What past participants say

Faye: Stepping up

"I haven't been to many camps as a camper, so after being a leader at camp last year I decided that it would be a good idea to go to LeadUP.  I didn't really know what to expect as I hadn't been to Basecamp either, but it was one of the most amazing weeks of my year (so far!).

I'm so thankful to God for all of the people that I met and LeadUP.  I really enjoyed the teaching, especially learning how to work together as a team and how to lead a small group.  One of the things that I thought I would never be able to do was to lead an evening meeting and give a talk at camp.  That was the scariest thing I could think of doing.  However, after a week at LeadUP I felt confident enough to challenge myself to do it. So at camp that's what I was able to do!  I used all that I had leaned and was able to lead one of the evening meetings along with another LeadUP'er.

It was amazing to have a week where I could spend time just sitting with God and listening to Him.  I had so much fun and if I could I'd do it all over again!"

Faye Brammer, LeadUP 2010

Jonathan: Supporting each other

"LeadUP was a fantastic opportunity to stop and take time out to reflect on and learn about a whole variety of different things to do with our own spiritual growth and working with children and young people.

We had seminars on topics such as Child and Faith Development, Studying the Bible, Leadership, and Being part of a team, and there were loads of opportunities to put into practice what we were learning as the week went on.

One of the amazing things about the week for me was the amount of time we had in groups to chat about what was going on, what we were learning and what we were finding challenging. It really highlighted the importance of communication and listening to each other as we support those with whom we are working.  We spent a lot of time praying and studying the Bible together and it's so important to keep God central to everything we do, both individually and corporately."

Jonathan Buwert, LeadUP 2010

Kelly: growing in confidence

"I became a Christian when I was 17 and so have never experienced going to camp.  LeadUP allowed me to gain an understanding of how camps work and how I could work effectively on a team using the skills God has given me.

LeadUP was a great week where I got to meet new friends and learn more about God and myself, which prepared me for a summer of leading and working in teams for Him.

I enjoyed meeting other leaders that were all going into a summer of working for God in many different forms such as holiday clubs, camps and missions, who also gave me a good support network of encouragement as the summer went on.

Looking back over the week of LeadUP I can honestly say that God taught me completely different things from the week than I thought I would learn, but it was what I needed to help me grow in confidence as the summer went on, and the skills I learnt I continue to use in everyday life as I try to serve God as much as I can."

Kelly Rankin, LeadUP2010

Fiona: Putting it into practice

"SU has always been part of my Christian life.  It was at camp in 2005 where I gave my life to Christ.  After being a helper at local holiday clubs and activity days I couldn't wait until I was old enough to attend Basecamp and learn of the ropes of becoming a 'proper' leader.

Basecamp at Scoughall made me realise I was able to do things leaders do that daunted me, like teaching a small group, and was a great way to relax after exams and reconnect to God before a busy summer where I took on the challenge of two back-to-back missions.  In Aboyne I had an amazing time being involved with virtually every aspect of the mission, be it music, drama, teaching, and even IT!  The following week I enjoyed taking on a slightly smaller role in the larger mission at Burntisland.  It was certainly memorable that week as I played the role of Vinegar, the trainee chef in the daily drama who always seemed to get into a bit of a mess.  I had eggs cracked on my head, my feet in mushy peas, and a face full of squirty cream, but I had lots of fun doing it.

At the follow-up weekend I loved meeting up with everyone again and sharing what we had all been up to.

Taking part in COmMISSION has given me the opportunity to grow more confident as a Christian and meet so many fantastic people also putting their faith in God into action through service.  It gives you informal training of the practical aspects of trainee leadership which was definitely helpful, and the encouragement from everyone keeps you going, especially when I was thrown into the deep end with missions teams where I knew almost no-one.  This has been the best summer I've ever had and can't wait to do even more in my Christian service with my incredible God with me and the wonderful people involved with SU!"

Fiona Scott, Basecamp 2010

Want more?  Read the latest COmMISSION feature from @SU September 2010...