Canvas Chronicles

The familiar luxury buggies are back at Big Camp—ready to whisk you to your tent, help with gear from the car park, or simply give you a stylish lift around the grounds.

This year, they’ve had a little makeover! The “Big Camp Buggies” are now officially called the Courtesy Cart Office—a name as classy as the ride itself. But among friends, we suspect they’ll always be our beloved Big Camp Buggies.

Need a pickup? Booking is easier than ever:

• Go to the Ministries & Support → Buggy page in the Big Camp App,
• Tap the link to pre-fill an SMS with your pickup details.

New SMS number: 0427 027 498

Same friendly service—just a new name and number!

Welcome to Big Camp. Australia seems to be becoming an increasingly secular country. The last national census, 2021, showed that for the first time in our history, under 50% of the population identified as Christian. The number of actual Christians is also declining in real terms, not just as a percentage of the population.

This is challenging information for a church who understand that its mission is to make Disciples. The challenge was already huge, but it seems like we are actually going backwards in real terms. Two things will turn this around; the power of the Holy Spirit, and your witness to God’s power in your own life. The privilege we have is to join our testimony with the power of the Holy Spirit as a witness to others. “You will receive power”, and “you will be my witnesses” we are told in Acts 1:8.

Our Camp Meeting is an opportunity for us to connect with each other, to meet family and friends, to make new friends, and to connect with God as we grow in a sense of the purpose that He has called us to.

My prayer is that during this Camp meeting we will see clearly the mission before us, and be inspired by the part He calls us to play in sharing love and hope to the world.

On behalf of the South Queensland Conference team, I’m glad you’re here at Big Camp 2025, and I know that you will be blessed as you worship and fellowship with people from around our Conference.

Welcome!
Brett

Brendan Pratt, our newly appointed AUC President, opened Big Camp in the Big Tent with a powerful and thought-provoking message.

He encouraged everyone to reflect on how we view church, leaders, and others—showing that our perceptions often reflect our own hearts more than the administration itself. Brendan also explored how society shapes these responses and shared ways to take back control of our spiritual lives.

Catch his full message archive [here].

Pr Dejan Stojkovic, Greater Sydney Conference Youth Director, kicked off the first Friday night Youth Tent program with epic stories and plenty of laughter!

Campers were loving his hilarious tales—but what made it even better was how he brought it all together at the end, connecting the fun and laughter to a meaningful gospel message. A night full of smiles and inspiration!

Catalyst is a vibrant training school on the grounds of Avondale University—designed to ignite faith and equip people of all ages to live it out.

Meet Ashleigh from Toowoomba, who’s already halfway through the current Catalyst cohort. She’s at Big Camp this week—catch her live promo or visit her at the Expo Hall to hear more.

Here’s what Ashleigh has to say about her journey so far:

“This semester I’ve had the privilege of being part of the Avondale Catalyst program, and it has truly been life-changing. God has used this time to shape me, inspire me, and equip me to better serve Him. Through Catalyst I’ve found clarity in where He is leading me career-wise and how I can use my spiritual gifts to help the church. One of the biggest blessings has been the relationships formed — these people have become like family as we grow together in Christ. The Holy Spirit moves powerfully here, building a strong foundation for your faith journey. Don’t just watch—be part of Catalyst 2026! You’ll never regret it.” -Ashleigh Hannah

Keep an eye out for the cute little News Bug—and it really is little—cruising around Big Camp! When you spot it, come and say hi. Behind the wheel is Pr Ben Turner or his wife Naomi Turner, gathering stories and snapshots for the Canvas Chronicles. They would love to hear about your Big Camp experience: why you came, what you’re enjoying most, or a highlight worth sharing.

Got a story the whole camp should hear? Just tell Pr Ben or his beautiful wife, Naomi.

What an incredible sight—2,800 people registered for Big Camp this year! It’s amazing to see so many who love Jesus gathered in one place. It’s the perfect chance to catch up with old friends and make plenty of new ones.

Parking might be the biggest challenge with such a crowd, but don’t worry—our friendly attendants are ready to help you find the perfect spot!

Want to win one of five $50 ABC vouchers? Just tune in to Big Camp Radio—it’s that easy!

This year Letitia Lewis is taking the reins from Dr Percy Harrold, and she’s already rolling out this and other exciting competitions all week long.

Catch all the Big Tent programs plus Letitia and Percy’s familiar voices on 90.7 FM around the campgrounds—or simply tap the Radio button in the Big Camp App to listen in.

Don’t miss your chance to win and stay up-to-date with everything happening at Big Camp!

After taking a break last year, the ADRA Op-Shop is back—and better than ever! One of Big Camp’s favourite meeting spots has returned, ready for you to explore.

All week long you’ll find women (and plenty of men too!) hunting for bargains, swapping style tips, and making new friends—all while trying on fabulous finds right here at camp.

Through the week you can come for the deals, stay for the laughter and the connections!

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.