In City Harvest Church, the June school holidays are marked by the Emerge youth camps. Emerge is the youth movement of the church. The young people met God in extraordinary ways this year; many were reminded of God’s love and His purpose for their lives. Campers from each zone share their stories in this special report.
CampF火re (CL, KEL, WR, WYZ, ZY Zones)
By Jessica Po
CAMPF火RE took place at CHC’s Jurong West premises from June 1 to 4. This year’s theme, “Here I Am, Send Me,” is taken from Isaiah 6:1–8, encouraging campers to take a step of faith when God calls us to do something. Rather than doubting ourselves or being fearful, we should make the radical choice of obeying Jesus.
On the last day of camp, pastoral supervisor Kelvin Tan, preached a meaningful sermon titled “Here I Am, Send Me.” Kelvin explained that the sin in us must die in order for us to have a great encounter with God. It is our job to respond and untangle ourselves from all sins.
Kelvin then got everyone had to write down sinful habits they had on a piece of paper. He also encouraged those with vapes, cigarettes, or other forms of addiction to give them up and surrender them to Jesus. After that, we had to crush the paper and toss it to the front as a sign of untangling ourselves.
We immediately began praising God after the “paper-throwing ceremony”. As Kelvin pointed out, we must rejoice by praising God whenever our sins are washed away. In the midst of praising God, I felt a wave of happiness and peace come over me, knowing that His grace had renewed my soul. It was a profound moment, reminding me of His constant presence and unfailing love.
Stepping out of my comfort zone to become a team leader and write this article about CAMPF火RE is a testament to my willingness to respond to God’s call, even when it seemed daunting. My inspiration came from Abraham’s immediate response of “Here I am” (HINENI) in Genesis 22:1.
For many, myself included, CAMPF火RE was not just a camp but a life-changing encounter with God. May these experiences stick with us forever and not fade away.
Camp Unite: Go Forth (AZ Division)
By Chan Qing Ru
“This generation is suffering; we need more labourers of God. Today, will you be the one to tell God, ‘Send Me?’”
Those were the words of Aries Zulkarnain, CHC’s executive pastor as he gave an altar call at a very special session for AZ Division Camp Unite 2024.
Camp Unite: Go Forth took place from 6 to 9 June this year at CHC’s Jurong West premises. The theme for this year’s camp centred around The Great Commission in Matthew 28, where Jesus called all to go and make disciples of all nations.
This year’s camp was different because parents of the campers were invited to a special session with Pastor Aries, to commission their children to go forth as disciples of Christ. After praying for their children, the parents pinned a special “Go Forth” pin on their children’s clothing.
As parents and children prayed over each other, many of them reconciled, setting aside their differences. Cell group leaders prayed for campers whose parents were not present.
One memorable part of the camp was when the team leaders led morning devotions. Many shared personal devotions, led praise and worship and even played guitar for the first time. As one of the camp commandants, it was heartening to see youths embrace the joy of serving the Lord, discovering that every joint supplies and that everyone has a gift to contribute to God’s Kingdom.
The camp culminated in a powerful message: every youth can live radically for Jesus. May Camp Unite: Go Forth ignite in the youths a lasting passion to serve and spread the Gospel. God’s work is a calling, not just for the leaders, but for every believer.
Camp Protégé: New Era (SUN-MJ Zone)
By Kimberley Tay
Camp Protégé: New Era was held from 7 to 9 June at Kampung Siglap Lifeskills Training and Retreat Centre, attended by 91 campers. Inspired by Romans 4:17-18, this year’s theme invited campers to reflect on how generations past have risen up in their time to leave their unique mark on the world, inviting this generation to awaken to their hour, to be a new era of youths who are passionate, bold and willing to lay down everything for God.
The highlights of the camp were undoubtedly the three preaching sessions. Campers heard from Pastor Choong Tsih-Ming on the importance of the church community, while cell group leader Jessica Ho spoke on the power of interpreting dreams, and pastoral supervisor Lim Meng Chin preached on living a radical life for Jesus. Each session was met with a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and in that atmosphere, many were set free from personal bondage and found encouragement in the community, experiencing an awakened new desire to step out in boldness for God!
Personally, a moment which touched me deeply was during the first night session with Pastor Ming. He invited campers to sit in silence with Jesus individually and to hear what He wanted to say to us. The camp committee members and campers then took turns to share the conversations they had with Jesus, each so personal and intimate, holding profound significance for them.
As they shared, the love of God flooded the room. God gently reminded me then of how much He desires to speak to each of us as personally and intimately as this, encouraging us to open our hearts to hear His voice.
The camp may be over, but may we never forget the strong bonds with one another strengthened over those three days, and most importantly, the precious moments we met with God!
Camp AHAVAH (YL Zone)
By Tricia Tan
Camp AHAVAH: Unite to Ignite was held from 7 to 9 June at Changi Chalet. True to our theme this year, the campers came together and had their hearts ignited during the camp.
