More than 1,700 scouts from the Equmenia youth movement took part in Jamboree26 at Norra Åsum in Kristianstad, Sweden, last week — more than doubling the roughly 700 who attended the previous national jamboree in 2022. The event drew 18,000 scouts from around the world for a week of international fellowship, outdoor activities, and shared learning, making it one of the largest youth gatherings in Scandinavia this year.
Equmenia is the youth organisation of Equmeniakyrkan (the Uniting Church of Sweden), formed in 2011 through the merger of the Mission Covenant Church of Sweden, the Baptist Union of Sweden, and the United Methodist Church of Sweden. The record turnout at Jamboree26 reflects the continuing vitality of youth scouting within the Swedish free church tradition. Scouts from 100 different local Equmenia troops participated, many attending their first-ever jamboree.
Nineteen-year-old Tilda Johansson, who travelled alone from the Equmeniakyrkan Mellerud scout troop, described the scale of the event: "It was a bit hard to grasp that there were so many scouts — just tents everywhere, like a city. Really cool!" King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia made an official visit, watching activities and joining scouts on stage. Throughout the week, Equmenia maintained a camp church at a central square, open to all, offering evening devotions, gospel concerts, and worship services. Equmenia's scout coordinator Atle Svanberg described the camp church as "a fine meeting place for many," with strong attendance at gatherings and services each evening. "It was a wonderful camp," he said, "and a great turnout at the camp church for gatherings, devotions and worship services."
(Originally published in Swedish. Summary translated by CC / Connexion.)
Source: Equmeniakyrkan / Sändaren — sandaren.se
