History
Believing in God’s Word and Spirit
VicYouth is a Christian youth ministry operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and serving the young people of Victoria. It has a long and active history in Victoria going back to the early 1900s. It included, in those very early days, fundraising support by the youth for a missionary in Java. VicYouth has a proud and innovative history too. The very first Summer Camp operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church world-wide was held in Victoria in 1925. About twenty boys attended the inaugural camp. By 1929 camps were running Australia-wide for both girls and boys and today Summer Camps are run annually right around the world. VicYouth continues to innovate for changing times, introducing a new Summer Camp program in 2016. GAP Camp fills an important ministry niche for 16–18-year-olds as they progress towards adulthood.
Our Vision
To create a thriving disciple-making movement across Victoria propelled by young people who’ve been equipped, resourced and empowered for ministry, mission and service.
Our Mission
We have a desire to serve the youth in a way that will prompt internal and external growth in their spiritual journeys. We aim to assist in fostering their relationships with Christ whilst at the same time allowing them to make their own decisions and grow in their personal faith.
By affirming their relationships with God we want to help them recognise and develop their spiritual calling in a way that will lead them to have a significant impact in mission and service, through both their local church community and society at large.
Our Priority
Young people matter and this is demonstrated by communicating to them that they are welcome, valued and known in their worshipping community. At VicYouth, our priorities lie in preparing our next generation of young believers for life and ministry whilst assisting and supporting them and their families on their faith journey.
We are passionate about creating ways for our young people to find their place in their own faith community whilst providing opportunities for them to be equipped, engaged and resourced in ministry and service.
Our Focus
The local church must become the primary target of youth ministry. At VicYouth, our core function is to resource and build up youth ministry in the local church. Youth ministry is effective only when it is a response to local needs, guided by local convictions in the hands of local people.