Spotlight on Square One: Talking to kids about identity

Children hear lots of different messages about who they are, what is important in life, and what makes them special. That’s why this year’s Youthworks Square One Camp is all about the big question of identity.

Held annually for children in Years 3 – 6, Square One is one of the ways that Youthworks partners with churches to support and encourage effective ministry to children. Camp Director and Children’s Ministry Advisor Annemarie Rivers says:

It’s so important to give our children a solid Biblical foundation for understanding who they are and what they were made for. We are looking forward to digging deep into God’s Word together in the talks, discussion groups and ‘Me and God’ times; as well as providing plenty of time for active fun with friends.

To find out more about Square One, we spoke to this year’s speaker Cam Harte, Children’s Minister at St Luke’s Miranda, about what you can expect from the camp!

How did you get involved with Youthworks Square One kids' camp?

I first came to Square One as a leader in 2014 when I began as Children's Minister at St Luke’s, Miranda. I was impressed and encouraged by the whole weekend.

What is particularly good about Square One is the opportunity the camp provides for church groups to spend a weekend away together to have intentional, gospel-shaped conversations with the kids they have in their ministry each week. And to share the joy of being on a large camp with other churches.

After that first year, I joined the committee that helps plan and run Square One each year. This is a great opportunity to support other local churches and be part of organising camp. Also, the kids from our church are always so excited about Square One, it has become a real highlight of their year.

At St Luke’s Miranda, you’ve made Square One part of your children’s ministry program. Why?

One of the great things about being on Square One is seeing the relationships develop between leaders and kids. A key strength of our Youth Ministry is our mid-year camp, and Square One is the equivalent of that camp, but for our Kids' Ministry.

Being away for the whole weekend with kids from your church provides endless opportunities for conversations, for making memories, and for the building of relationships that simply can't happen in a weekly kids' ministry program.

This year’s Square One theme is ‘MADE’. This touches on ideas of biblical anthropology and what it means to be human. Isn’t this too hard for kids? Why do you think it’s an important topic?

I don't think teaching kids some basic anthropology will be too hard. When you break it down, it will involve thinking about ourselves, which is something everyone already tends to do!

There aren’t many bigger questions that kids, or anyone, in fact, will ask than 'Who am I and what am I here for?' This is the question that will shape our weekend. The kids who are coming on Square One camp are either already starting to ask this question, or they aren't far away. As their leaders, we want to let God speak into this space, letting the Square One campers know that they can go the Word of God for answers.

As kids have access to information from lots of different sources, at Square One this year we simply want to let God's voice speak into their lives.

What will you be sharing with the kids at Square One as the speaker?

As the theme of camp this year is MADE, we'll be seeing that God has made us, both as individuals and as the community of the church with a particular goal in mind.

We’ll be seeing that we are made by God, we are made in God's story, we are made to be followers of Jesus who belong to God, and we are made for life forever with Jesus.

Ultimately, my hope is to unpack the big ideas of what the Bible says it means to be human. We’ll be looking at Psalm 139 and Ephesians 2, whilst we explore God’s big salvation story. This sounds like a lot, but we are going to have lots of fun as we dig into these big ideas from God's Word.

Does Square One sound like something your church would like to be involved in? Registration for Youthworks Square One Camp is open until October 28, 2018. If you’re interested in seeing what happens at camp, check out the Square One Facebook page, or give the Youthworks Ministry Support Team a call on 02 8268 3355 for more information.