Growing up in today’s society can be challenging at best. We are faced with much adversity in discovering who we are, dealing with assumptions and judgments from our peers, and feeling the pressures from mainstream media. There is something that can be even more challenging – being a Christian youth.

Youth Synod is an annual gathering of young people ages 13-24 from all across the Diocese of Algoma. Every Civic Holiday weekend in August, these young people travel to Camp Manitou to worship and praise God. This year, the 26th Youth Synod, the theme was “Consumer’s Fire: Christianity, Pop Culture and You”.

Yes, it is true that youth face pressures from mainstream media, but in what sense? This year we discovered and realized the prominence of God in our favourite movies. We broke down popular music and analyzed what was really being said to us. We took a look at the images society displays and how we should act and respond. We examined what it all really means to us. Anglican youth carry strong morals and sharp minds. This year at Youth Synod, we realized that the only image we should be trying to portray is that of God reflected through us.

A synod can be defined as an assembly and in the Anglican Church it also is a governing body. This year at camp, we brought the “synod” back to Youth Synod. There was a resolutions committee that met throughout the weekend and brought forward several resolutions to go to the Executive Committee and the Bishop. We also had our deanery meetings and elected the newest members of the Youth Ministry Committee which had working dinner meeting at camp.

This year the Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Andrews and his lovely wife, Fawna joined us and participated in camp life for the last day. We started them off easy with a hike up Mt. Stadnyk where we were lead in a bible study. The climb was tricky but the view was worth it. We also had the infamous “Bishop’s Bear Pit” where the youth can pick the Bishop’s brain on any topic. Bishop Stephen turned it around on us this year and asked us why we were Christians. It was a loaded question full of personal revelations and hearts pouring out with a passion for God.

Camp Manitou and Youth Synod have a profound impact on young people. Whether they are lying on the rocks at night, participating in Bible Studies and committees or even climbing a mountain, the wonder of Camp Manitou lasts a lifetime. When you have a place full of friends and comfort, a place where the love of God is abundant, where the memories and experiences last like the heat of the sun on Manitou’s rocks at night, being a Christian youth today just doesn’t seem as challenging as before.

By: Sheena Larson, YMC secretary.