown up in Adventist homes and attend our schools while others had The big take-home message for me never heard the name of Jesus before. has been the value of service. Jesus But regardless of background, some was a ‘servolutionary’. In Mark 10:45 truly encountered Christ for the first we see Jesus revolutionising the world time, there at Summer Camp. through his example of service: the greatest leader who ever lived was the It was a privilege to co-present the one who served. Word with my good friend Gerrard. Our messages included: What is a When we give our time, efforts, talents Lifesaver; Why do we need a Lifesaver; or resources in service, we will find that Blessed Lifesaving through Prayer; Jesus as as we benefit others, we too receive the our Personal Lifesaver; and Lifesaving blessing that we impart. ...beyond measure Through Service. Our goal was to demonstrate that Jesus is our Ultimate Through their early mornings, tiresome Lifesaver. He saved us from the gulf days and late nights, the staff members Blessed... between God and humanity, caused did a tremendous job serving the by sin: the Infinite exhausted His kids at all times and while possibly Written by Rosemary AndrykanusBeyond measure resources to purchase humanity; this exhausted themselves at the end, most SUMMER CAMP PRESENTER AND THEOLOGY STUDENT AT AVONDALE COLLEGE gift defies computation. would agree their experience was life changing. Although it is hard to pick which part of camp was my favourite, I remember If you have never been to a VicYouth one young girl coming up to me after summer camp, you’re missing out Every January is a special time for the to their respective cabins for cabin I had shared a message on prayer the on an incredible blessing! The When we give of ourselves to benefit others, VicYouth team because of the annual worship, followed by breakfast. They previous night. She tapped me on summer camps, which are held in the would then take their cabin groups out friendships, the bonding, the growth it comes back to us. As Proverbs 11:25 says… the shoulder and said “I haven’t been picturesque landscape of Howqua, for a full day’s worth of activities that and learning that happen at summer sleeping at all the past two nights. But He who waters, will himself be watered. at the foothills of Victoria’s high ranged from cooking, horse riding, camps are unparalleled. And whether last night I prayed to Jesus that I would country. With no phone reception, no high-ropes to water sports and even you are a camper there for just one sleep well... and guess what - I didn’t This year, for the first time ever, Rosie connectivity with the outside world and a (very muddy) survivor challenge. At week, or a staff member for one surrounded by the quietude of nature, the end of the day, the campers and wake up at all last night!” camp… or all three... being there, staff would return to the main lodge for worshipping and serving God in so attended summer camp – as a presenter. it is the perfect setting to connect with It was humbling to know that God was our nightly worship service. The staff many different ways, it is truly a God. using Gerrard, the staff members Here she shares her experience, and while members were dedicated; they were ‘blessing-beyond-measure’ experience. and myself to reach out to the kids. The theme for 2016, over all three the first to rise in the morning and the Not only were they listening to the Rosemary Andrykanus strictly not a devotional, as you read, immerse camps, was ‘Lifesaver.’ I had never last to go to sleep at night. yourself in her story, place yourself in the been to a summer camp before, let messages, but they were also applying alone speak at one, and didn’t really What amazed me about this whole them practically. Kids are far smarter picture, imagine experiencing summer camp know what to expect. I was asked to experience was realising what a than we give them credit for and we co-present the nightly message at mission field these camps really are. In should not be afraid to dig deep. One yourself for the first time as Rosie was… and the Junior camp and after being there the midst of all the jam-packed activity, of the other young girls who came for the week I can truly say what a worship remained a core theme. from a non-Christian background ask yourself - and your Lord - how can YOU wonderful blessing it was. Over the course of the week, it was and had never been to church before, incredible to see how the kids opened told us that from all the activities she receive the blessing of service? Every morning the staff would meet up to us, trusted us and wanted to tell participated in over the course of the together for worship, before returning us about their lives as we developed week, her favourite part of the day 4 | IntraVic IntraVic | 5 Photo Credit: Summer Camp Photographers I can tell you all about it, but the only to explore creative ways of sharing the same time this was an opportunity way to really get the full Summer Camp Gospel through engaging with their to ask who we are and where are we experience… is to BE THERE.