Okay, it may seem like a strange title for a blog about our camp sites, but those two words capture a lot of what our staff and venues are about.

Queensland Conference and Camping Centres (QCCC) is a ministry of the Queensland Baptists.  We’re a team of recreation, outdoor education, catering, cleaning, maintenance and management staff striving to care for our guests with professional competence.

But underpinning our effort is a shared belief in the historical figure of Jesus Christ and a sense of obligation to be true to his teachings and a responsibility to achieve the task he has given us. 

Australia is a nation steeped in the benefits that come from a Judeo-Christian heritage, and we see our role as continuing to advocate this approach to life, along with its benefits, proven throughout history. 

For the person not convinced about the historicity of Christ, we can understand that the suggestion of advocacy may be unsettling.  We’ve all had experiences in life where some one has provided an example of how *not* to go about discussing and advocating the Christ life. 

Arguably the exclamation point in history that is the life and times of Jesus Christ was created more by his actions and example than his words.  Similarly, QCCC takes seriously that for some people we might be “the only Jesus some will ever meet and the only Book of Life some will ever read.”   Actions can speak louder than words, as do common human (well actually they’re biblical) courtesies of gentleness and respect.

QCCC seeks to be our customers’ first choice by consistently exceeding their expectations and by providing the very best care for our guests through Christ-like character, Christian conduct and professional competence.

It’s likely that most, if not all, people have times in life of quiet desperation, even in the relative comforts of Western suburbia.  We’d be surprised if anyone pro-active about getting to know their street community wouldn’t find that many, perhaps even a majority, live lives littered with challenges, heartache and fear.

At QCCC we know that coming away to a camp or a conference can provide a break away from the tyranny of the everyday.  An opportunity to get away, get some space and to even enjoy some pampering or excitement (take your pick).  Camping creates transcendant memories. 

It’s why it’s so important that we’re on our game, meeting the needs of our guests and making their stay with us one of joyous memory. 

We also admit that food is a very important part of who we are.  It’s the fuel of life and many cherished human memories are made around the dinner table.  It is a fantastic privilege for us to cater to people, to exercise hospitality and allow people to relax around a good meal without having to worry about the dishes afterwards. 

The great banquet alludes to the “love feast” that goes back in antiquity to the reign of Emperor Julian (360-363) who recorded to history the concept of the ‘Galilean love feast’, lavish feasts and celebrations put on by the followers of Christ for their neighbours and surrounding communities. 

Julian was no fan of the Christians but he had a grudging respect for their methods and their feasts.  He wrote:

They begin with hospitality and acts of mercy, with invitations to their love-feasts which they call Agape. 

And later ‘Whilst the pagan priests (his own priests) neglect the poor, the hated Galileans devote themselves to works of charity, and by a display of false compassion have established and given effect to their pernicious errors. See their love-feasts, and their tables spread for the indigent. Such practice is common among them, and causes a contempt for our gods.’

 In the tradition of Julian’s Galileans we too seek to spread our tables and to pepper our every activity with hospitality and acts of mercy – seeking to build into the lives of our guests to make each and every camp or conference useful and memorable. 

It’s said that blogging is like virtual hospitality.  So please pull up a table at our virtual Great Banquet.