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What started as a group sign-up with his church in 1997 has grown into over 30 years of being encouraged by God’s Word and strengthening his brothers in Christ. Andrew shares how BASECAMP has shaped his convictions, challenged him to be a “3am mate,” and why he’s in it for the long haul.

Andrew (far right) with his BASECAMP crew

1. Please introduce yourself!  

I’m Andrew Legge (leg), or Leggie (leggy) to my friends and a bunch of past and present Hope 103.2 presenters! (I used to be a regular caller/texter!). I’m 46, go to Bobbin Head Anglican Church (a service plant of St. James, Turramurra), enjoy Piña coladas and getting caught in the rain! I’m pretty sure I’ve been to all Basecamps/ Men’s Conventions since 1997!  

2. Why did you start attending BASECAMP?  

I became a Christian in Year 8 and was blessed with good preaching and great fellowship, both at St. James and while attending other KCC events like KYC (Katoomba Youth Convention), CYC (City Youth Church), Kyckstart (now KYCK) & Easter Convention. When the church found out that the then-named Men’s Convention was starting up early in ’97, we got a bunch of guys together and signed up.  

For me, it kicked off what’s coming up to a 30-year journey! The expedition continues, partly for the same reasons it commenced, but also now with a complimentary, outward focus not only to be fed & encouraged by God through the word and others, but to be that to my fellow brothers, too! I’m here for the long haul and pray that I might be able to attend/ feed/ support for at least another 40-50+ years! To say that the late, great Dudley Foord isn’t my personal, effervescent inspiration in this matter would be a lie! 

3. Can you share a BASECAMP highlight?  

 I have so many amazing talks that come to me when I think about KCC. Unfortunately, I can’t pin down in my mind which are from BASECAMP or the other awesome KCC events I’ve attended. So, instead, I’ll generally echo my earlier comments to reinforce that BASECAMP for me encapsulates faithful bible-based teaching, by faithful and encouraging men, in a fun and playful environment wrapped in great fellowship.  

… BASECAMP for me encapsulates faithful bible-based teaching, by faithful and encouraging men, in a fun and playful environment wrapped in great fellowship.  

4. How has BASECAMP encouraged and challenged your faith?  

It has definitely & significantly contributed to the depth of my Christian conviction, the honing of my personal response to the revelation of the truth found only in the gospels, and the refining of my spiritual and brotherly solidarity when we are ever challenged to give up in both big and small ways. 

The conduit for all of this is great, bible-based preaching and the encouragement & direction of mature, like-minded Christian brothers, whether on the pulpit or standing beside me!  

It has definitely & significantly contributed to the depth of my Christian conviction, the honing of my personal response to the revelation of the truth found only in the gospels, and the refining of my spiritual and brotherly solidarity when we are ever challenged to give up in both big and small ways. 

5. Last year, you wrote in our feedback form that you were ‘instilled with the importance’ of having a 3am mate. Why do you think this is so important for men?  

 As guys, any of us with a modicum of emotional awareness recognises that we are typically emotionally stunted, especially when compared with our female counterparts and particularly when it comes to going deeper into less comfortable realms. Even the simple task of talking about being vulnerable can be too much for some of us! It’s no wonder that our inner-circles dwindle into middle age, if not before. So how on earth are we to have or be ourselves a 3am mate without deeper friendships? With intentionality. With persistence. With gentleness. Even some of those characteristics are hard to muster, sometimes.  

I’m meeting with two guys, now, since BASECAMP 2024. While I’m in the mentor role for both, someone wiser than me spoke to a group of us once and told us that a mentor/mentee relationship isn’t like that of a Jedi Master/Padawan. A single party doesn’t have all the answers, or even arrogantly think they might. It’s simply about two men getting together so that, as Proverbs 27:17 describes it, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”, both men learn (sharpen) and both men grow! Being a 3am mate can come from that mentor/mentee role, either because you’re that for each other, or because that partnership can grow in you a deeper other-person-centeredness which other people might see and call on in their time(s) of need! 

Being a 3am mate can come from that mentor/mentee role, either because you’re that for each other, or because that partnership can grow in you a deeper other-person-centeredness which other people might see and call on in their time(s) of need! 

6. Why would you recommend BASECAMP to others?  

For all the reasons above, and possibly others I’m forgetting. If you’re even slightly interested in growing in your faith, growing in your connectedness with other men and possibly, in maturity, wanting to sow into others in both above ways, there’s no good reason for you not to go! If you disagree, let’s chat at BASECAMP (I’ll be the one wearing the cool, blue stripy beanie-scarf)!