youth in mission workcamps ...
'Enabling the spice within'
15 July - 5 August 2006, Grenada
The Presbyterian Church in Grenada hosted a youth work camp from July 15 - August 5, 2006 that was sponsored by the Caribbean and North American Council for Mission (CANACOM). 4 young regional representatives from CWM member churches joined the programme, which was entitled ‘Enabling the spice within’ to explore mission and engage in practical projects.
The aims of the project included offering participants: exposure to mission issues which will lead each participant to a deeper and more creative involvement in his or her own local congregation, provide an opportunity for Christian young people to awaken their interest in the mission of Christ, and to be exposed to ways of bearing witness that are biblically valid, culturally relevant, creative and practical. To share information on CANACOM’s mission perspective; programmes in order that youth/young adults may identify ways in which they can play a greater role in these.
The regional representatives’ feedback confirms that the programme was a success. To illustrate, the representative from FJKM commented that she now wants to “introduce a Vacation Bible School department in her church. I chose this mission project because I have noticed that on holidays Sunday school attendance at my local church is very low; despite the fact that most of the children cannot afford to go on holidays and stay at home. In Grenada I learned how to motivate children in learning the Bible by letting them express themselves and by putting their faith into action through songs, crafts, games and short stories.”
The young person from UWI concluded that “…it was not the location of the workcamp that was most inspiring for me…but rather the strength of the community of Christians who spent three weeks together. …To be part of this was both an enriching and an empowering experience.”
