Can you remember the first time you prayed?

You are helping young campers ask questions about faith and discover the gift of prayer for the very first time on SUPA North.

“At our recent camp, we witnessed something truly special as three non-Christian campers showed a remarkable interest in learning about Christianity,” reflects Suzann, Emerge Coordinator for SU Australia, and a new leader on SUPA North camp this year.

“Their curiosity sparked meaningful conversations about faith, leading to open discussions on questions like, ‘How do you say yes to Jesus?’ and ‘Do you have to pray every day?’ They even asked, “How do you get baptised, and do you feel different afterwards?

“It was inspiring to see such eagerness and honesty from these young hearts, seeking to understand the love of Jesus in such a genuine way,” Suzann reflects.

The girls, all in Year 7 and therefore slightly outside the usual primary age bracket, came along at the invitation of their chaplain. All three expressed enthusiasm to return as junior leaders in the future, showing how far they had come in such a short time.

“The highlight of this transformation came when two of the girls—who had never prayed before—asked if they could say grace. It was their first time praying and a powerful moment …” reflects Suzann.

SUPA North is a camp attended by students from Years 4–6, at Carnacoo, Paper Beach in Tasmania. As well as games and adventure, there is a clear focus on faith.

For Suzann, prayer is paramount, both the bold, brave prayers of new believers and the seasoned, faithful prayers of supporters like you. As she sums up so beautifully: “We wouldn’t make sense without supporters.”

“There’s a bigger picture out there and we are a part of that picture. And for them [campers] to know that we’ve got people praying for them, that we’ve got people praying for their individual needs and their community, is everything,” says Suzann.

Your prayers are fueling the transformations of young people and enabling them to ask big questions about faith and life. To stay up-to-date with the prayer needs of the wider SU community or request prayer support, visit su.org.au/pray.