This Sabbath morning, the main gates will close at 8 a.m. Police will redirect all traffic, so entry will be from Hughes Rd East only.
Please note: no parking on the grass along Old Gympie Road or Hughes Rd East. The local council will have parking inspectors issuing fines throughout the day.
Where to park: Use the ovals at Northpine School (end of Hughes Rd). Clear directions will be signposted, and friendly buggies will be on hand to ferry you to your destination.
Thanks for helping us keep Sabbath parking safe and stress-free!
See the graphic below for areas where parking is not allowed.
After brisk nights dipping into the low double digits, we’ve enjoyed beautiful camp weather all week. This afternoon the wind will pick up slightly, peaking around 19 km/h at about 4 pm, so please make sure your marquees are well anchored.
At Big Camp, we often gather with family and distant relatives for Sabbath lunch, feeling at ease within our familiar circles. However, this Sabbath, I want to challenge you to step outside of that comfort zone. There may be someone nearby who feels lonely or a little out of place. If you notice someone like that, invite them to join your family for Sabbath lunch.
Over 20 years ago, my family experienced one of those “feeling a bit lost” moments ourselves. Having just returned to Australia shortly before Big Camp, we were warmly invited by Pr Mike Brownhill’s family to share haystacks with them and their friends at their tent. It’s a moment we’ve never forgotten.
So, the challenge is simple: this Sabbath, be the one who reaches out.
The Big Tent has had a daily program called Faith Among the Ruins this week. It has taken lessons and historical evidences for the early church’s faith journey and vividly brought us on a tour of these wonderful sights. No only is it like a Bible Lands Tour to the extreme but it has practically showcased lessons relevant to how we interact with our own churches and society itself.
It is well worth watching the archives of these messages if you missed them. They will all be available on the Big Camp App Live Stream camp in the week after camp, so you can also share them with friends who may not have been there.
At the 25+ Tent, the message began with three tongue-in-cheek “tips” for church decline:
1. Invest in maintenance over multiplication 2. Don’t raise new leaders 3. Leave when church gets hard
Of course, the real challenge was the opposite. Drawing on the book of Acts, the Pr. Abner showed how early believers built a vibrant, evangelistic community.
It’s tempting to pour time and money into maintenance—keeping the building attractive for those already inside. But unless more energy goes into multiplication, the church risks becoming a monument to what might have been.
Likewise, when new leaders aren’t actively mentored and encouraged, decline is inevitable. And when conflict or difficulty arises, walking away may feel natural—but staying and growing through the mess is where spiritual maturity is forged.
These habits go against human nature, but they open the door to God’s transforming power. If you missed this powerful message, it’s well worth catching the replay.
A Big Camp reunion has revealed God’s leading in a shared vision to end homelessness.
A providential crossing of paths brought Mackay City Councillor Nathenea MacRae together with Ian Baskin, a local state school teacher. Though separated by 1,000 km, each was asked the same question: “What will you do about homelessness?” They took it to the Lord, and on the very same Sabbath, Jesus gave them strikingly similar “downloads”: homelessness can only be solved through the creation of meaningful, attractive, long-term housing.
Ian documented the dream, founding BelongHere! Villages and Neighbours4Neighbours, and producing a 67-page submission to Queensland State Parliament. Nathenea, having received the proposal, is eager to explore how BelongHere! Villages can be part of her local solution.
Putting Matthew 25 into a real 21st-century context, God has given a vision to a young woman and a dream to an older man. “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” — Acts 17:2
Please pray as politicians consider how this idea might be implemented across Queensland—and perhaps the nation. To see how you and your church can help, visit Neighbours4Neighbours.org.au.
Big Camp News editors showed their support by engaging BelongHere! to cater their wedding.
Nathenea reflects, “I believe God has connected us, Ian, for a reason—encounters aligning like this don’t just happen.”
If you enjoyed camp, there is only one thing that’s better than Big Camp, and that’s making Big Camp happen. Big Camp 25+ Tent team are looking for volunteers for 2026. TAP HERE TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST TO SERVE
This Big Camp marks the end of an era. Steve Plahn, long-time caretaker of Watson Park and Big Camp, has announced his retirement after an incredible 23 years of service.
Steve has been part of the very fabric of Big Camp—maintaining the grounds, making countless improvements, and ensuring every camper, from Tots & Toddlers to the Youth Tent, enjoyed a beautiful, well-kept space. For many of us, it’s hard to imagine Big Camp without Steve at the helm.
