Raising Up The Next Generation In The UK: G2 Camp 2026

An update from Matt Chapman, Senior Pastor of Grace Church, Bristol, England…

This August we had the joy of gathering 26 young people aged 11–18, from seven different churches, together with 12 adult leaders for our annual G2 Camp, spending six days together in beautiful Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

Our theme for the week was “The King We Need”, and each evening we opened up the story of David together. We began in 1 Samuel 16 with The King God Chooses, before seeing David as The King Who Fights for Us in his victory over Goliath, and The King Who Waits as he refuses to seize the throne for himself.

Later in the week we came to the darker story of David’s sin with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11–12. It was a sobering opportunity to see that even God’s chosen king was a sinner who desperately needed mercy — and therefore could never ultimately be the King God’s people needed. We finished in 2 Samuel 9, seeing David’s kindness to Mephibosheth and looking beyond him to Jesus, the greater King who welcomes the undeserving to his table.

Our mornings were spent studying Philippians in smaller groups. It was wonderful to see the young people opening their Bibles together, asking thoughtful questions, praying for one another, and being challenged to live with Christ at the centre of their lives. Of course, camp involved plenty more besides Bible teaching! We enjoyed a day at the beach, an afternoon on an inflatable aquapark, games around the campsite, a talent contest, and many late-night conversations. We even had the unusual privilege of watching a solar eclipse together during the week!

One of the greatest encouragements of the week was seeing the young people worshipping together, sitting eagerly under God’s Word, and growing in their knowledge of Christ and of the wonderful gospel of grace and mercy we have in him. It was also a joy to see relationships deepen as young people from different churches grew in friendship with one another, while leaders had many opportunities for conversations about faith, struggles, questions and what it means to follow Jesus. We are very conscious that a week of camp cannot manufacture spiritual fruit, but we came home deeply grateful for the ways God seemed to be at work among us.

The Sunday after camp, some of the young people shared with Grace Church Bristol about the week. It was especially encouraging to hear them speak for themselves about things God had challenged or taught them through His Word. We also showed a slideshow from the week and gave thanks together for God’s kindness to us.

We’re enormously grateful for everyone who served — preaching, leading Bible studies, cooking, organising activities, caring for young people and doing all the unseen jobs that make a week like this possible. Above all, we’re grateful to God for another opportunity to put his Word before the next generation and to point them to Jesus, the King we truly need.

Looking ahead, we hope to gather again for G2 Camp in August 2027. Please pray that God would continue to strengthen friendships between our young people and churches, raise up another generation who love Christ and his Word, and use these camps as one small part of building his church in the UK.

If you’d like to see a little more from the week, this recording of our Sunday service begins with a short G2 Camp slideshow followed by testimonies from a number of the young people who came with us. Watch it here.