D'Sozo NSW 2017

Feb 16, 2017 @ 11am, by Liesl Higgins

The 49 youth at the 2017 D'Sozo NSW Camp rejoiced in the goodness of God displayed in so many ways during camp. Some of the youth attend camp for the first time and had a life-changing experience with God.

Over 20 young people chose to make a surrender of their lives to Christ. The Deep Bible Study time each morning fired up many through the study of the prophecies of Revelation and establishing confidence in the Bible.

The community results also inspiring. On Sabbath afternoon, youth shared some of their blessings they experienced in the community with the local Wauchope SDA church.

In short:

39 Participants and 10 youth leaders joined together from across Australia and even New Zealand.
Many weeds were excavated, lawns manicured, lives blessed and hearts warmed through the help-band teams.
850 books/DVDs have found new homes in the Port Macquarie/Wauchope community and vicinity by young literature evangelists.
This year also featured a new outreach component for D’Sozo: surveying. Amongst other interests in health etc., there were about 20 Bible study contacts collected from the local community, which will be followed up by Wauchope church & Camden Haven church.

It was a delight each evening seeing the young people from across the Australia, buzzing with excitement from the precious experiences of the day. Countless testimonies could be shared of precious experiences where God blessed, and where the young people left with a fresh joy in service. Here is just one of these:

"While canvassing, Sienna and Chanel came to the house of a lady who was about to turn 90. The lady was interested in the work the various young people were doing.

Upon hearing about the happy teams of help-banders (backyard blitz youth), she expressed interest in having a group like that come and visit her. Being over 40 degrees outside, Chanel and Sienna were invited inside, where they showed her and her husband the books. They didn’t have cash on them, but were interested in obtaining their copy of 3 books after they could get to the bank.

The next day, a help-band team arrived to find lined-up yard jobs ready to go. The lady told the help-banders that her son had been upset with them for accepting the invitation to have the help-band team over, as he was feeling uneasy about us, fearing we might be trouble-makers. Upon a bit of research, all his fears were alleviated.

He was there when the help-banders worked that next day, and spent some time talking to the team leader (Alec), while the young people worked in the yard. After a while, the lady came out to the busy girls outside, and asked to see the books again. She decided she wanted to purchase all the books we had, plus the music DVD. We all came together for a prayer. The lady went away and eventually came back with a hand-made card plus $100 for the books and DVD, which she said was only half what she thought the young people deserved for their admirable efforts outside.

While she was getting the card and money, Alec continued talking to her son, who was telling him about his issues with their local Chrisitan church. Alec invited him to come to the Wauchope SDA church, and he said he would. This family expressed that they were really grateful for the work done, and were also keen to read the books. We praise God for the precious opportunity of serving the community, both physically and spiritually."

In Testimonies vol. 9, we read,

“As I have thought of that cup trembling in the hands of Christ; as I have realized that He might have refused to drink, and left the world to perish in its sin, I have pledged that every energy of my life should be devoted to the work of winning souls to Him.” 9T 102-103

As we behold Christ’s matchless mercy to us, this is our hearts’ desire too. As we believe the night is coming soon, when no man can work, we want to through our energies afresh into the work before us. Friends, will you join the D’Sozo spirit?

“Heavenly angles have long been waiting for human agents—the members of the church—to co-operate with them in the great work to be done. They are waiting for you.” 9T 46-47

Our church’s mission testifies to its desire to co-operate in this work: total member involvement. Let’s individually determine to work together to see this mission a reality for Australia!

May God richly bless you as you lovingly minister to those around, co-operating with the heavenly angels in this great work of taking the gospel to the world!