Creating sacred spaces for Fathers and Sons

By Hamilton McNicol

In early winter, GENTS Camp SA Fathers and Sons ran again at Douglas Scrub. Due to it being booked out so early, another camp has been scheduled for November 3-5. 

This camp had over 60 dads and sons doing all sorts of fun and profound activities that help dads with their high calling to pass on the faith to their sons. This is the fifth year that camp has run in SA with the launch of a NSW Camp in 2022. The camp now has a four-year cycle of camp packs built around ‘The Fatherhood Four’ so that SU can help churches run these locally without having to ‘reinvent the wheel’.

While Archery Tag is always a winner at camp, ‘The Furnace’ is perhaps most spiritually impacting. ‘The Furnace’, forges a sacred space (around a campfire) where boys and dads share some of their deepest fears, shame, and vulnerabilities. 

It struck me a couple years ago how significant this space is when a boy told me afterwards that he was sad he had nothing to share! He could see the joy and healing that was happening with other young boys as they brought into the light that which they were trying their hardest to hide (Ephesians 5: 8-14). 

It is such a privilege to witness God’s redemption and freedom in Jesus become so tangible to children. And to see fathers hear their boys share significant details that previously they were oblivious to. It’s a double privilege to see dads participate in the glorious ‘knowing and being known’ by the great Father.

Thanks for making camps like these possible!