Communicator Issue 42 Spring 2017

FAITH AND BELIEF IN AUSTRALIA

experience the spirit of sharing

Issue 42 - Spring 2017

A national study on religion, spirituality and worldview trends pages 4-7

Beyond Limits Outdoor Education – Formed by Grace! pages 8-9 Camping in Nepal page 10

Turbo Camps at Adanac pages 12-13

Internships: a view from the inside pages 14-15

About Southern Cross Kids’ Camps pages 16-17

+ our regular features!

What an adventure

Highlights of this year Changes What’s next National Conference

What a year it’s been, and it’s still only September!

August marked 12 months since God called me back into the Christian Venues family, and for His call, I am extremely grateful and humbled.

The office has been busy with numerous projects, some have now been launched and others remain in development. Of particular note has been: • The successful continuation of our highly valuable Outlook and Leaders Forum conferences.

• The launch of our series of Outdoor Educators’ Conferences.

• The contracting of Safe Ministry Resources to provide templates, training and critically, a free advice hotline in the area of child protection.

• The running of numerous activities by our Regional Committees.

• The launching of the Master of Leadership program, a joint initiative between CVA and the Australian College of Ministries.

• The rebranding of Monday’s Mail into Christian VeNews.

• The renewing of CVA’s Strategic Intents, which provides focus for the CVA National Office regarding priorities for the three years ahead.

• The collation of the NCLS data we have received into a meaningful communication tool.

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• The continuing of CVA’s commitment to develop the ministry of Christian Camping internationally by me accepting a mentoring and support role with CCI Philippines.

Additionally, CVA has entered into a partnership agreement with Christian Schools Australia (CSA), which will assist CSA to fund a significant body of research that will examine the importance of school expeditions (such as camps) on the social and academic development of students. This exciting research will be released in August next year.

Also, in August 2018 will be our National Conference (Connect18). The program is being finalised, and will be released before the end of the year. Being held at The Collaroy Centre in Sydney between Monday August 6th and Friday August 10th, 2018, I strongly urge you to plan to attend. The Bible teaching will be excellent, the workshops informative, the trade show educational and the fellowship and networking memorable. This is a time when learning can occur and lasting friendships made.

Looking forward to continuing this journey in ministry together.

Graeme

Christian Venues Association

ExpEriEncE thE spirit of sharing christian camping international australia trading as: christian Venues association aBn 74 050 611 295 po Box 5552, south Windsor nsW 2756 ph: 1800 009 890 or (02) 4587 7155 fax: (02) 4587 7933 Email: info@christianvenues.org.au Web: www.christianvenues.org.au please note: the views and opinions expressed by the authors of the articles contained in this publication belong to those authors and are not necessarily the views and opinions of christian Venues association

Communicator • Issue 42

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Results are in: Aussies adm live out a genuine faith Three in four Aussies say that they are turned off investigating religion when they hear celebrities or public figures talk about their Christian faith, a new national study on religion and spirituality has found.

Stories of miraculous healing are also significant turn offs.

The results are part of the new Faith and Belief in Australia report, produced by McCrindle Research, in partnership with Olive Tree Media, Christian Media and Arts Association, Christian Schools Australia and the Ministry Training Strategy.

But sounding a note of hope, the greatest attraction to investigating spirituality and religion is seeing people live out a genuine faith.

According to the 2011 census, 61 per cent of Aussies identify as Christian, but McCrindle thinks that number is too high. The report shows that 45 per cent of Australians identify as Christians, with a further 14 per cent identifying as “spiritual but not religious”.

These people believe there is an ultimate meaning and purpose (36 per cent), and follow an inward journey of selfdiscovery (26 per cent). 22 per cent believe in a mixture of different religious beliefs.

“Negative feelings come from things that happened inside the church or things like that. Maybe try to push the Jesus thing, rather than the ‘come to church and learn about Jesus’ thing.”

– Gen Y participant 4

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ire people who A recent Barna study also explored the identity of those who consider themselves “spiritual but not religious.” (Barna are a market research firm specialising in studying the religious beliefs and behavior of Americans, and the intersection of faith and culture).

“But straying from orthodoxy is not the story here. This feels expected. Sure, their God is more abstract than embodied,

more likely to occupy minds than the heavens and the earth.”