For a group of us, it was the first time we were serving on the camp committee and in the camp’s youth band. We faced our fears and answered God’s calling with open hearts. We had different roles but we stood in unity, lovingly supporting one another through every challenge.
Reflecting upon the camp, my heart is filled with warmth as I think about the leaders, the committee, the band, and the campers, each embodying a profound love for God and His people, with hearts ready to serve and build God’s Kingdom. I believe I can speak for everyone when I say that this year’s camp was truly special; it’s an experience we will continue to hold dearly in our hearts.
The sessions and workshops touched our hearts, and day by day, we saw campers grow closer to God, united and ignited as a camp. Pastor Edmund Tay’s session on “Faith and Patience” moved me deeply, especially when he gave an altar call for “those who wanted a touch of God’s presence”. Many, including myself, went up to be prayed for and were deeply blessed and touched by the presence of God.
God’s presence was evident not only at Pastor Edmund’s session but at other sessions as well. One camper, Caleb, 18, responded to the altar call in the first session and shared that he heard God say to him, “You have gained my peace, now use it well.” He immediately felt “solid peace”.
The three days of camp were so fulfilling—all glory to God! Let’s boldly step out in faith, united to spread the Gospel and continue igniting the fire we have for God and His people!
Camp Koinonia (JE Zone)
By Valerie Ang
Each piece of glass, though fractured, mirrored the warmth from a light above, casting soft, glowing reflections onto my feet. The mirror which once encapsulated the ideas “useless, unworthy, unloved’ shattered into a myriad of fragments. As I slowly lifted my eyes towards the light, there it was.
Arms that stretched wide open, eager to welcome me with a loving embrace. An unfathomable sense of love and acceptance overflowed into my heart as I leapt into the hands of the One I belonged to all along.
This was the vision I had the night Pastor Lee Yi Lun and her team came to minister to the youths at Camp Koinonia. They led us to break the lies from the world that we had internalised. Arms lifted high, hearts open wide, we surrendered our weaknesses, flaws and sins to our Heavenly Father. That night, all the labels put on us were torn down and replaced with the only identity that mattered: we are sons and daughters of the Most High.
Our theme this year, “Sons and Daughters” was inspired by Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Held at The Girls Brigade Headquarters, from 8 to 10 June, the campers embarked on a journey of discovering and reclaiming our identities in His Kingdom.
Our programmes team intently designed the focus of the days to progress from “Friendship” on Day One which was filled with a plethora of icebreakers, to “Sonship” on Day Two, where the Encounter Night gave us the chance to deepen our relationship with God. Lastly, “Family“ on Day Three saw us working together as a divine family of brothers and sisters-in-Christ to clinch our victory.
As the days passed, casual interactions paved the way to deeper conversations and mutual support grew stronger through group prayers and night sessions. By the end of the camp, what started as a gathering of strangers had evolved into a fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ, united by faith and genuine camaraderie.
As Pastor Jeremy Choy and the zone leaders delivered the prophetic word of the Spirit of Adoption over every camper, lives changed, hearts healed and spirits were renewed. Having affirmed our identity, purpose and belonging in Christ, every single camper went home feeling empowered to live with the authority and power that comes with being a child of God.
Our God truly is wonderful!
LOUD! Camp (AN Zone)
By Chester Lim, Quek Hwee Xin
Held within CHC’s Jurong West premises, LOUD! Camp 2024 took place from 9 to 11 June with a turnout of 217 campers. Camp commandant, Esther Tan, 25, highlighted the new experiences that everyone had with God. “There were deeper encounters of love and liberations from past torments as visions and dreams were installed in us.”
During the finale, Pastor Audrey Ng reminded the campers that experiencing God comes through worship and obedience. As God is sovereign and He reigns eternally, it is essential to be on His side to overcome any challenges faced with His support and strength.
Themed “A NEW Experience”, campers went through an extended time of worship, standing barefoot on holy ground. The leaders then washed their members’ feet, pouring their deep love for the campers. It was a refreshing and memorable experience as hearts were touched and stirred in God’s presence.
“Despite my flaws and imperfections, Pastor Audrey still loves me in this manner. It inspired me to do unto others as Jesus has done for us,” Phang Yu Zheng, a cell group leader, recounted as his feet were being washed.
Throughout the camp, the participants expressed their love and desire for God through various worship gestures. First-time camper, Quek Hwee Qin, 21, shared how God helped her step out of her comfort zone: “I began to lift my hands to worship as I tried to speak in tongues and surrender my finances to God.”
Esther expressed her hopes to keep these transformational encounters close to her hearts by worshipping and obeying God constantly. The camp was the start of a remarkable journey of transformation: each camper left with a new story to tell and live out for His Kingdom.
Ginosko Unite Camp (BKPL Zone)
By Megan Mok
Ginosko Unite Camp 2024 took place from 10 to 12 June at the Kampung Siglap Lifeskills Training and Retreat Centre. This year, we welcomed a group of 96 campers, including 16 new friends who were joining us for the first time. The essence of Camp Ginosko is to create an environment where each camper can experience God more deeply. In line with the theme “Unite”, derived from Psalm 133:1-3, campers were encouraged to experience the beauty of dwelling together in unity.
