On this episode of 20Twenty, we were joined by Andrew Walkington from OAC Ministries and Stu Miller from Train to Proclaim to discuss how Worldview Camp is equipping teens with a solid Christian worldview. They talked about a challenge that many Christian parents experience: young people walking away from their faith.
Andrew leads OAC, and is helping run Worldview Camp at the end of June. The goal is to prepare high schoolers to stand firm in their beliefs before they are swept away by secular thinking at uni or in the workplace.
“We ask uni students, ‘What do you think happens when you die?’” Andrew said. “Many have a church background but no longer identify as Christians. And as we dig into their worldview, we see that the basic building blocks of faith were never there.”
He says many teens grow up in church but are only ever taught what Christians believe, not why.
Stu Miller agrees. “Young people know that Jesus died for them. But they don’t know why they believe it,” he said. “We live in a world hostile to Christianity. If we haven’t prepared our young people for that, they’re going to walk away.”
Not Just Any Youth Camp
Worldview isn’t just your average youth camp. With five and a half days of training at Mount Tamborine Conference Centre, the camp goes deep, both spiritually and intellectually. “It’s unapologetically academic,” Andrew said. “We think young people can go deep intellectually. Our culture often underestimates them.”
Campers will explore tough questions like:
- How do we know God exists?
- Why trust the Bible?
- What does Christianity say about life, suffering, and purpose?
They also learn how their worldview shapes their values and decisions. “We want every teen to come away knowing what they believe, why they believe it, and how to defend and advance their faith,” Stu said.
Tackling Today’s Culture
The camp doesn’t shy away from sensitive issues either. Teens are invited to think biblically about gender, life, truth, and morality. All in a culture that says truth is whatever you feel. “Truth doesn’t change depending on how we feel,” Andrew said. “Just like gravity, God’s truth stands whether we like it or not.”
Andrew also pointed out that many people who reject God have emotional barriers, not just intellectual ones. “Sometimes people say they don’t believe in God, but it’s really because they want to stay in control of their own lives. If there is a God, then we’re accountable to Him.”
Who Can Attend?
Worldview Camp is for students in Years 9 to 12, with some flexibility for mature Year 8 students. It runs from 29 June to 4 July, 2025. The cost is $550, with sponsorships available for families facing financial hardship. “If your teen is even a little open to asking questions and hearing good answers, this camp is for them,” Andrew said.
There’s also a Canberra camp planned for October, with hopes to expand to Melbourne in the next year.
Find Out More
To register or enquire about sponsorship, visit OAC.org.au/worldview. You can also explore opportunities to help sponsor a teen to attend. Listen to the full conversation on 20Twenty below:
