As the summer drew people to holiday destinations around Victoria, a number of Baptist churches sent young leaders out on mission to Red Frogs, Scripture Union Family Mission, Blue Moose, Theo’s, and more. We got in touch with several leaders to find out about their successes and challenges, and how they noticed God at work this year.
Red Frogs – Holly, NewHope Baptist Church
This was my third year serving on the team during Schoolies week in Rye. Each year I am deeply impacted by the power of this mission and the ways we are able to witness God’s heart through extending His unconditional love to others. We do this through simple yet practical acts of care – handing out Red Frog lollies and water, providing bus services to get Schoolies home safely, cooking pancakes and nachos, and, most importantly, being a listening ear. Schoolies will often question how much we get paid, and I find it one of the most powerful representations of Jesus’ love when we can share that we volunteer because we care about them and want them to have a safe week.
This year a particular highlight was connecting with a group of schoolies and getting to hang out with them most nights. Over shared meals we unpacked big questions about life, meaning and purpose and by the end of the week they asked us to pray for them. I am continually amazed about how receptive young people are to the message of the gospel and how open and willing they are to ask questions and have respectful discussions. At the same time, the conversations where we are simply able to speak value and worth over a young persons’ life are just as powerful.
My favourite part of Red Frogs every year is that we are able to carry the presence of God into situations that are often heavy and chaotic. Every Schoolies week, I am struck by the power of prayer and the privilege we have to ask God to cover our every interaction – and then to witness Him answer those prayers as we head out each night. Bringing a calming and safe presence by even just being in a room is a testament to the work of God through this mission.
Red Frogs – Annabelle, Albert Park Baptist Church
Red Frogs in Byron Bay was a real week of growth for me – I found the experience both challenging and rewarding. We got very little sleep, and it really pushed me to my limits, but I loved being part of a Christian community and meeting both other Red Frogs and the schoolies. Plus, Byron Bay was a beautiful place to be a “Frog”!
I loved being there as an “older sister” to the schoolies, and it was meaningful to be a source of support for them—for example, caring for a girl who was sick while uplifting her to God, and helping to keep her safe. The conversations we had about God were incredible. Our Red Frogs leader, Toby, showed us what a Christian leader should be like, and he inspired me — and I’m sure he inspired the other Red Frogs as well. It was amazing to meet other Red Frogs, share our testimonies, and grow through talking with one another.
Red Frogs Australia is a Christian Youth charity run by volunteers known as the ‘Red Frogs Crew’. The volunteers participate in many events that are attended by school leavers and university students such as schoolies week.
Torquay SUFM – Nathan, Oakleigh Baptist Church
I first signed up in 2020 because I was invited by 2 former team members who went to my church. This year was my 7th mission!
One of the most memorable aspects this year was the record-breaking numbers – we had almost 80 kids on the Tuesday morning, and 50-60 most mornings. Another highlight was sharing a devotion, and it was great to hear that some of the leaders found it encouraging. For the past few years we’ve had a real focus on prayer, and in this time we’ve seen improvements in organisation, more energy for leaders and more kids coming through. The more you focus on prayer, the better the mission goes. I especially saw God at work through the morning discussion I led in my small group.
If you’re thinking of joining a beach mission, give it a chance! You see the joy on the kids’ faces doing crafts or listening to the drama. At the end of each day you think maybe they didn’t take it in, but you ask a question and you see they were listening each time. Some kids when I joined are now in the Grade 5-6 groups, and seeing how much they’ve grown over the years is very special. The people who lead beach mission are pretty cool because they all love God and are ready to share his message together.
Warrnambool SUFM – Ruth, Warrnambool & District Baptist Church
We ran our program down by the beach at one of the foreshore playgrounds. We had a wonderful attendance with over 50 children on day 1, which is a very good turnout! I first learned about mission through two of my best friends. I heard about how fun it was and the impact they made, and I really wanted to do that as well.
One of the most memorable things this year was staying up late writing “warm fuzzies” to each other and just spending time together. Every day was a new experience that grew us as a team. Honestly, mission was a bit more demanding than I expected, having to write studies and things as well as simply run them. But I think the effort required helped me to grow as a person and in my faith. As I head into my first year of Uni this year, I’m better prepared having spent time away running a mission with other like-minded Christians.
SUFM is a Christian volunteer movement, working with local churches to offer a variety of creative ministries for children, young people and families. Ministries include volunteer-staffed programs at beach locations, holiday and school camps, school ministries, youth outreach programs and school chaplaincy.
Blue Moose Warracknabeal – Indaly, Kew Baptist Church
I attended Blue Moose this summer after being invited by a friend. It was an amazing experience, especially building connections with the kids and sharing our faith stories. We were part of an incredible team of 26 leaders, and we had so much fun together. We became quite close friends.
Each morning, we began with prayer and worship, which was incredibly powerful as a group. This was my first time leading on Blue Moose, and it far exceeded my expectations. While it was challenging to keep energy levels up, we received so much encouragement and support. God answered many of our prayers, and we saw new faces coming night after night. I would strongly encourage anyone to lead on a mission or Blue Moose. I found that it is just as important for your own growth as it is for the kids—to see how God works through us and provides everything we need.
Blue Moose is an outreach program run by Youth Dimension