Christian summer camps: A valuable missionary tool in Africa
Christian summer camps in Greece have served for decades as a cornerstone of church education and spiritual development for thousands of children. Campers gain lasting psychological benefits, experiencing the emotional security and joy that flows from our faith in Christ.
Community life develops children’s social skills and creates lifelong friendships, while incorporating prayer, worship, and Bible study into the daily program provides the foundation for a fruitful spiritual journey.
Sacramental life, with confession and Holy Communion as the camp’s pinnacle moments, helps children build spiritual armor against the various spiritual dangers of our society. Meanwhile, parents observe significant development in their children’s independence through camp participation, while the disciplined life and Christian lessons strengthen the child’s relationship with their parents, inspiring family values that will follow them into adulthood.
This valuable tool for spiritual cultivation has found fertile ground in African countries, where missionary teams have developed similar programs adapted to local capabilities and needs.
Bukoba
In Tanzania, the Holy Diocese of Bukoba has established the “Joy and Peace of Christ” camps in Kasikizi, hosting 2,000 students and young people annually. They operate during the three months of June-July-August, with 150 children in each weekly period from various parishes with the help of priests and catechists. As Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba notes, “the camp is an ark that keeps and preserves our children in the Orthodox Faith.“
Additionally, the Orthodox Youth Association “Great Martyr Catherine” of the Holy Diocese organizes youth gatherings at three camps – Kasikizi, Kasamua, and Kakerere – with teen camps operating in June, September, and December.
Of particular significance is the camp for young people aged 18-30 held this year with the motto “Put the Holy Scripture into your life,” which has been adopted by youth gatherings at all the diocese’s camps. The camp’s backbone consists of morning and evening services, Bible study, catechesis, and theological lessons from His Grace Bishop Chrysostomos. At the camp’s conclusion, all campers received a Swahili edition of the Holy Bible as a gift.
Kananga
In Congo, the Holy Metropolis of Kananga organizes camps in the Lulua region, where children enjoy a rich program including morning wake-up, exercise, prayer, New Testament readings, work, games, and group discussions. The experiences are unforgettable, as campers declare: “we understood that to become children of light, we must walk the path of Christ” and “we want to spread the Gospel message everywhere.“
Antananarivo
The Holy Metropolis of Antananarivo and Northern Madagascar organizes camps with two periods lasting two weeks each. Each year the camp program takes place in a different province, serving spiritual, educational, and recreational purposes. Metropolitan Ignatios of Northern Madagascar attends all periods, catechizing the children according to Orthodox Church tradition. Approximately 300 children and teenagers from various regions annually experience these moments of warmth in the Church’s embrace.
From Greece to Africa, Christian camps have succeeded for years in transforming souls, renewing Orthodox consciousness in young campers. When African children experience the same joy as Greek children, when they sing, pray, and learn together, it becomes clear that Christ’s love knows no borders or colors. Thus, the Greek camping model travels and takes root in other continents, bringing children of different cultures closer to Christ.
