This question matters because it touches on a growing tension faced by many churches. Overseas camps often provide meaningful opportunities for spiritual renewal, fellowship, and shared experiences. Christians are also becoming increasingly aware that these activities carry environmental costs—especially through air travel, accommodation, food consumption, and resource use. The question is therefore not simply about travel; it is about what faithful discipleship looks like in a world experiencing climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing inequality.
An underlying assumption behind the question is that spiritual growth requires extraordinary experiences—going somewhere far away, staying in a resort, or investing heavily in a large event. While such experiences can certainly be formative, Scripture does not suggest that distance or extravagance is what produces spiritual maturity. Rather, spiritual formation happens through consistent practices of worship, community, prayer, service, and obedience.
Aviation is among the most carbon-intensive forms of personal transport. A single round-trip international flight can generate hundreds of kilograms—or even over a tonne—of carbon dioxide equivalent per passenger, depending on the destination and flight class. Meanwhile, climate change is already contributing to more intense heatwaves, rising sea levels, ecosystem disruption, and increased risks to vulnerable communities around the world. These impacts disproportionately affect those who have contributed least to global emissions, making our consumption choices an issue of loving our neighbours as well as environmental stewardship. The scientific consensus, reflected in assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is that reducing emissions from high-carbon activities, including aviation where possible, is an important part of limiting future warming.
The Bible provides several principles that help Christians think about this issue.
First, creation belongs to God, not to us. Psalm 24:1 (ESV) declares:
"The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,"
Because creation belongs to God, Christians are stewards rather than owners. Stewardship involves using God's gifts wisely, not simply asking whether something is permissible.
Second, Christians are called to seek the good of others, especially the vulnerable. Paul writes in Philippians 2:4 (ESV):
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Since environmental degradation often harms poorer communities first and most severely, considering our ecological footprint becomes one expression of loving our global neighbours.
Third, Scripture encourages contentment and simplicity rather than excess. Jesus warns in Luke 12:15 (ESV):
"...Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
While Jesus is speaking about wealth, the principle also challenges cultures that equate "more" with "better." Churches can unintentionally adopt this mindset if increasingly elaborate camps become expected rather than exceptional.
The issue is not travel itself but whether it represents wise, necessary, and proportionate stewardship. The New Testament itself records missionaries travelling extensively to strengthen churches. Travel can and does facilitate ministry, deepen relationships across cultures, and broaden Christians' understanding of God's work in the world.
Churches can ask practical questions such as:
In Singapore particularly, many opportunities for spiritual formation exist without international travel. Churches can organise local retreats at nearby retreat centres, neighbourhood prayer walks, hiking and creation-based spiritual practices in Singapore's parks and nature reserves, intergenerational service projects, environmental restoration activities such as mangrove or coastal clean-ups, and regular small-group rhythms that build community over time. These practices remind us that God's presence is not confined to mountaintop experiences but is encountered in everyday faithfulness.
Many churches in Singapore also organise their multi-day church camps in Malaysia to reduce costs, relying more on buses than flights. The question we must ask is, to reduce cost at the expense of what? If it were not possible to have their church camp locally, perhaps the church can consider offsetting their environmental footprint from its travels by reducing one-time use event materials (such as programme booklets and nametags), or including into their programme the abovementioned activities that encourage members to engage with nature.
If flights are absolutely unavoidable, churches can also consider offsetting their carbon emissions. One way they can do so is through Our Father’s World’s Net Zero Church programme.
Ultimately, the goal is not to replace one legalism ("always travel") with another ("never travel"). Instead, creation care calls the Church to practise discernment. Faithful stewardship asks whether our habits reflect the character of Christ—marked by gratitude, humility, love for neighbour, and care for God's world. When churches thoughtfully evaluate their activities through these lenses, they bear witness to the coming kingdom in which all creation is reconciled to God through Christ (Colossians 1:20).
Thank you for letting us know.
