TOURS

For those not attending the Summits, there will be opportunities to participate in tours in the days prior to the Congress. Current tour options include the following.

“On Country” Aboriginal Cultural Experience – Full Day Tour

Delegates will take a bus to the fabled Blackall Range (formerly Bunya Mountains) in the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland.  These were home to the legendary Bunya Festival, the largest pre-colonial gathering of Aboriginal people on the mainland, a time of feasting, story-telling and community reconciliation.  Partnered with Queensland Baptists’ camping ministry, the TribalLink Cultural Awareness Centre, led by Aboriginal Christians, is a place of national reconciliation pointing to a spiritual narrative.

Participants will be provided with an experiential approach to the pre-contact lifestyle of the local custodians, the Jinibara and Kabi Kabi People. The day will include a rainforest walk on Queensland Baptists’ 55-acre camp property, including a bush tucka trail and interpretation of local flora and fauna (including a world class butterfly display) before a bushfood inspired lunch.  A corrobboree and story-telling experience will also take place in TribalLink’s Rainforest Arena, including a Q & A on Aboriginal customs and society, and how the TribalLink leaders integrate a Christian worldview and approach into the TribalLink program.

 Baptist Camping in Queensland (A Study Tour) – Full Day Tour on Tuesday, July 8

 Camping Ministry has been an integral and integral part of worldwide Baptist witness.  Australian statistics suggest 1 in 2 conversions or rededications take place at camp.  In 2025, Queensland Baptists’ camping ministry, Queensland Conference and Camping Centres (QCCC), will be in its 99th year of ministry.  It began as a ministry to returned World War I veterans on a steamboat in Moreton Bay.

In Australia, the focus of camp venues is less on summer or holiday camps (though these still take place), and more on partnership with schools – both Christian and secular.  QCCC is Queensland’s largest provider of outdoor education programming across its 4 venues and expedition programs.  This tour will take place in QCCC’s largest venue, the custom-built QCCC Mapleton venue, situated on a spectacular 55-acre rainforest in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.  Your tour guide, QCCC’s Director of Camping Andrew Grant, will lead you through QCCC’s values-based approach to camp programming (based on Romans 12 and the Beatitudes) and QCCC’s Triple Mandate Ministry strategy. The tour will take place while it is operationally hosting a denominational youth camp and will include lunch and a tour of the innovative TribalLink Cultural Awareness Centre.

Morning

  • Worship
  • Break
  • Worship
  • Break

Afternoon

  • Live Business Session
  • Workshops
  • Break
  • Worship Session
  • Online Networking / Connection Time