Over 70 refugee teens have gathered at Blacktown Anglican Church to remember a weekend they wished would never end.
The teens had been pioneers last December as they took part in a new sports camp for refugee youth, run by the Sydney Diocese.
Sydney Diocese Refugee Ministry Coordinator Phin Tang organised the camp held at the Youthworks Deer Park Campsite in Port Hacking, which aimed to share the gospel with refugee youth as they related to one another through a range of sports.
In total 73 refugee youth and 17 volunteers and leaders were present, with the refugees coming from countries including Sudan, Liberia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.
Mr Tang says six of those in attendance came from a Muslim background.
"It was a fantastic weekend of ministering to these underprivileged and yet grateful refugee youth," Mr Tang says.
Triumphing over transport trials
Phin says organising transport for the 73 youth from various locations across Sydney was his greatest challenge.
"Praise the Lord for His providence. We had one 15-seater mini-bus, two 12-seater mini-buses and one Tarago provided by Anglicare, one old eight-seater old van, a Prado and three cars," he says.
"We eventually got them all there safely, although some of us were delayed by over two hours on arrival."
Mr Tang says the kids "really enjoyed' the weekend packed with sporting activities including soccer, basketball, volleyball, canoeing and swimming in the daytime and a "talent time’ on the Saturday night.
"A number of the kids already asked to be invited again to the next camp and wanted it to last longer than the weekend," he says.
Chaplain lines up his real goal
The speaker at the camp was Sydney Kings chaplain Gary Speckman who gave four 15-minute talks from Mark's gospel.
Mr Speckman says the camp was a great opportunity to share his passion for Jesus and basketball.
"The basketball was great. After warming up a bit I even demonstrated my once-a-decade slam dunk style over the top of a six-footer!" Mr Speckman says.
"As much as I like basketball, my goal was to help people see that a relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship in their lives and that it is possible to know Him as a personal friend."
Following the talks, Mr Tang says six youth raised their hands to indicate they said the prayer to accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
"Other unchurched young people were encouraged to attend their local youth groups or Sudanese churches close to where they live," Mr Tang says.
Given the success of this first camp, Mr Tang is planning to organise another in 2008.
"It may be bigger, given the interest and response," Mr Tang says.
The reunion held on the Australia Day Monday public holiday was an opportunity for the youth to gather again and 40 campers and 13 leaders attended the barbecue at Blacktown.
"It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves especially for the viewing of the movie taken from the camp, which was the highlight of the reunion," Mr Tang says.
