If you are the Christian parent of young adults in their teens, you are well aware of the superficiality of many youth ministries and programs in recent years. It is increasingly difficult to find events that will challenge our children spiritually while providing fun and meaningful fellowship.
As a dad who has home educated seven children over a period of 30 years, and as a pastor/missionary of 33 years, I’ve been privileged to participate in scores of youth events and camps. In recent years I have also served at several Jumpstart camps and I am delighted to tell you that I’ve never experienced a youth ministry that comes closer to a perfect bullseye every time!
You may have noticed that youth camps tend to excel at either recreation or education, but Dale and his team have somehow managed to master both. Jumpstart is a remarkable blend of fun, wholesome activities with meaningful, bibliocentric training. The leadership team works tirelessly to make every minute count, whether on the field in a sport activity or in the classroom learning life lessons from God’s Word.
Best of all (speaking as a homeschool dad), Jumpstart provides a rare opportunity for our students to be affirmed and encouraged as members of the homeschool community. Sadly, our kids often feel that they are the oddballs in groups of peers who attend public schools. But there is none of that at Jumpstart. Everybody “gets it” so there is no need to hide or build walls, which only adds to the “free to be me” spirit that pervades the camp.
May I encourage you to do more than just send your child to Jumpstart for a week of fun, fellowship and foundation-building? Please consider investing financially above and beyond the low cost of registration. By giving generously you will provide scholarships for families who cannot afford to send their children to a life-changing event. And your donations will help ensure the continuance of a ministry that is truly strengthening families in New Zealand.
Scott Brown
Director, Celebrate Messiah NZ
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S.S
Hi Mr. Epp,
Thank you so much for running Jumpstart again this year. I had such a wonderful week. I really loved all the classes and found them fascinating. In your session ‘The Devotional Life’ I was really interested in the plan you had for reading your Bible every day as I had recently been losing my enjoyment of reading the Bible and so I tried your idea and I find it is really working for me. Thank you so much.
I don’t have any recommendations for you, as I loved every minute of it and I am looking forward to Jumpstart 2016!!!!
Thanks for a great week and may God bless you as you continue doing His work.
N. T. (Australia)
If you're on the edge thinking about this can HIGHLY recommend it.
My son went to the NSW one and it was truly a huge blessing - he came back a different kid. Made some wonderful friendships. But mostly his desire to learn and get closer to God was so great to watch.
So definitely work checking out and signing your kids up for. Awesome bunch of leaders.
Misc
Dear Dale, Patti, and all involved in Jumpstart,
I just want to say how deeply I appreciate Jumpstart being available for Christian young people.
My daughter first attended in 2019. Shortly afterwards we were driving together and I mentioned that I was struggling to understand "the old man". Immediately, she explained what she had learned at camp and let me borrow her notes on Colossians. They were a great help to me.
She returned with full notes from Jumpstart 2020 and I was able to take a week's retreat to read through and copy them for myself. It was a rewarding investment of my time. I am grateful for the clear teaching both in Eschatology and Life Issues. I well remember struggling to apply the spiritual to the practical when I was young. Jumpstart would have been a great help!
I am thankful to the Lord for including me in the ripples of blessing that extend from what you have allowed Him to do through you.
Yours because His,
D. S.
My daughter had an absolutely fabulous time. She made some wonderful friends whom she hopes to keep in contact with. She really enjoyed the way in which the camp was run - it wasn’t too stressful like others she had been on, and she was really encouraged in her faith. She also says it was worth taking the week off school for, as she was reluctant to do so initially. It’s a shame you couldn’t run two a year or something similar.
S. P.
It was really awesome! The study is pretty intense, but there was a good mix of sport and other activities to break it up.. Yes, I do highly recommend it! :)
L. G.
All the parents I know who sent their children previously have been so impressed with the venue, teaching, atmosphere and value for money and have booked them in for next year. They seem to have the right balance of clean loopy fun and deep thought-provoking, faith-stretching teaching and discussion. I am hoping that all my children will be able to go at least twice to deepen their faith, make great friends, both with other homeschoolers and also the wonderful students and teachers at The Crossing, and to experience the fun and great teaching that is Jumpstart. My 2 older children are both keen to go again and again.
