Western Ontario Camp Meeting 2019

Growing young! Growing young! What an exclamation!

On May 24-25, 2019, more than 500 people attended the 2nd annual Western Ontario Camp meeting, in partnership with the Regional Youth Association, held in Chatham at Saint Paul’s Discover Life Center. 13 congregations were motivated by one goal: to create and promote healthy, youth-nurturing churches in the region.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Edward Marton, Ohio Conference Youth Director, presented on the main topic for the weekend: “Growing Young: Helping Young People Discover and Love Our Church.” Marton was very engaging as he used a balanced blend of storytelling and sharing life experiences. He coupled those tools with relevant research and fitting scriptural passages to communicate practical ways churches could empower youth and connect with the community. Marton shared that churches need to hug youth tightly as the apostle Paul did for young Eutychus in Acts 20:7-12.

The camp meeting was modelled on the concepts of youth involvement shared by the preacher as youth from the district churches led out in all aspects of worship. The music at worship was multigenerational. Acts of compassion followed the morning worship service. One group brought cheer to a nursing home; another group, which included Pathfinders, participated in a food drive collection.

Later in the day, attendees had an opportunity to attend two workshops, including topics on social media and self-worth, prison ministries, youth and money, health and happy living, how to work with GenZ, youth resilience and understanding millennials.

We’re looking forward to what God has in store for the youth of the region for the coming year!