History of Yangbala Kemp
Yangbala Kemp has been going for just over 10 years. It has been in various shapes and sizes.
Our History |
Here is the history began when an Indigenous mother approached me to help her run a youth camp. The following year the Kriol Bible was dedicated, so this has been an emphasis of our youth camp. The first camp was run in July 2007 at Morrows Farm. I moved south for Bible college and missionaries in Katherine organised the camp and the number grew from 25 to 100 to 360 Indigenous youth from various communities across the top end.
2007 - Know, Love and reflect Jesus (Sabi, Laigim en Shoum Jisas) 2008 - Hope, Plan and a future - shine program (girls) - Strength program (boys) - Drama and Creative Arts - Bible Stories: David & Goliath, Jonah 2009 - Creation and Sin, Lost without Jesus (Prodigal Son) A number of people thought it was too big for various reasons, but for me I wanted to hear from God about it. It was awesome timing going to church with missionaries that were helping with camp, to hear about a message about how the church in acts that grew so big and then went into smaller sections. That same afternoon we were going to meet with the Indigenous ladies about camp. Camp has since been regional. Our youth camp began coming under Scripture Union NT,
Then 2010-2012 were held at Bantajarl, King River. 2010 Location: Banatjarl Theme: Jidan Raitwei bla Jisas nomo gemanwei Bible Story: Det stori blanga det san hubin libum im dedi. 2011
Location: Banatjarl Theme: Lisin en bilib en Growap garram Jisas! Bible Story: Sid Stori Also our first bush camp -
Location: Weemol bush camp Bible Story: God bin meigim Ebrjing 2012
Location: Banatjarl Theme: Yusum det Speshalwan Klos brom God bla meigim miselp strongbala Bible Story: Armour of God (Speshalwan Klos blanca Kristjan pipul) 2013
Location: Beswick waterfall Theme: Wi garra trastimbat Lod laik Denyul bikos im garram det para bla seibum en album wi. Dental 6:36 Bible Story: Denjul en Laiyan Den 2014
Location: Banatjarl Theme: Trastim Dedi God en im garra shoum yu det raitwei. Bible Story: Deibid en Galiyath 2015
Location: Manyallaluk Theme: God's Wei I'm raitwei. Nono najawei. Lisinbat. Trastimbat. Dumbat. Bilib nomo najawei. Bible Story: Josef 2016
Location: Werenbun Theme: Methyu 6:33 Bible Story: Ruth 2017
Location: Banatjarl Theme: Kipgon trastimbat Jisas Olawei. Bible Story: Jisas bin Stap det Win en Weib We have had YWAM (Youth With A MIssion) teams, Multicultural Christian Fellowship, Christians from Darwin support the Indigenous leaders in their roles.
It has been great having Unity College from Canberra support us in our leadership training for youth camp. We have chosen themes, memory verses, activities to go with the Bible Story. We have prepared theme banners, memory verse raps. memory verse games with glow in the dark sticks, made word search games on big callico, made a Bible game with letters, practiced drama's, etc, etc. |
God Moments
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2007 - A step of faith - As a donation came in, I knew it was towards fuel to go to Ngukurr. On the way I pulled up at Mattaranka a student from the school I was teacher aiding at was there sitting on the table ;-) After getting fuel, I gave her and her two cousins a ride to a station. It was great to have her company for part of the trip. I drove back with a full bus.
2008 - Some leaders had been busy praying and fasting for 100 committed youth to attend the camp. God just amazed us with a count of 100 youth attending the duration of camp with 45% young men. Also praise God we had just the right amount of Kriol Bibles to give out (with names specially printed inside) and Murinpatha scriptures to give to the Port Keats youth. 2011 - Praise the Lord God showed a church leader from Weemol that she was to come to youth camp with the Weemol youth, instead of staying for Bulman festival, as she had made her commitment and priority to come to camp. 2015 - We had enough Indigenous adults (& some MCF youth) to act out Joseph story. Great to have some indigenous youth as brothers and young kids as sheep too. 2016 - Great to see Memory verse raps going off well. Great to have the keyboard beats going and not just the youthy beats were given. Great to see a man encouraging a young adult in these raps. This young adult gave his life to the Lord at youth camp in the earlier years. |
Quotes
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"From Yangbala Kemp I have learnt we should do more Bible stories as part of fellowship, not just songs to grow up song."
"I now know the importance of different people having different roles. I have delegated people with different roles for church, someone to do youth, children, Bible Studies, worship, etc."
A church leader said, "thanks for your help in applying for my Ochre Card, it means we can now do RE again in the school".
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