“But what’s noteworthy is that what counts as ‘God’ for the spiritual but not religious is contested among them, and that’s probably just the way they like it.

Valuing the freedom to define their own spirituality is what characterises this segment,” says the Barna study.

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More than half of Australians (52 per cent) say they are open to changing their views given the right circumstance and evidence. But this number drops dramatically to just 12 per cent, when we look at those people who are “very interested” or “quite open” to changing their current religious views.

The results vary widely across the generations, with 20 per cent of Gen Z (born 1995-2009) saying they’d be very interested or quite open to changing their views, compared to 12 per cent of Gen Y (born 1980-1994), and just four per cent of Baby boomers (born 1946-1964).

One Gen Y non-Christian participant said, “I swap day to day, week to week, year to year.

Sometimes it might be work related, or personal… when something isn’t going right and I want to go towards a positive path.

I think a lot of other people my age do the same.”

In a country where 45 per cent of adults never talk about religion, it is perhaps surprising that the most common reason that people are prompted to think about spiritual or religious things is through conversations with people.

Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) are the only group to buck this trend, with global/national issues and a death in the family being more likely to prompt spiritual thinking.

Gen Z (born 1995-2009) are the only generation to be significantly impacted by social media when it comes to thinking about spirituality and religion (32 per cent say it is their most significant source of spiritual thinking).

Almost 1.5 million Australians don’t know any Christians.

92 per cent of Aussies know at least one Christian (with 46 per cent saying they know over 11 Christians). But that also means that almost 1.5 million Australians don’t know any Christians, with one in 10 Gen Y not knowing any Christians.

Non-Christians who knew at least one Christian described them as caring (41 per cent), loving (35 per cent), kind (35 per cent), honest (32 per cent) and faithful (31 per cent).

But Christians were also described as hypocritical (17 per cent), opinionated (18 per cent), judgemental (20 per cent), intolerant (12 per cent) and rude (four per cent).

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The report divides belief blockers (those things that would stop non-Christians “open to change” from exploring Christianity) into behaviours and issues.

Unsurprisingly, 73 per cent of people say that sexual abuse of children within the church and other scandals are either a massive or a significant negative influence on peoples’ perceptions of Christians and Christianity.

65 per cent say that the hypocrisy of Christians has a massive or significant negative influence on their perceptions of Christians and Christianity, with 64 per cent saying that religious wars negatively influence their perceptions.

10 per cent of people say that the reliability and validity of the Bible would “completely engage” their interest in Christianity.

When it comes to issues, the major issue blocking peoples’ interest and engagement with Christianity is homosexuality, with 67 per cent of people saying that this would either completely, significantly or slightly block their interest.

One in four people identify suffering as their “belief blocker” while 28 per cent of people say that hell and condemnation would completely block their interest in Christianity.

On the plus side, 10 per cent of people say that the reliability and validity of the Bible would “completely engage” their interest in Christianity.

But when it comes to Jesus, people were much more positive. Love is the attribute of Jesus that most Australians positively connect with (50 per cent). They also connect with hope (39 per cent), care (34 per cent) and truth (34 per cent).

In a focus group, a non-Christian Gen X (born 1965-1979) participant said, “he’s [Jesus] an allaround awesome guy, in his religious beliefs. He’s all-around selfless, caring, sacrificing, all good to

all people.”

One non-Christian Gen Y participant said, “negative feelings come from things that happened inside the church or things like that.

Maybe try to push the Jesus thing, rather than the ‘come to church and learn about Jesus’ thing.”

When it comes to religion in schools, 44 per cent of parents with children at government schools think it is appropriate to talk about spirituality and religion at school. 31 per cent think it is inappropriate.

Unsurprisingly, 57 per cent of parents with children at independent Christian schools and 53 per cent of parents with children at Catholic schools think it is appropriate to talk about religion and spirituality in the classroom.

When asked about the appropriateness of discussing religion at university, Christian school parents thought it was an entirely appropriate forum for the topic (70 per cent), but government school parents were more likely to disagree (41 per cent).

This report follows on from the Australian Communities Report released in late 2011. Karl Faase, CEO of Olive Tree Media says, “the unintended outcome was that the paper was used widely in the Australian church. Church and ministry leaders found this research very helpful to understand the community’s response to Christianity and the church.

