Come Home

Come Home

“It’s not about who’s sitting in the chair; it’s about Who is washing their feet.”

These words from Jess Bond stayed with me throughout Ignite. It is a powerful image of Jesus kneeling down and washing the feet of who is in the chair.

For three days, Darwin became a mountain top experience. Together we prayed, worshipped, celebrated Mass, spent time in Adoration and encountered Gods forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The theme of this year’s conference was Ascend, taken from Isaiah 2:3 “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.”

Going Sky High

Going Sky High

‘Again, and again and again and again / You rescue me out of the mess I was in / You traded my sorrow for something to sing / Now I’m dancing on the grave that I once lived in!’

These lyrics echoed through Summer Camp, not just as a song we sang, but as a story many of us were living. The cycle of another Summer Camp has rolled around and gone, but something about this year was different. From the jumping in praise and lifting our hands in worship we were responding. And immediately, we began aiming Sky High.

Gotta Keep Running!

Gotta Keep Running!

“How’s your running going?” This is a question I’ve gotten multiple times after coming home form Summer Camp. The answer is a mix between, “yeah, I’m keen to get back into it.” Or “I’m aiming to run 10km this year!” Now both of those answers are not indicative of how my actual running progress is going, and the reason why, is because I’m finding it hard to readjust back to regular life. Whether it’s busyness or tiredness running in this Brisbane heat is just not appealing. But hopefully by the time I finish this article I would have started my journey to running 10km.

COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN: MAKIN’ SANDWICHES

COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN: MAKIN’ SANDWICHES

“Walking up the mountain is way harder!”

These words might be ringing in your ears from the final talk as you walk down from the mountain top experience of Ignite Conference. You may have already faced challenges these past few weeks. You might feel alone. You could be doubting your experience…and don’t those old habits and relationships that are no longer compatible with this new way of life look attractive?! I said that the people who told you life would be difficult when you walk down the mountain were lying… you may be thinking that I was the one who lied to you.

Navigating the Valley

Navigating the Valley

‘Let my soul cry out, You’re the one I want/ Living God it’s You’. Do you remember the chorus of Emmanuel Worship’s anthem ‘Cry Out’ echoing through the Kirkwood Hall of QCCC Mapleton throughout Summer Camp 2024? With over 200 young people coming together from January 11 – 14 to praise, what better place is there on earth to witness Jesus working in yourself and those around you?

Coming Down The Mountain

Coming Down The Mountain

You may feel as though you are “coming down the mountain” from Ignite Conference 2023, and are perhaps disheartened and worried about how you’ll continue to keep this spark alive in your heart as you enter back into reality. That’s fair- it’s not easy to share our experience of Christ with our school friends, work colleagues, and sometimes even our family, but let me encourage you to see the opportunity that God places before you in this time.