We are sad to see him go, but deeply grateful for his decades of dedication and the legacy he leaves behind.
Thank you, Steve, for everything you’ve poured into these grounds and into our Big Camp family!
A heartfelt thank you to the incredible cleaning team for their cheerful and tireless work all week. They’ve kept every corner of camp spotless with a smile, and we are so grateful. Special recognition also goes to the Camp Superintendent’s office for their quick response whenever an issue arose.
And a special nod to the cleaners who even cleaned the windscreen of the Big Camp News Bug—so we could see clearly as we drove into the setting sun!
One of our dedicated Big Camp supporters has been helping with setup a week before camp for many years. Yet every year, he faces a deeply emotional time—remembering his son, who was tragically killed on the way to Big Camp. Here are his heartfelt reflections.
Remembering Leif Frauenfelder. “Even though he is no longer with us, his life is a testimony still” wrote his teenage friend. “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 was a favourite verse for Leif. His story is God’s story.
Sixteen years ago, September 21, 2008, was Sunday on the first weekend of Big Camp here at Watson Park. No one knew that my son Leif would die that night in a car accident as he travelled home from camp.
Leif’s life was changed when he “fell in love with Jesus” just after his 18th birthday in April 2008. He stated, “ I was an Adventist one day a week, then I became Adventist seven days a week.” Daily Bible study and prayer became central to his life, with Jesus as his very best friend. Leif and his friend Scott bought lots of Bibles and took them to Fiji to give away, and Leif promised his new friend, an Adventist young man named Marika, that he would return with 2000 Bibles.
Leif wrote a list of the Pacific Island nations where Bibles were needed for young people to study. He wrote “60,000 Bibles”! Leif shared with Pastor Nick Kross, SPD Youth Leader, the urgency for the youth of the Pacific region to receive Bibles, and after Leif’s death, God inspired Pastor Nick to create the huge “World Changers Bible Project”, which has led to thousands of baptisms in the South Pacific Division. Leif’s new love for Jesus led him to spend his “life savings” buying hundreds of Bibles, and on Sunday afternoon at camp, he joyfully gave 145 beautiful giant print Bibles to “Volunteers In Action” (see photo) which were delivered to prisoners in Vanuatu in 2009.
Leif’s mother Lynne, over many years raised funds to fulfil Leif’s promise to get 2000 Bibles to Fiji. As Big Camp 2025 ends today, please personally consider your own commitment to be a faithful follower of our faithful God, as His love for you will never cease. Please pray often that God’s perfect love, joy, and peace will bring comfort to all mourners the death of a loved family member or friend. God bless. Geofrey Frauenfelder. Leif’s dad.
Smoke from back burning is drifting across some Queensland roads, especially the Bruce Highway, and in places visibility is dropping to almost zero. Please drive with extreme care on your way home—slow down, use headlights, and stay alert. Check local traffic updates for the latest conditions before you travel.
This week Kindy has enjoyed a farming theme—complete with a playful hunt for a missing bee around the Big Camp grounds. Along the way they were reminded to Bee-True and Bee-Kind, but the most important lesson of all was to Bee-Like-Jesus.
If you’ve spotted young boys practicing sword fighting around Big Camp—sometimes in full costume—you’ve glimpsed the Juniors’ theme for the week: Medieval! But this isn’t just about castles and knights; it’s about staying faithful to King Jesus.
When asked how each day was going, one anonymous leader quipped, “We survived another day!” Plastic swordfights and all.
The Family Fun day filled the oval with people and wholesome things to do.
Sunday September 21 was a day full of energy, laughter, and memorable moments. From children’s activities and live animal encounters to jumping castles, exciting challenges, and food tastings, there was something for everyone. Attendees explored Adventist health and literature stalls, enjoyed world-class live music, and cheered on participants in the classic Weet-Bix eating competitions.
Take a moment to relive the day in our Highlights recap—see if you can spot yourself among the memories!
Before leaving camp today, take a moment to explore all the main worship areas. Each set was thoughtfully designed with a single focus: to exalt Jesus and draw us closer to Him.
https://www.facebook.com/sqconference Here you can see all of Charmaine’s amazing Big Camp Photography in one place. Tap on any of these images to view the album.