B.S. (Australia)
My daughter attended this camp earlier this year. It has given her a great boost to her own personal walk with Jesus and has also allowed her to connect with other teens, who are now supporting each other daily and building friendships.
M. P.
I got say that jumpstart was a fundamental part of my Christian walk as a teen and I'm so glad it's still being run.
Todd Roughton
It can be difficult for seriously-minded Christian home schooling students to find friends of their own age with whom they are able to easily relate, which often causes them to seek the more mature company of adults. However, the consistent feedback we have had from HSZN students attending Jumpstart camps is how much they have appreciated not just the first class worldview teaching, but also the opportunity to meet and form lasting friendships with quality young people of their own age. This is a worthwhile programme which we highly recommend.
Todd Roughton,
Director of HSNZ
T.G
The Crossing is a great place to learn and have fun. The talent show and night games were very fun. I enjoyed the deep understanding of God that the teachers and small group leaders had which was ever present. I am definitely keen to go again.
D. B.
I found jumpstart to be very helpful in bringing the word of God alive. And the way Dale and Kris and Doug taught us also helped me understand what they were talking about. I realised that I did not read the word as often as I should to have a proper friendship with Christ. Jumpstart is awesome and I think it is worth the time.
Rosie Boom, Author and Speaker (from 2018)
Next week my son Jake will attend his third Jumpstart in Hamilton. He loves these camps because they don’t simply have activities and a speaker, but they get you involved in Bible study too. It’s Fun, inspiring, and challenging!!!
S. H. (Australia)
Highly recommend this camp! Definitely worthwhile sending your kids to. It's a small intentional camp that helps the kids connect with their faith.
S.K.
My son and I had a wonderful car ride home together this afternoon, where he told me all about the amazing Jumpstart camp! We are so thankful to God for your faithful service to Him in putting together this camp, and for the leaders who were such great models of young men and women who love Jesus. He said his highlights were the new friends he made, and the talks and discussion groups, which he said were really thought provoking.
A.B.
Thank you so much for organising this camp! My sister and I had an amazing time! There was a perfect balance of fellowship and learning. The only thing that could be improved about it would be if it was longer!
R.
Jumpstart is fantastic because it is so God focused. In every aspect of the week you have at Jumpstart, God is evident
R & G
We highly recommend Jumpstart for all young adults. It offers absolutely exceptional bible teaching and discipleship and a whole lot of fun as well. It seeks to solidly ground young people in the Word of God and view the big issues of life from a godly perspective – to honour the Lord with their whole life. The teaching is “meat” but it is also interspersed with a truckload of fun. Our children say that they never laugh so hard and so much anywhere else! It has been such a blessing to our family and is always one of the highlights of the year for our teenagers. We reckon no Christian family should miss out on this wonderful opportunity.
S
I can't really write in words how Jumpstart impacted me. It was really a combination of everything. The amazing teachings, the people there, The Crossing itself and the absolute fun with games and activities we had. It made me see that there ARE other people out there who have a desire to learn more about our Creator but also to have a lot fun doing it! Everyone was kind, enthusiastic, funny and open. It was wonderful to see that all had a real desire to learn. The games were a lot of fun and everyone enjoyed themselves and had an absolute blast. The Staff gave their absolute all! The only thing I didn't like about it was that it was only 5 days!
Misc
Dear Scott and Dale
I just wanted to say thank you and give you feedback on the recent camp. Our son attended the camp, and what a delight. He has attended other camps, and the spirit that he came back with was totally different this time. He came back as our boy, the son we love, and I tribute this directly to your values and the spirit that was there at the camp.
We as parents have learnt a lot from him in the few hours that he has been back and awake (it’s been a full-on camp by the sounds of it).
So thank you again, we as parents truly appreciate what you invest in our children. We are very keen for him to attend another camp in the future.
Is there a Jumpstart 2.0 for parents, or at least can we have a glimpse at the material that was presented?,… it sounds amazing.
Shalom and Shalom
Peter Thomas
JumpStart gives an opportunity for young people to ground their faith in the Word of God and at the same time be taught how to live it out in a confused and sometimes hostile world. It focuses on the sufficiency of Christ for all that life will bring now as well as the wonderful assurance of life with God for eternity. I would highly recommend JumpStart to any young person who wants to take their faith seriously. The camp is well led, provides sound, faithful teaching in a fun environment.
Peter Thomas
Capernwray Australia