Building connection, growing faith: The impact of Hunter PY Camp
When a group of youth and their leaders from the Hunter region gathered earlier this year for a weekend of Bible talks, games, and campfire chats, they weren’t just running another youth event, they were investing in the future of the church. Hunter PY Camp is one of several regional initiatives supported by PYNSW, designed […]
Who am I? Steve White tackles identity at PY Summer Camp 2025
In the back of his Christian family’s station wagon, driving through Sydney as a teenager, Steve White looked out at the punks with their spiked hair and piercings outside Town Hall and thought, “Oh man, that looks like fun. They look like they are someone, they’ve got an identity.” That moment captures the heart of […]
How to run better games in kids and youth ministry, with Wendy Marriott
Wendy Marriott has been a youth leader at Riverwood Presbyterian Church for eight years and loves it. At PY Encourage Sydney 2025, Wendy ran a workshop teaching the attendees that running better games starts with something deeper than rules and resources: it starts with inviting everyone to the table. – Games in kids and youth ministry […]
How PYNSW camps shaped (and are shaping) the faith of a whole family
When Leanne and Steve’s family settled in the regional town of Leeton, six hours west of Sydney and five hours north of Melbourne, they knew raising children in Christian community would be a challenge, with few peers their age nearby. What they didn’t know was how deeply PYNSW camps would shape not only their kids’ […]
The first Northern Inland PY camp: Where friendships spark and faith grows
When over 30 kids from across the Northern Inland Presbytery rolled up to a local church in Inverell, NSW, no one quite knew what to expect. It was the first-ever regional PY camp in the area, and the start of something very special. The weather? Perfect. The kids? Pumped. The leaders? Nervous, but excited. And […]
“But, why would I do that?”: Welcoming children and their questions in SRE
Kristian has been teaching SRE for over a decade. He’s spoken to hundreds of students across many schools, but there’s one moment he’ll never forget. It was Easter, and he was teaching a Year 5 class about how Jesus died in our place and how he’s our substitute. “I could tell one boy, Tim* just […]
Living the gospel out together: Leading and growing at PY Summer Camp
PY Summer Camp is an experience that transforms both campers and leaders alike. For Gavin Hays, leading at PY Summer Camp is not just about leading activities or studies, but about doing life with young people and showing them the heart of Christ in every interaction. Life together “I think what stands out most about […]
Helping children explore Jesus, one school at a time
When Kerry thinks back to her own childhood, she smiles at the memory of sitting cross-legged on the floor, wide-eyed, listening to stories about Jesus. “I grew up in a non-Christian family,” Kerry says. “But my parents still sent me to Sunday School and SRE classes. Those were the places where seeds of faith were […]
The joy of following Jesus: Charlotte’s story of faith through PYNSW
For Charlotte McLaren, growing up in a Christian family in Newcastle meant she always knew about God. But it wasn’t until a pivotal moment in Year 6 that Charlotte made the decision to follow Jesus for herself. That moment came at her first PYNSW camp. “It was my first Christian event away from my parents,” […]
The Balloon Arch at the Front Door
Picture a big, bright balloon arch. You know the kind. It stretches above the entrance of a party or a celebration. When you see one, what do you instinctively know? Something is happening here. Something worth noticing. Something worth stopping for. Youth and kids ministry is the church’s balloon arch. This was the metaphor Dave […]