Summer camp Serve God with all your heart

11. August 2025

By: Berit Hustad Nilsen / Photo: Volunteers for BCC

We meet a driving force in this work, Jermund Pedersen from Brunstad Youth Club (BUK). He is busy during the summer camp, when almost 5,000 young people from all over the world are gathered at Brunstad, with activities from morning to evening.

Jermund Pedersen has a mentor meeting just before the camp starts. Photo: BCC

– An enormous effort is made by volunteer youth workers locally throughout the year,” says Pedersen. But at the same time, he emphasizes that the camps are an important part of this:

– “The youth camps at Brunstad are definitely a highlight that many people look forward to every year,” he says.

To be able to offer children and young people a positive and healthy Christian environment, and create good frameworks for their personal, spiritual and social development, is part of the BCC Federation’s purpose.

– We work actively to achieve this, and the youth camps contribute by being a good meeting place with room for all aspects of life,” says Pedersen.

The building up of faith is central

– There is edification and preaching, and this year’s theme is “Serve God – with all your heart”, something that both awakens us and makes us think,” he says.

He explains that there are also activities planned to capture many different interests, creating an environment where young people feel they belong and feel valued.

– “We’ve come a lot further since the time volleyball was the only ‘Christian’ activity,” smiles Pedersen, referring to the more than 20 activities participants can choose from this summer camp.

Every evening, the participants gather for meetings or theme evenings with edification, teaching, singing and prayer.

The theme evening about serving God with all your heart makes an impression. Photo: BCC

– Many give their hearts to Jesus at these youth camps

This is at the core of what we do, says Pedersen.

– We want the young people who come here to get hold of the life Jesus lived, and everything he taught us, so that we enter into a life of following him.

Pedersen also believes that this is the main reason why so many young people choose to remain in the church into adulthood.

– “Many give their hearts to Jesus at these youth camps, which undoubtedly has an impact on the rest of their lives,” he says.

Structure and mentoring ensure development

– “The mentors, i.e. youth leaders and volunteers, are a key part of the ‘recipe for success’,” says Pedersen. He points to the fact that it facilitates sound youth work because many take responsibility and become co-workers already as young adults.

– We encourage everyone who wants to have Jesus as their savior to become an example for others and get involved in active work in the youth groups,” he says and explains:

– Here they can use their abilities and resources to help lead youth groups or assist with activities.

It is a prerequisite that those who are going to be mentors identify with BCC’s policy and goal of zero tolerance for bullying, sexual abuse and inappropriate behavior.

– The environment in which the young people in the church gather has to be safe and good,” says Pedersen.

All the hectic activity we see here on site over these summer days is visible proof that mentoring works in practice. Young adults are engaged everywhere, and the younger ones seem to revel in the good and many faceted fellowship.