City and Country United in Mission

Each year, high schoolers from Wesley International Congregation (WIC) travel from Sydney to Jerilderie to help run a vibrant holiday camp in partnership with Jerilderie Uniting Church. The camp has continued to grow in recent years, with the April 2025 camp marking the biggest one yet—welcoming 80 children.

Integral to the growth of this partnership are Kathryn Hardy and Ps Corin. Kathryn, a member of Jerilderie Uniting Church, studied in Sydney before returning to her rural roots and has played a foundational role in fostering the relationship between the two congregations.

“It began from a place of trying to meet a need for things for children to do in the school holidays and provide an opportunity for them to try new activities that they may not have had the opportunity to explore in our small town context,” she shares.

Ps Corin of Wesley International Congregation has helped shape both the structure and spirit of the camps over the years. “From the first day we knew that we had something special and that it wasn’t a one-off,” says Ps Corin, who led the first mission trip to Jerilderie in 2013. “When our two church communities came together, something beautiful happened. We had a multi-generational, multi-ethnic team from the city and from the country on mission together!”

Over time, the partnership has blossomed into a life-giving relationship, bringing joy and connection to children and families not only in Jerilderie but across the wider Riverina region.

This year, a group from Coleambally—a town 45 minutes away—brought a 25-seater bus filled with kids and their leaders to join the camp. “It’s great to see how much it means to the parents and leaders to organise that and make the drive twice a day for the three days of camp!” says Ronit Roy McGrath, who led the April 2025 mission camp.

In response to such enthusiasm, the Wesley International Congregation team has announced a new holiday camp in Coleambally, scheduled for 27 September – 2 October 2025. This will mark the first time that two separate camps will run in the Riverina region in one year.

“We’re excited to take a Sydney team back down later this year—this time primarily consisting of uni-aged young adults,” says Ronit. “I love that we, as a church in Sydney, have another opportunity to help our young people serve on mission. I’m looking forward to seeing our partnership with the Church in the Southern Riverina continue to grow.”

One powerful story from this ongoing ministry dates back to 2017, when Ronit met a young camper from Jerilderie who quickly bonded with the Wesley team. When the group returned in 2018, the camper had developed a strong friendship with some of the Year 8 boys from Sydney. That year, he decided to be baptised. Ps Cory and Kel from Jerilderie Uniting Church baptised him in the lake behind the church.

“It was a great moment to celebrate with his family, the Jerilderie Uniting community and our mission team,” recalls Ronit.

More recently, Wesley has started taking a team of high school students to Jerilderie to serve as student leaders. “It’s an opportunity for our high school students to serve and grow as leaders on a mission trip team – I love seeing our young people step up and be strong and courageous as they run this kids camp and practice living out the gospel,” shares Ronit.

That same sense of long-term transformation continues to ripple out. “I believe the long-term fruit of this ministry is still unfolding,” Ronit adds. “Looking ahead, we hope to include an intentional high school component in the program, to continue building relationships with kids who finish primary school but still want to be part of it.”

What began as a single mission trip has evolved into a deeply rooted, cross-regional partnership grounded in shared faith, mutual encouragement, and the nurturing of young leaders. The ongoing relationship between Wesley International Congregation and Jerilderie Uniting Church is a living testimony to what can happen when city and country churches come together to serve and grow in Christ’s love.