Meera Atkinson

Many Australian churches bemoan the lack of young people among their flock but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a growing Christian youth culture in this country.

Unpack the issues...

• Discussion points
• Further reading

The presence of World Youth Day (see Domestic for more on WYD) in Sydney is, as the biggest Christian youth event on the planet, a clear example of spiritual interest among Australian youth. But it’s not just the Pope that can command a crowd: young people are gathering for Christian conferences, arts and leisure events all over the country and all year around in the name of community, activism and social justice. Here’s a look at some of the main events promoting Christian youth culture.

ReachOut 2008
Held between15-17 August 2008 at the Katoomba Christian Convention Centre in NSW, the vision of the Reach Out Mission Network conference is to support the emerging Christian generation in world mission. With a focus on exploring the biblical basis for cross-cultural mission, the disadvantaged, and the work of mission agencies and Bible Colleges, Reach Out encourages young people to personal engagement.

With the theme of ‘Transformers — agents of change,’ Reach Out 08 will feature speakers such as Jason Mandryk (co-author of Operation World) and Mike Raiter who will talk about God’s plan to change the world.

For more information go to the Reach Out website

The Black Stump Festival
The annual Black Stump Festival takes place over the long weekend in October (3-6). This year it will be held at Sydney International Equestrain Centre, Horsley Park. Sydney.

The ‘Blackstump’, or just ‘Stump’ to some, is a four day Christian festival that focuses on music and the arts.
The first festival, held in 1985, was organised by individuals from the Baptist, Church of Christ, Uniting and Anglican churches as well as other youth orientated Christian organisations.
Featuring the ‘Big Top’ (or Main Stage), by day used for Bible Studies and worship and by night the venue used for headline and international acts, ‘Off Broadway’ -  an interaction and comedy venue, ‘The Palladium’ -  a theatre and dance venue, ‘Sacred Space’ -  just for worship, ‘The Village’ -  food and service and ‘The Supper Club’ -  a small stage for music with cafe style tables and food, the Stump is known as the alternative, experimental and interactive hub of Christian youth culture.

In the past such notable acts as Sarah Blasko have performed at the festival.

For more information go to the Black Stump Festival website

National Christian Youth Convention (NCYC) 2009
NCYC, the biannual youth conference of The Uniting Church in Australia, will be held on 3-9 January 2009 State Netball Hockey Centre, Melbourne. With a theme of “Converge” the next NCYC promises a week long event of worshipping, creating and living together for some 2000 plus young Christians.
Publicizing itself as “possibly the greatest seven days since Genesis” NCYC attracts young people aged 16 to 30 from Australia and overseas and from different churches and ethnic backgrounds.

The program is still shaping up but so far a number of bands and artists have signed up including Scat (jazz), Simeon (melodic rock), 2-11 (hip-hop), Raize (rock) and Cameron Semmens (performance poetry).

Speakers include American activist, Robyn Whitaker who is a chaplain and youth ministry veteran, and Amie Dural, a “church peace advocate and activist from the ecumenical movement in the Philippines.”

For more information go to the NCYC website

Unpack the issues

Discussion Points

• Do you know of other major Christian youth events in Australia?
• How do you think these event assist young people in exploring ideas on Christianity and spirituality?

Further reading

• The Transit Lounge issue on rave culture- 'The spirituality of rave culture'

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