The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has a long association with the Boys' Brigade (BB), one of the biggest Christian youth organisations in UK and Republic of Ireland. Each year, the Junior BB Project - for 8 to 11-year-olds - gives Boys' Brigade companies in congregations of the opportunity to help raise funds in support of an overseas project. While companies are free to choose how and when they raise funds for the project, the aim is to have all contributions gathered in by the end of June in the following year.
PCI partners with the Reformed Church in Romania who owns the campsite in Algyogy, Transylvania, which is in north-western Romania. Over the years, many Christian camps for children and young people have taken place at Algyogy. These have included camps led by PCI global mission workers Csaba and Ilona Veres and teams from congregations in Ireland. However the rooms at the campsite are in need of major refurbishment.
PCI global mission worker, Ilona Veres, who is from Lisburn, has been involved in many camps at Algyogy over the years since she went to Romania in 1993. “It is a wonderful facility for the church to have and so many children and young people have benefitted spiritually by camp programmes and have happy memories of camp fun and games. We would be very grateful for any support the Junior BB boys and leaders can give us,” she said.
Rev. Dr. Jim Campbell, chair of the Presbyterian Boys' Brigade World Mission Committee explained that the summer camps are popular in Romania, especially as schools close for 12 weeks. “Many churches and Christian organisations use the long summer holidays to run camps for children and young people, which include Bible teaching, other activities and games.”
The former minister at Cooke Centenary Presbyterian Church in Belfast continued, “Through this project we seek to help our partner in Romania to continue to provide a good facility where such camps can be held in future years, so that many more children and teenagers hear the Gospel message.”
Last year's PCI Junior BB project entitled ‘Crossing the Line – Kenya, raised over £8,000 to help produce booklets to give children in Kenya a good Christian foundation as they enter their teenage years. A small percentage of funds raised by the project each year is given to the BB Global Fellowship to support the worldwide work of the Boys’ Brigade.
You can find more information on 'Revamp the Camp – Romania’ the 2017/2018 Junior Boys' Brigade project here.