Übertweak: where ministry meets diversity

Through SU Australia’s camping ministry, you are helping us reach every child, young person and family across our nation with the love of Jesus. But the spaces where this happens…are sometimes surprising.

Cast your mind back to your own youth for a moment. Were you a sporty kid who lived for the outdoors, or were you perhaps a quieter type, head buried deep in a good read. Depending on when you were born ( and don’t worry, we won’t ask you to tell us) perhaps a computer game was your jam!

We believe our creator has made us all diverse. Young people come in all shapes and sizes. Thankfully, so do SU Australia Camps, and the people who serve on them.

One of the more bespoke and long-standing camps you may or may not have heard of is Übertweak (‘Über’ meaning super and ‘tweak’, because making a minor adjustment potentially makes a major improvement) is held two times a year. Those with an interest in technology are brought together to spend time with each other and the original inventor and storyteller: Jesus.

Samuel Eames reflects on the long-standing heart of Übertweak:

“Übertweak is unique among other camps in that it provides a safe environment for kids who are more bent towards technology and computer games rather than the more physical sports.

“They can be themselves and not feel like a minority as is often the case outside of this camp.”

On Übertweak, Winter 2024, JRR Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings was used as a springboard to discuss Jesus’ life.

“Our spiritual input for the week essentially worked through the gospel story drawing parallels to parts of the Lord of the Rings story,” says Samuel.

Anyone who has read Tolkein’s great saga knows just how epic (and long) it is. The activity at camp reflected this level of ingenuity. Outdoor games were LOTR themed, such as Ent-game and The Battle of Rohan.

Electives included programming, game creation, nerf gun painting and modification, film school and world creation. While indoor games focussed on Übertweak staples, including various computer, console, and card games…and of course the ever-beloved Mariocart.

It’s well known that games can create space for children to feel safe and let their guard down. Übertweak doesn’t disappoint in this way.

“I know of a very quiet kid who, after attending their first Übertweak camp, became a lot more confident because they met a lot of people just like them who were ridiculously good at MarioKart and could talk for hours about very specific topics,.” reflects Samuel.

“The culture of the camp is amazing,” says Samuel, “seeing kids engage really well with each other and leaders building really great relationships with the kids.”

To continue running camps of this type, the right people are needed. And of course, no matter how far advanced technology and our world gets, the base of everything will always be the powerhouse of prayer.

“The technology/engineering aspect of Übertweak relies on leaders with said knowledge; pray that we continue to get leaders who can share and teach their knowledge in these areas into the future. Pray the kids would receive the gospel message,” says Samuel.