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This week:
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Due to commitments in Newport I have not been able to visit camps this week so am grateful for feedback from Stuart Olyott on his visits to two camps and for reports from camp leaders from previous camps. This makes this update longer than usual but as you will see we have much to thank the Lord for. Please pray and praise on.
10-12 Camp at Bryntirion, Bridgend 2nd - 9th August
We've had no opportunity to visit this camp but I have heard by phone that despite the wet weather the camp is going well and the children are making the most of every situation. Also Ed Collier's ministry has been very clear and helpful. Please pray for James Williams and Lianne Jones as they lead.
13-15 camp at Bryn-y-groes, 2nd - 9th August
Stuart Olyott writes:
I had a particularly good visit to the camp today [Wed] and have been trying to analyse why I feel this to be so. I think it is partly due to the fact that I know the leaders, and especially the chaplain, quite well. I also know quite a number of the children and their parents. But that can't be the whole explanation.
The camp was very relaxed, well ordered, with a good spirit of cooperation and willingness running through it. I spoke to a lot of the campers, and they were enthusiastic. Again and again they commented on how much they were enjoying the small group Bible studies in the evening, and how they appreciated the opportunity to take part and to ask the questions that were really on their mind.
Dave Roberts and Karen McCarthy [Leaders] told me that the vast majority of campers were professing Christians, and the main purpose of the camp seemed to be in encouraging and teaching them. The unconverted campers were mostly among the younger boys who have just 'graduated' from younger camps.
The officers were high in their praise of how helpful Dave and Pat [Wilmot] had been at all times.
Martin Williams [Chaplain] was encouraged by the response being shown to the preaching. Several of the campers told me that they thought the preaching was easy to follow, 'straight down the line' and practical. This morning [Wed] Martin spoke about the thief on the cross who did NOT believe. The campers obviously like Martin a good deal, and trust him.
The singing was very good, especially for that age group - even when we sang an 'old' hymn. For myself, I think that the singing tells you a lot about the spirit of any meeting.
16-18 Camp at Quinta, 2nd-9th August
Stuart Olyott writes:
I had an excellent visit to the Quinta camp today [Thur]. I had plenty of time to talk to the leaders, the chaplain, samples of officers and campers, and the kitchen staff. I attended the meeting and left after lunch.
Tony Seager's preaching received a very high level of attention. The note of the camp seems to be one of spiritual seriousness, a desire to stand up and be counted for Christ, a quest for straight biblical answers to the issues of the hour, and the development of friendships with like-minded believers of the same generation.
Glyn Ellis looked tired out, but was obviously enjoying himself. The campers respect him, as they do Helen Hughes, who was her normal calm self. Tony Seager mixed constantly with the campers, and they were not at all bashful about nabbing him and asking him things. The young people were enjoying each other's company, vastly appreciative of yesterday's seminar on relationships, quick to commend the cooking, helped by the preaching, and enthusiastic about the group Bible studies.
I had a long chat with a lad from London who told me that it was his second camp and "I have enjoyed every minute of it; there is never a dull moment." High praise indeed.
An excellent spiritual note - and a lot to thank the Lord for. But the leaders are very conscious that for many this is their last camp before going off to university, and for the rest they must soon return to school. It is a hostile world, and churches are not always as helpful to their young people as they think. The officers are very concerned to equip these young people as much as possible to live for Christ in the present atmosphere.
It was a privilege to be there.
10-12 Camp at Bryn-y-groes, Bala 26th July - 2nd August
James Thackeray writes:
As the campers began to trickle up the Bryn-Y-Groes drive, it was quickly evident that much had changed from previous years. The `institutions’ of Gareth & Sian James were nowhere to be seen, the usual 11-a-side afternoon kick about for the boys was a paltry 3-a-side, and even more bizarrely, many sought the shade to get away from the 27 degree sunshine.
With a brand new leadership team, 5 officers doing their first EMW camp and a curious 4:1 girls:boys ratio, the need for prayer was very evident. Only 30 campers had booked onto camp 2 and the first meeting was unusually quiet. However, spurred on by Dan James’ “Mr Noisy” t-shirt, the campers soon found their voices. Although many of the team had first met at the planning meeting, an excellent team spirit was quickly generated.
The theme of the week was “jungle”(don’t ask why the chaplain came dressed as Chewbacca from Star Wars). In the morning, the chaplain spoke on the conversion of various characters in the NT, from the crowd at Pentecost to the dying thief on the cross. The theme of the Bible Studies was Repentance. God really used the two themes amazingly and it was greatly encouraging to see how much the campers took in. Particularly touching was the witness of the Christian boys on camp to their non-Christian roommates, two of whom made a profession of faith on camp.
After a scorching start to the week, the weather became typically showery, but it did nothing to dampen the high spirits on camp. The usual on camp games were complimented with a trip to Snowdonia to the Electric Mountain and the Snowdon “base camp”, as well as a day out to Chester for some tenpin bowling and a viewing of “Wall-E” – a great time for the officer’s to catch up on much needed sleep!
Throughout the week, the Lord’s mercy and grace was in clear evidence and the unusually low numbers gave greater opportunity to get alongside all the campers. Praise God that his gospel was clearly preached and that many were moved by his Spirit. Praise God also for watching over the camp and keeping us all safe.
16-18 Camp at Bryn-y-groes, Bala 19-26th July
Dan and Sharon Owen write:
Camp was wonderful. The vast majority who came were Christian youngsters were seemed to be going on strong in the Lord. However, two campers who arrived on camp outside of Christ appear clearly to have come to faith by the end of the week and were consequently looking radiant and telling others (including complete strangers in Bala town centre as you'll hear more about in a moment) what the Lord had done for them.
In addition to the blessings of hearing the word of God faithfully taught many times each day, Dave and Pat's warm hospitality, love and unity amongst the team of officers, safety of everyone throughout the week and splendid weather, there was also a distinct sense that the Lord was using the camp to challenge young believers to submit more fully to the rule of Christ in every area of their lives and with all their hearts.
However, as officers we were perhaps especially blessed by the spiritual maturity and earnest love for the Lord evident in the lives of so many of the youngsters. There were more than 30 campers at the prayer meeting every day, some of the older lads held extra Bible studies with some of the younger lads every night (which they all said was one of the highlights of their camp), during the daily quiet time the camp would fall almost silent as campers prayed or studied the word alone or in small groups. One girl who was saved last year but has since felt she doesn't quite fit in to existing friendship groups in her home church, soaked up 'Pursuit of Holiness' with a Christian friend during quiet times and free time; her joy and spiritual refreshment from sharing this kind of Christian fellowship was clear for all to see (we've since been in contact with a friend in her home church to look
out for her). After we had held impromptu open air services down at the lake in Bala and at Barmouth beach around 35 campers organised a third open air service in Bala town centre preceded by a prayer meeting and during which they shared testimonies, sang hymns, preached the gospel and used an excellent questionnaire that they had put together themselves to walk up and down the High Street sharing the gospel with holiday makers and townsfolk whilst officers watched and prayed. Make no mistake, the Lord is raising up some godly young leaders in his church in the UK.
In short, it was a real joy and privilege to feel the presence of our heavenly Father throughout the week and see the grace of God so clearly at work through his children. Thank you all for your prayers!
Next Week
Please pray for the Welsh Medium Camps next Week:
10-13s at Quinta. Hum Pritchard and Bethan Davies are leading.
14-18s at Bryn-y-groes, Bala. Dafydd Cunningham and Heledd Job are leading and Mark Thomas is the chaplain.
Paul Gamston, Chair of English Camps Committee
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