“In 2016 several ministry leaders approached Olive Tree Media and suggested that after five years it would be helpful to repeat the research to look at trends in the community as well as seeking responses for new areas such as the community’s views on faith in schools and the churches social licence. A partnership between Olive Tree Media, CMAA, Titus Foundation, Ministry Training scheme & Christian Schools Australia have supported this new research carried out by McCrindle Research.”

Reproduced with the permission of Eternity Newspaper and McCrindle Research

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Beyond Limits Outdoor Ed Beyond Limits. It was a matter of allocating costs to where it could be afforded at the time.

Our assumption was that Beyond Limits would attract more groups and that the venues would benefit from the increased occupancy. This proved to be true.

at story, or e r u o w o n dvic dy k provided a To you alrea “Some of of it, as you have . y he journe In our second year, we hosted approximately least part t some stage of t ted, I am u a ib t r t u n p o in c 40 programs - 30 at Adare, 9 at Nunyara and and who have ness to share and u o y f o 1 at Tarooki. During the year, Adare spent those ur willing ian Venues o y r o f l u $21,307 on program equipment, including thankf he Christ pirt of Sharing’. t in h it w approximately $20,000 on the construction shape us of the ‘S ut us for the o t t o m ’s o of a Flying Kiwi (Possum Glider), and our n Associatio f you who read ab icle will investment service donated a further o rt For those I trust that this a reflect on $6,500 which we used to purchase 9 , pace to s e first time h t y u o it canoes. Nunyara spent $4,901 on activ vide y either pro teful for your own mence or program equipment. We increased our a m and be gr r inspire you to co ur campsite.” pool of casual facilitators including two o o y s t m a a r s g m o r a r program coordinators (one for Adare and p ivity prog t c a d n a p one for Nunyara) and employed them as ex e e ) L kitchen hands and cleaners when Mark ues SA Blessings, nager, Uniting Ven programming was a little quiet. $20,000 a (General M was gifted to Beyond Limits by Adare and Nunyara

Approximately six years ago, the Uniting Church in South Australia decided to introduce activity programs at three of our five campsites - Adare (Victor Harbor), Nunyara (Adelaide Hills) & Tarooki (Robe in the south-east of the state). At the time, over 50% of Christian campsites were already successfully providing programs and it was clear that we simply needed to make a start.

We commenced programming in 2012 at Adare and Beyond Limits was established in 2013. Beyond Limits is operated independently of the venues and has its own financial structure and staff. This provides us flexibility – program staff can work at any venue and programs can be held offsite too (at schools or in National parks as an example).

In our first year, we hosted six programs. Each program required six to eight activities and six instructors. The facilitators included three to four casual staff, staff from Adare and myself. The activities were basic but a start – the cost to construct the activities was just a few thousand dollars. Adare was the obvious place to start due to the experience of staff and access to natural resources such as the beach, bike trails and a nearby river.

In late 2012, the Uniting Church’s investment service donated $6,500 and we used this money to purchase 20 mountain bikes for Adare. Our activity equipment is owned and maintained by each venue – not by

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collectively, to assist with staff wages and training.

In 2014 (our third year of operation), we hosted approximately 60 programs; 40 at Adare, 17 at Nunyara, 2 at Tarooki and 1 offsite. Again, we increased our pool of casual facilitators and Adare spent $9,838 on program equipment and Nunyara spent $4,039. Nunyara hosted our first non-outdoor education program - it was a week-long social justice program for a group of Year 11 students. $10,000 was gifted to Beyond Limits by Adare and Nunyara to assist with staff wages / training.

By the beginning of our fourth year, we started gaining an appreciation for what type of programs and age of participants were best suited to each particular venue. Adare branched out to tent style camps to attract Year 9 and 10 students and Nunyara introduced activities designed for Years 4-6, including billy cart making, bush cooking and shelter building.

Furthermore, a tree climb activity was constructed at Nunyara later in the year.

