THE annual Zero Gravity summer camp, run by Emmanuel Youth Outreach, encouraged 140 teenagers from around Queensland last week to follow God’s call in their life – without fear.
This year’s theme, “The Brave”, urged young people to be strong in their Christian morals, particularly when confronted by peer pressure to drink, to take drugs, to smoke, or have sexual relationships during high school.
Zero Gravity co-ordinator Michaela Hillam said the theme emerged more strongly this year than in previous years.
“The camp was really powerful – it did not feel like any Zero Gravity we’ve ever done,” she said.
“The theme really came out to have courage, to have confidence in yourself, not to be afraid to be a Christian, and not to be afraid to go against the grain.”
Miss Hillam said she felt the young people at Zero Gravity all wanted to become more resilient when it came to peer pressure in high school.
“Our young people know all about the pressures of high school and culture, but they started saying, ‘We don’t want to do that – we want to do God’s will’, and ‘I don’t want to do that myself, but I need God’s help’,” she said.
“A couple of people I spoke with during the camp were really desiring to have courage and to be equipped to step up in their faith, or were empowered to become more of themselves.”
Miss Hillam also said it was “really encouraging” to read some feedback from students on their Facebook page, whose lives had been changed by the camp, and who wanted to return to be leaders.
While the camp does attract many new young people, the camp’s co-ordinators said the long-term goal was to equip young people to become future leaders at Zero Gravity, and eventually, in the wider Church.
This year, the leadership team consisted of 40 young people, many of whom had previously come to Zero Gravity only as registered participants.
“Young people can’t just experience Jesus, and then say goodbye,” she said.
“Zero Gravity is about equipping them so they can come back and give.
“Giving young people a role in the Church means that they’re welcome in the Church.”
This year also sees four previous Zero Gravity leaders taking up the call to be missionaries with the National Evangelisation Team, possibly because of their former leadership roles at Zero Gravity.
“We can’t really say that it’s because of us that they’re doing NET, but we can assume so,” she said.
