Youth Leaders Bring New Life to Sabeto Christian Camp

Aotearoa New Zealand team helps revive children’s ministry in Fiji 

A team of young leaders from Aotearoa New Zealand has returned from Fiji after working with local leaders to revive the children’s ministry at Sabeto Christian Camp. 

The group, led by the Parish of Waikanae and El Rancho, partnered with local Fijian youth leaders to run a five-day camp for children from surrounding villages, while also training local leaders to continue the ministry in future. 

The camp, held from 1–5 September 2025, was the fruit of a vision shared by Roy and Rachael Hogan, NZCMS mission partners based in Fiji. Their hope was to see the camp once again become a place of joy, learning, and spiritual growth for children and youth. 

Hazel Nugent, one of the group coordinators and key youth leader at Waikanae said, “From the moment the children arrived, the camp was alive with energy.”  

Activities ranged from ga ga ball and touch rugby to dance challenges, netball (without hoops), and even gymnastics sessions led by coaches from Island Acro Fiji, who donated their time for free. 

Each day included chapel time and devotions, where the children responded with singing, prayer, and deep engagement.  

Hazel said, “The Fijian leaders quickly took over running devotions, speaking to the kids in Fijian. Some of the kids asked for prayer; God was definitely present.” 

The camp also featured team competitions, water fights, and a final night of worship led by the kaiviti (Fijian) leaders. 

While the camp was a highlight, the deeper purpose was to equip local youth leaders with the skills to run future camps themselves. The New Zealand team spent the first few days in leadership training with the Fijian leaders, building relationships and sharing their experience in cabin leadership and camp logistics. 

The training was designed to be practical and empowering, with the hope that this experience can be repeated with other teams from New Zealand until Sabeto Christian Camp can flourish on its own. 

The experience was transformative not only for the children and local leaders, but also for the New Zealanders who made the journey. 

After the camp ended, the team spent time debriefing and sharing stories. They also attended church at Living Way, where the Hogans worship, and sang with the children and leaders from the camp. 

Even during a day of rest at a resort island, the team found opportunities to witness. “One of the resort staff turned out to be from one of the villages that the kids came from,” said Hazel. 

“She had already heard stories and was so grateful to the leaders that she spoke with! 

At the shops back at the port, the leaders were telling any shop assistant they saw about the camp too.” 

The team returned to New Zealand with full hearts and a renewed sense of purpose.  

The hope now is that the seeds planted in the hearts if the Fijian Leaders will continue to grow. With trained leaders, renewed energy, and the love of Christ at the centre, Sabeto Christian Camp is once again a place of life and light.