Our activities and programs are now designed within the framework of a ‘Sequential Camps Experience’. A school group can attend a Year 4-6 level program camp at Nunyara, then progress to a Year 7-8 program camp at Adare, a Year 9-10 tent camp at Adare and return to Nunyara for a leadership retreat in Year 1112. Most schools conduct their own program for Year 11-12 leadership retreats, however we have been successful in providing team building activities of

ucation : Formed by Grace

beach At the

The kids love this activity

L ow R opes

Some of the Beyond Limits staff

approx. 90 minutes duration (generally on the morning of each day of their retreat).

In the year just passed, Beyond Limits hosted a little over 100 programs at six different locations and reported a small financial surplus without the need for supplementary income from Adare and Nunyara. We now employ 21 permanent and casual staff who all maintain an active Christian faith and we provide a number of Catholic, Independent Christian Schools and government schools with a sequential camps experience across a variety of year levels.

The secret to the success of Beyond Limits is twofold; continuous prayer and careful selection of staff. Prayer speaks for itself but selection of the staff who share our vision, passion and culture has been fundamental in the growth of Beyond Limits.

Our Bik es are p ut to go od use

Beyond Limits Outdoor Education – formed by grace. Amen.

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Yes, Christian Camping is Alive in Nepal! all the logistics and they will also choose the place where they want to camp. If the number is 300-500, then they will hire a retreat centre, so the centre will have most of the facilities and the schedule will be more like a training event.

Many people believe that camping needs a place where you have electricity, good roads & good accessibility; but if you come to Nepal, you will redefine the meaning of camping.

Climbing high mountains, crossing rivers, going through narrow and steep paths and then viewing the snow peak mountains from the top of other mountains – IT’S AN AMAZING and natural experience of camping here in Nepal.

Camping in Nepal doesn’t have a very long history. In fact, Christianity itself is relatively new in Nepal. It was in the 1950s when the first few churches were started by some missionaries. Camping grew in the 1990s lots of young kids & their families started to enjoy camping and the kids were encouraged to come along.

But if the number is less than 50, then they will go hiking with their tents and food. It’s very interesting & a good environment with friends talking & laughing & walking & becoming more familiar with the villagers.

And they may go rafting, bungy jumping, climbing mountains etc. depending on their budget and schedule.

Delegates on an Adult Camp

Youth Campers

Some of the benefits of the camping

I started camping when I was 12 years old & we used to walk a long distance to reach the camping places in Gorkha.

Today, camping is becoming more popular among kids, youths & adults alike. Generally, the campers will carry their tents and walk a long distance, sometimes for more than one day. Some people will trek and hike and incorporate it with camping. They might be walking for more than 10 days in the Himalayan trails and wherever they find a plain area, they will pitch their tents and start to cook their food.

Every year our Church youth go camping. This is a different type of camping in terms of facilities and things they do. Usually, the youth leaders will arrange 10

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It refreshes our body, mind and soul It provides the opportunity to be in the wild and see God’s creation It gives people peace and a break from their daily work It builds bridges between people and their environment It fosters good relationships between friends and in families What can be done better in Nepal to help camping?

Transportation needs to be improved Better marketing of camping spots & centres Health Insurance needs to be facilitated Good equipment needs to be imported Well-trained camp leaders need to be hired Large accommodation centres need to be built

God has created everything on Earth and he wants us to enjoy it to its fullest. And I believe that camping is one of the ways people can enjoy HIS creation. Let’s keep on glorifying Him through camping.

John Chhetri, Nepal

Christian Venues Association

& Partnering to proteect children and membbers

experience the spirit of sharing

A Safe Ministry Manual (customised for Christian camping)

Chilld Protection Policy & Codee of Conduct Templates Templates (customised for CChristian camping)

Safe Ministry Online eTTraining raining (customised for Christian camping)

Availability vailaability of Safe Ministryy,, Child d Protection and other man nuals at the maximum discounted price

Discounted review services for an individual member’s Child Protection documents

CVVA/SMR A/SSMR face-to-face child prottection training events during 2018

A toll-free number where any person from m a member site can call and get advice on general or specific child protection situations Dial 1800 070 5111 Communicator • Issue 42

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Adanac – CYC Victoria: Touching the Local Community through Turbo Camps Adanac CYC is situated in the beautiful Yarra Valley about an hour east of Melbourne’s CBD. It is set on 13 acres of manicured grounds, and the view from the main buildings takes in the lake and outdoor activity areas and looks across to the mountains of the Great Dividing Range.

