Centre of New Life Family Camp 2025 – Growing Together
Markus Fann, Centre of New Life
A time away together to establish spiritual friendships that will impact the generations, for generations.
John 15: 7 – 8 – “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
A murmur ripples through the hall where the 180 campers are seated in rapt attention to Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn’s exposition of the “Good Samaritan”. A story that would be familiar to most present there was re-told to highlight the one fact that is often glossed over— the immense sacrifice of the Samaritan. Dr Tan pointed out the need for the Holy Spirit to shape what should be the key defining feature of the church: our sacrificial love for others. Basic and often taken for granted, this clarion call to love (as Jesus would) brought into focus the very foundations of our faith.
The theme of the camp “Growing Together” was weaved into every activity by the camp committee led by Bro Albert Liang. From sharing in multigenerational groups of 3 – 6 persons, to craft-activities that were designed to encourage us to pray and hear God for one another, we were astounded at how God moved in those spaces to draw people into deeper conversations. These activities served to accentuate Dr Tan’s sermons and drive home the crux of his messages: The call to spiritual friendships.
In parallel, spiritual friendships were rekindled with Ps Aster Soong (Chinese Interpreter) and Ps Pamelyn Tay (Children’s Ministry) who joined us again this year. Having built these friendships at the 2024 family camp, we were impacted by their dedication to bring the message of Christ to the foreground of whatever they did.
Over the four days in Kuala Lumpur (KL), we were an intergenerational community woven together with Jesus. Bridging the cultural, generational, and language divide, we came together as a church to celebrate the strength found in our diversity. Through a panel discussion, we learned about things ranging from Gen-Z’s Telebubbles, to the unique challenges facing each generation. Through our differences, we united and were given the opportunity to love each other while confronting the difficulties faced by the modern church.
These intentional interactions culminated in a string of testimonies. One person from the ‘Silent Generation’ (born between 1928-1945) remarked that the multigenerational groupings allowed her to be divinely grouped with a lady that she had been secretly hoping to talk to for the last ten years. Another shared of salvation that happened at the camp and how several people were involved before the fruit was ‘plucked’. Loud cheers ensued as friends had been praying for this moment for months.
One might say that the food in KL was good, the temperature of the hall was just right, or the swimming pool was superb. However, all of these would pale in comparison to the tangible work of God in our midst over these four days and we sensed God working to make his love complete through us.
On the final day, there was palpable excitement in the air with the reshuffling of the ‘Kampongs’ which will impact the generations, for generations. We are better together, growing together, and are excited to see where God will lead us together.