Pauline Kong, our pastoral supervisor, expressed her simple vision for the camp: “I would like all of us to have a pleasant time together with one another and with God.” Over the three-day camp, campers fostered a sense of unity and community and deepened their walk with God.
One of the highlights of camp was the evangelistic dragon boat activity where the campers had to learn how to paddle in unison to propel the boat forward. Three teams raced out into Kallang Basin under a beautiful clear sky in a fierce heartbeat of competition. Overcoming physical challenges and experiencing the thrill of the activity not only reinforced their trust in one another but also forged lasting friendships.
Many campers shared that they had powerful encounters with God during the various sessions. They revealed that God had given them a fresh revelation of His love, freeing them from the need to compare themselves with their peers and the misconception that they had to earn God’s love through specific actions.
The cell group leaders also noticed a significant change in their members. Those who were typically hesitant to respond to the altar call were eager to come forward for prayer during the camp. Many testified that they had their first experience of falling under the power of the Holy Spirit in the camp, leading them to re-commit their lives to God.
Campers discovered a renewed hunger and love for God’s presence, which was particularly evident during the worship night following the dragon boat event and Pastor Choong Tsih Ming’s session. Despite a long day filled with outdoor activities and a powerful session with Pastor Ming that ended at 11 pm, the campers’ desire for God remained strong. They continued to stay in worship, undeterred by their physical tiredness. With just a single guitar, the worship session extended until midnight, as the campers sang “Pure” by Abbie Gamboa and “Upper Room”. The lyrics touched the campers’ hearts deeply: “Not for anything that I could gain, just to honour You and bring You praise. Like a fragrance broken on the floor, may my worship be pure.”
Camp Encounter (ET Zone)
By Ernest Cheng
“Let us be radical for God.”
This phrase remained firmly etched in my mind, long after the hype and cheers of Camp Encounter 2024 faded away. The youth camp was held from 14 to 16 June at CHC’s Jurong West premises.
As always, this year’s camp was packed with exhilarating games and intimate encounters with God. It was also graced by some incredibly anointed speakers, and one of the sermons that blessed me deeply was shared by my cell group leader and zone supervisor Gwendolyn Tan.
She talked about being radical for the Lord in three areas—spiritual hunger, faith and obedience. To be radical simply means to be extreme, or to go all the way for someone. Gwen gave the example of Joshua from the Bible as someone who embodied this characteristic. God instructed Joshua to direct his men to march around the walls of Jericho while blowing trumpets—it did not make sense to him but he radically obeyed. Joshua’s faith was rewarded, as the walls of Jericho miraculously came crashing down.
Gwen’s own “Joshua” moment came when she was called to enter full-time ministry. Despite facing a significant pay cut and plenty of questions from her ex-colleagues and even Gwen herself, she still faithfully obeyed.
Gwen also shared how radically she loved God through the storms she faced as a young Christian. Due to strong parental objections, she would often have to spend her quiet time in unconventional places. This includes places like the toilet and kitchen floor, or even sneaking to the neighbouring park in the wee hours of the morning just to spend a few precious moments with Him.
That provided a poignant example of how although the things we do for God may seem foolish to the world, we should still go all the way as He is worthy of it all. If God allows it, He will bring us there.
Sitting on the floor, I was left in awe and inspired by her sharing. Truly, just like Gwen and Joshua, let us all be willing to be radical “fools” for God.
Camp One (LYL Zone)
By Joey Kuan
Camp One 2024’s theme was “Go Therefore”, taken from the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. Held from 16 to 18 June at CHC’s Jurong West premises, a total of 253 members attended the camp. We also had 26 new friends joining us for the first time and 19 of them gave their hearts to Jesus.
In our fourth session, we heard an amazing sermon by Grace, a cell group leader from LYL, titled “Embracing The Strain, Following The Lane and Giving Without Refrain”. Grace encouraged us to let go of our “Isaacs” like Abraham did and to do it in complete and total obedience to the Lord. After that, we had a few hours to linger in God’s presence in our yearly Encounter Room.
When I was at our “Go Flow” station, where we could be free to worship, to flag, and pray for one another, I felt the Lord ask me, “Joey, do you remember when you were prayed for during this camp?”
Even before camp, I had always wondered if God sees me when I cry out to Him and lay my life down at the altar. Would it matter? Am I even worth His time? As I began to tear up in His presence, the Holy Spirit reminded me of every person who prayed for me throughout the camp. All of them repeated the same line, “God sees your hunger, and He will fill you.”
At that moment, I broke down in His presence, completely overwhelmed by the unconditional and overflowing love of the Abba Father. He remembers me. He remembers every little prayer I had made in my heart for Him to fill me. As I spent time in His presence, I was also reminded of why we have these camps every year—so that we as youths have the space and the time to intentionally set aside our electronic devices and busy lives to wait on the Lord; to rest in His presence and to experience the genuine love of the Father.
