Dash of Thought September 2026

This summer, once again, children, teens, and adults in many countries within our Regional Conference packed their backpacks and bags to swap their usual homes for camp life for a few days. This was also the case in Switzerland, where approximately 1,100 people took part in the 10-day Swiss Jungschar gathering. The theme was “An Animal-Like Gathering.” The focus was on Bible stories in which animals play the leading roles. In parables, for example, Jesus spoke very vividly about sparrows, foxes, camels, and other animals.
Perhaps, if he had known about elephants, dolphins, chimpanzees, or African wild dogs, he would have spoken of them as well – and of how they look out for and care for one another. Of the elephants that gather injured herd members in their midst to protect them. Or that work together to pull calves stuck in the mud to safety. About dolphins that work together to keep weakened members of their pod at the water’s surface, so they don’t drown. About chimpanzees that share their food after a hunt and comfort the losers after fights. About African wild dogs that don’t simply abandon old and sick animals to their fate, but care for them as well.
Presumably, Jesus would also have used these examples from the animal kingdom to speak of God’s new world, and he would have used the animals’ behavior as an illustration of how, in God’s new world, people, too, will treat one another with love and pay special attention to the weakest among them. 
In a world where, in some places, so-called “powerful” people ruthlessly abuse their power to enrich themselves at the expense of other people and creation, deeply divide society by pursuing their political goals, and discriminate against and degrade those who do not share their beliefs or are simply different – in light of all this, it is urgently necessary to proclaim the good news of Jesus loud and clear and, above all, to credibly live it out.
I am deeply grateful that this happened once again at the Swiss Jungschar gathering and at all the other camps. So many different people together! In such a wonderful, peaceful atmosphere. Such a magnificent sense of community! There – unlike in many places in this world – God’s love became tangible. We need this contrasting experience; the world needs this experience of contrast!
 
Bishop Stefan Zürcher
 
 
Photo: «Stork’s nest» in the Swiss Jungschar gathering (© www.str.jemk.ch)