SU Victoria

Equipping you to Connect Out

This key focuses on connecting with young people in a “shared space” – a space outside of the normal school context, where both young people and the ELEVATE team are on equal footing, it is more relaxed, and there is opportunity to connect with each other in greater depth. Programs, such as a camp or youth group, seek to build experienced-based, engaging, learning opportunities to help students explore life, values and issues from a Christian world view.  Share your  Connect Out ideas in the next quarterly newsletter by emailing Meredith

Connecting Out with SYG

State Youth Games is an action-packed weekend of sports and activities for young people. Approximately 3000 people camp out together, play sports all day and celebrate at night. It is organised by Youth Vision Victoria – the youth ministry arm of Churches of Christ in Victoria. Youth Groups from all over the State travel for the event.Link to SYG
http://stateyouthgames.com/vic/

Connecting Out with Youth Partnership in Whittlesea

How often is it that from crisis arises some of the most effective and encouraging partnerships? Following Black Saturday
in 2009, youth leaders in the Whittlesea / Kinglake area began networking together looking into the unaddressed needs of local young people. SU Victoria and local churches were represented in this network, Whittlesea Youth Leaders (WYL) and the ELEVATE Team got involved in several initiatives – including special activity programs for Mental Health Week and Youth Week at Whittlesea Secondary College. This year there’s a new partnership initiative Whittlesea Open Mic Nights. “The vision is to provide space for young people to spend time together, to perform to and for each other” says Aaron Kelly, Whittlesea ELEVATE Director, and New Horizons Youth and Young Adults Pastor. The group approached a local café to open late one night a month and provide a space for 16-25 year olds to hang out, and for young local musicians to perform – both needs identified in surveys of local young people. In February, in partnership with New Hozizons, Kildonan Uniting Care, Salvation Army, Catholic Care, Bookacino Café and several local businesses which provided prizes, the program was launched, with an amazing response. “All of us are passionate about reaching young people,” says Aaron.

2012 MAD Camp

Monday 24th to Friday 28th September for Secondary Students at Camp Coolamatong.
Meet new friends from around the state
Get into the action with water sports
Melt some marshmallows around the campfire

Hang out at 90 mile beach

Run a community action project

And explore how YOU can make a difference in the world. For more info, to be on the team OR to sponsor a young person to attend contact Jocelin Kan  jocelink@suvic.org.au   Download details HERE

2011 MAD Camp report

In its second year MAD Camp doubled in size, with 50 young people and leaders from Elevate schools ministries across Victoria spending an amazing week together exploring the theme of ‘Making a Difference’ over the September school holidays.

Games, campfires, and community action projects were all part of camp but what was brilliant was the strong sense of community that was built over the week – this is a great connection point for ELEVATE students and leader alike. Many young people shared deeply about their lives. One of the young people shared with the group that at the start of the week she didn’t believe in God, but now she was drawn to Christian faith! Wow! We prayed for her and could sense God’s Spirit at work in her heart. We gave her a Bible and Elevate leaders will continue to support her back in her school.

Another young person, who has been a part of ELEVATE for about 4 years now, decided she was ready to accept Christ, ringing her leader the day following camp to share the news of her decision and of her families support for her. Praise God!

The lessons learned at MAD Camp continue to impact far beyond the week away, with several teams sharing that their students are still talking about MAD Camp with excitement, and many students are still connecting with each other via Facebook and encouraging one another to continue making a difference in their everyday lives.

A Story from the Whittlesea ELEVATE Team

This year as a Connect Out initiative, the Whittlesea ELEVATE Team has been extending the invitation to students at their lunchtime program to come along to Area 412, a new weekly event organized by the New Horizons Youth Team. The local combined churches shopfront on the main street of Whittlesea, where (by day) material aid and counseling can be accessed by those affected by the bushfires,  is transformed every Friday night, into a cool youth friendly space where local young people can hang out, play soccer in the back car park, play Wii, or just chat and listen to music. It has been very popular with the ELEVATE kids, and has provided a great opportunity to get to know them more, and for them to get to know some other local youth, and youth leaders.

The team was encouraged to read this post on a Year 10 girls Facebook page following one Friday night event!

“HEY EVERYONE. every friday i go to AREA 412 in whittlesea, i have an awesome time so do many others and its a friendly environment where anyone can come and have a great time. i strongly suggest you all come to. if you want to know more just send me a message. pleasae all come its for a great cause .THANKS”