Promising “heaven on earth”

Heaven on earth” is one way the South Pacific Division (SPD) Pathfinder Camporee, beginning on January 9 next year, has been described.
Some 7000 people from 300 Pathfinder clubs representing 16 different countries will be spending five days together on an area of 320 acres. They will be attending the first-ever South Pacific Pathfinder Camporee at the Stuarts Point Campground, New South Wales.
Themed “The Twelfth Gate,” the camporee is an initiative of youth ministries of the SPD, and campers have been promised they will “step into heaven the moment they step through the gates.”
“This will be an unbelievable event that will remain in the memory of all the campers for a long time to come,” says Pastor Gilbert Cangy, SPD director of youth ministries.
Pastor Cangy remembers being “too conservative in our projections” and had originally expected about 4000 people when they began planning and preparing for this “heavenly experience” in February last year. “We were pleasantly surprised when the numbers kept growing, but it also meant we had to change a lot of our initial plans,” he says.
Adding two extra sub-camps to the existing eight was the first change made. Bushland had to be cleared to make space for the additional sub-camps, and extra utilities like a water supply, toilet and shower blocks had to be hired to cater for the extra 3000 people. Before that could be done, permission had to be obtained from the local town council, a process that took about six months.
Giant marquees, some holding up to 300 people, also had to be hired to accommodate international Pathfinder clubs unable to travel with tents. There will be two marquees at each sub-camp, which will consist of an international community, representing Australia, New Zealand and countries from the Pacific islands.
Throughout the day, Pathfinders will be busy with five different activities, titled “Twelve Steps” (a lake activity), “Heaven’s Golden Shore” (a beach activity), “Sin Terror Gate” (a role-playing bush activity), “The Last Battle” (based on the game Capture the Flag) and “The Lost Gate” (a challenge valley).
“The Lost Gate” will be the biggest construction for the camporee, consisting of six circuits and 80 different elements. Tracks for it have already been set out since the end of October.
A little hospital, complete with an “ambulance” and a medical team of six doctors and six nurses have also been organised to cope with any emergencies or accidents. Besides security provided by some of the 320 full-time volunteer camporee staff, a firm has also been contracted to ensure the safety of the campers.
The highlight and centrepiece of the camporee will be the evening program, which Pastor Cangy says is a “major drama production that will amaze everybody.”
Ten cast members, 14 musicians and at least 30 crew members will be involved in the drama based on an original script written by Pastor Tony Knight, Australian Union Conference director of youth ministries. It will be a six-act drama with a grand finale on Sabbath evening.
This will be performed on a split-level stage 16 metres high and 30 metres wide that will take about two weeks to build. Although plans of the stage have been cited to be “top secret,” it has been revealed that there will be gates, balconies, screens, space for the choir and even a throne.
The main speaker for the camporee will be Pastor Jose Rohas, an American of Mexican origin, and “one of the best youth speakers around”.
Pathfinders can also look forward to a community festival day on Friday, when they will “have experiences they never had before.”
The 11 major activities will include things like horse or motorbike riding, a cultural village and the opportunity to collect souvenirs.
Major construction work for the camporee will begin on Boxing Day, and according to Pastor Cangy, setting up a camporee for 7000 people has been “like an industry.”
“All this time and effort will all be worth it,” says Pastor Cangy. “We value our young people and have a commitment and desire to create a positive memory for them and help develop their faith. This camporee will certainly do that.”