More than 2,500 Pathfinders and volunteers gather at Ardingly for six days of worship, friendship, skills and spiritual growth.
The long-anticipated British Union Conference (BUC) Pathfinder Camporee opened on Tuesday, 28 July, as more than 2,500 Pathfinders and volunteers arrived at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex. The six-day gathering, themed ‘Image Bearers’, brings together clubs from across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland for worship, fellowship, practical activities and spiritual growth.
The opening ceremony combined celebration and reflection. A colourful drum corps pageant helped welcome the delegations, while representatives from the Scottish, Irish and Welsh Missions and the North and South England Conferences highlighted the landmarks and cultures of their territories. Pathfinders greeted each group with enthusiastic cheers, creating a strong sense of belonging to one BUC family.
Created in God’s image
In his opening address, BUC Youth Director Pastor Njay Ndlovu invited campers to see the week as more than a programme of activities. At the heart of the Camporee is the conviction that every young person is created in God’s image, carries divine worth and has a God-given purpose.
That identity, he explained, offers a different measure of value from a culture that often prizes appearance, popularity and achievement. Campers were encouraged to pursue humility, service and love; to deepen friendships and sharpen their skills; and to allow their faith to grow as they discover more fully who God created them to be.
The theme also carries a practical challenge for community life. When people recognise God’s image in one another, relationships change: leadership becomes rooted in love, communication reflects respect, and young people gain confidence to stand for their beliefs. Participants were therefore urged to treat every person throughout the week as someone of God-given value.
New BUC officers welcomed
The ceremony also introduced members of the BUC leadership team elected for the new quinquennium: President Pastor (Dr) Kirk Thomas, Executive Secretary Pastor Emanuel Bran and Treasurer Mr Wederly Aguiar. Recognition was given to the organising team and the many volunteers whose service made the Camporee possible.
Pastor Thomas reinforced the week’s call to mission. Pathfinders, he said, are not only image bearers by identity; they are representatives of Christ, called to share their faith and the story of Jesus in ways that inspire others towards God’s kingdom. The opening programme also included safety guidance before the drum corps returned for a further ceremonial display.
A mind fixed on God
Following an uplifting praise session, guest speaker Pastor Damian Chandler closed the evening with a sermon entitled ‘Daniel’s Mind Fixed on God’. Born in Toronto and raised in Barbados, Chandler used the biblical story of Daniel in Babylon to speak directly to young people facing a world that can feel unstable and beyond their control.
He illustrated the message with the image of a spinning teacup ride. The wheel at the centre of the cup, he suggested, represents a mind anchored in God: while everything around it may spin, holding firmly to the centre provides stability and direction.
Daniel’s circumstances changed dramatically when he was taken from Jerusalem to Babylon, but his identity and purpose remained secure. He knew who he was, where he belonged and whom he served. Chandler applied those lessons to pressures familiar to today’s young people, including family disruption, migration and wider global uncertainty.
The message concluded with an assurance that God remains constant when circumstances change. By keeping their minds fixed on Jesus Christ, Pathfinders can retain their identity, purpose and spiritual balance even when life feels as though it is spinning.
Six days of belonging and growth
The opening night set the direction for the days ahead: a Camporee shaped by worship, activities and Pathfinder Honours designed to develop knowledge and skills, as well as service, friendship and the conviction that every participant bears the image of God. As clubs settled into their compounds and the programme moved into its next phase, the invitation was clear – to recognise their worth in Christ and reflect His light to others.
The BUC Pathfinder Camporee runs from 28 July to 2 August 2026. We will bring you daily updates as the Camporee progresses. You can also watch the evening devotionals on BUC TV.
