Around the Movement – March 2026
When a Generation Leans In
If you stood at QCCC Mapleton this January, you might have witnessed it—the unmistakable hum of 500 young voices rising together in worship, laughter spilling across the grounds, and the electric sense that something significant was unfolding. For Ben, QB’s Youth and Young Adults Team Leader, that scene wasn’t just energising. It was historic. “January was awesome,” he recalled. “It was the biggest State Youth Camp we’ve ever had.”
But behind every mountaintop moment, there’s a story of challenge, creative problem‑solving, and the hunger for connection that’s shaping the future of QB’s Next Gen movement.
January: A Camp Too Big to Fit
This year’s State Youth Camp had a problem—but a good one. Too many people wanted to come.
More than 500 young people and leaders from 19 QB churches registered—more than Mapleton had ever held. The question hung in the air: How do you fit that many people into one camp?
The Creative Solution
QB doubled the experience—running two separate camps back‑to‑back with a small changeover overlap—allowing everyone to worship, play, learn, and belong.
Watch the episode here
What emerged was a powerful vision of unity: two rooms becoming one movement, young people raising their hands in worship, scribbling notes during teaching, racing through activities, and cheering each other on. The Mapleton QCCC team “went above and beyond,” Ben said. The entire experience didn’t just set the tone for 2026—it raised the bar.
With momentum building, eyes are already turning toward State Youth Camp 2027, happening January 18–23. “Pop it in your calendar,” Ben encouraged. “It’s going to be incredible.”
March: Leaders Asking, ‘Am I the Only One?’
After the rush of January, March brought a different kind of gathering—smaller, quieter, but no less transformative. QB hosted its first-ever Next Gen Leaders Retreat at Meridan Christian Church on the Sunshine Coast, inviting children’s, youth, and young adult pastors from across QB to breathe, connect, and reset.
The Power of Real Conversations
About 40 leaders circled up—some exhausted, some inspired, all longing for the same thing: community. What followed was a day of worship, honest conversation, practical ministry tips, and the simple gift of being together. Relationships deepened. Burdens lightened. People exhaled.
“It was really good to just get everyone in the same room,” Mel reflected. “To network, to share wins and struggles, and just spend time with God.”
April: A Movement Gathering Again
Now, the focus shifts forward. April brings the QB Conference, and Next Gen is stepping into it with fresh excitement. On Tuesday, April 14 — a free Worship Night open to anyone, registered or not, at Riverlife Baptist Church.
Picture it:
– Food trucks for dinner from 5:30pm
– Live music pulsing in the warm night air.
– Session starts at 7pm with Dave Shepherd sharing a message.
– Young adults from across QB worshipping and praying together as one.
“We’re excited to have as many young adults there as possible,” Ben said. “It’s going to be a fantastic night.” For those still considering attending the full conference, registrations are still open—but the free night is for everyone.
From record-breaking camps to renewed leaders, 2026 is already carrying a sense of God at work among the next generation—and the year is only just beginning.
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