K. P.

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.

I’d like to thank you for all that you’ve done in running Jumpstart. God used the Jumpstarts that I went on to really change my life. Before then, I was at a point when I was beginning in some ways to backslide. Finally when I came to the end of myself I cried out to God to conform me to the image of Christ. Around a month later I went to Jumpstart. I was really challenged then to seriously study the Bible and I began a regular quiet time each day of studying the Bible that I haven’t abandoned since. The subsequent two Jumpstarts continued to help to build my faith. Now I’m studying at Bible College and loving it! I look back over the Jumpstarts that I went to and thank God for using them in my life to bring me closer to Him. All glory be to God!

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.

After years of hearing about JumpStart through close associates, I finally had the opportunity of meeting Dale Epp and participating in JumpStart as a speaker. It was such an exceptional time of great fellowship and connecting with the heart of God PLUS "mandatory fun!". It was great to see kids excited about their relationship with God and taking a serious look at the scriptures. I also loved the natural tendency of all the leaders and campers to include everyone in! The content, context and community of the whole camp were excellent!

Sincerely, Michael Thomas
Celebrate Messiah New Zealand

My daughter has been gushing up with great reports of how camp & staff & campers were.  At Jumpstart her perspective about Bible Reading has changed from a duty to a desire.

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.

Jumpstart has been the most impactful and most meaningful camp my 2 eldest sons have been to. While they have attended other Christian camps, both of my boys have said Jumpstart has hands down been the one camp that has both challenged and deepened their faith. Resulting in them walking stronger and differently with the Lord. The intentionality and care of the leaders, the small group discussions, and friendships they have fostered have been a blessing to my children.  If you send your teen to any camp - make it Jumpstart.

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.

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

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

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!

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.

This is an incredible camp. I recommend hugely. My daughter has been 2 times, and my son is going this year for his first time. It's quickly become one of our notnegotiable has to happen part of our school year.

Jumpstart was an awesome way to study God's word with some very knowledgeable adults that shed a light on it that one's parents don't.

My son travelled with other Christian friends from Hobart to NSW for the last Australian Jumpstart camp - he'd definitely be attending this one if it didn't clash with the start of his VET course next year.

He says it was streets ahead of any other camp he's attended, even though he was sick in bed for part of it! This is the type of camp where I trust the boundaries and teaching put in place will match or exceed my own.

We are so very grateful to Dale and team, for establishing the Jumpstart camps for home-schooling teens. I had earnestly asked the LORD specifically for solid Bible based camps for our teens, to support the Biblical foundation and development of a deep, personal relationship with Christ, that we were striving to emulate in our home. Jumpstart camps have done this, with plenty of fun and friendship as part of the package. We thank God for His faithfulness, and the on-going opportunities for some of our children to be leaders themselves and give back to the next group of young people following them.
Thank you.

Thank you for jumpstart. It's a blessing to my family, and I pray it continues a long time into the future.

Thanks so much for what you guys do - it was honestly such a wonderful experience for Max and seeing him come back a different kid was great. What he showed me he learnt warmed my heart so much - tackling the big topics and sharing truth. It was such an absolute blessing. 

So many friends asked if you ran a weekend one for school kids - desperate to see their children taught solid biblical concepts that aren’t watered down!!! 

Will definitely be praying for you guys in all aspects but for widening the area of influence. 

Thanks for all you and the team do - it’s appreciated more than you guys can realise.

Highly recommend this camp! Definitely worthwhile sending your kids to. It's a small intentional camp that helps the kids connect with their faith.

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