Adanac was originally developed by a Canadian couple (hence the name!). I was a camper there in 1969, when the bulldozer was creating the dam wall and lake. Since those days, the town limits have crept out and beyond the camp property. Once you step onto the wide veranda however, you are not conscious of a town, only the peace and beauty of the vista. CYC took over the site in 2007. It was in desperate need of investment and new vision. In the ten years since CYC’s ownership of the site, many facilities have been added and the standard of presentation and the range of activities are now exceptional.

In 2007, Marcel Edmonds was appointed as manager. For a young man who had come to faith and grown up as a volunteer and staff member on camps, it was a big step up. Leadership brought personal fulfilment, but also challenges. Suddenly it was Marcel who was responsible for growing and welding a team together and building a positive culture. It was his role to envision and develop plans and strategies to improve the physical amenities, adventure activities, and program options. The current state of the grounds and facilities and the full sheet of bookings is testament to Marcel’s leadership, strategic planning, and ability to unite his team and provide outstanding options for guest groups.

My observations of Adanac are how well they have managed to integrate their Christian foundational beliefs and mission priorities at a venue that caters mostly to school groups who may not be interested in considering faith in Jesus.

There are a number of strategies for camps to impact the hearts and minds of campers for Christ. The concept of serving generously is one of these. Being hospitable, providing generous meals and great activities, living out Kingdom values of love and patience and kindness - all these serving actions are demonstrating Christian community. They convey the ‘by this shall all men know that you are my disciples – you love one another!’ factor.

But as you walk around Adanac, there are other more direct ways of pointing kids to God: thought-provoking posters or signs, scripture verses, symbols of the Christian faith which raise questions and enquiry. Even the beauty of the natural bush causes school kids to wonder about a Creator and why their lives are important in the vastness of the universe. Just as someone planted seeds in young Marcel’s mind that led him to make a later commitment to Christ, hosting schools can be a seeding operation, a planting of ideas and new concepts that the 12

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Holy Spirit can nurture and bring to fruition in His good time.

Marcel has a wonderful story to tell about just how God moves us about and uses us in ways we least expect, to touch the lives of needy people. Here’s the story of Turbo Camp, in his words:

“Late in 2008 we had a cancellation for a week in the approaching summer holidays. At the time, we had local kids (from the township of Yarra Junction) knocking on our front door wanting to jump on our trampolines because we were on the edge of town and a fun place. So, in January of 2009, we ran a 5-day camp promoted to the local kids - we hoped to get 20. By the time the camp ran, it had booked out with 80 kids and a waiting list. We scrambled to get some leaders together, a speaker, and a plan for the first Turbo Camp. It went really well and we decided that we should run it again the following year.

We decided to run two camps in 2010. Over the years Turbo continued to experience growth and a few years in, we split the age groups to run separate Primary and Teen camps. About six years ago, we added a winter camp program as well. In the summer of 2017, Adanac will host one Family Camp and four Turbo camps, running consecutively from Christmas to the 20th of January. It has been an exciting journey as campers have grown up through the program, making commitments, experiencing leadership training, and returning to lead on camps. There is an awesome community that has developed and grown too that includes campers, leaders, staff and families.

The program has a wonderful momentum. We have seen significant life changes in countless campers and leaders. Over the past few years, a follow up program was developed that connects kids with local churches as well as providing bible teaching.”

The Summer 2017 Turbo Camps were the final ministry activity that Marcel oversaw at Adanac, as he has relocated to Philip Island to manage the CYC Adventure Resort. He leaves Adanac in excellent condition, with a capable and enthusiastic team. Significantly, there is the legacy of a creative response to a perceived need that has led to the blessing of many local children and families, through the Turbo Camp program.

The challenge for many CVA members is to balance the need to be financially viable with the desire to have a Gospel-driven ministry. Turbo Camp is a great example of how this can be possible. I hope it inspires and encourages many of you to look at your opportunities to minister to your local community.

Stephen Leslie Former CVA National Development Officer

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Internships: a view from the inside “My Internship has been an irreplaceable experience that will shape the way the rest of my life lives out.” (The testimony from a young man involved in a camping internship program.)

CVA’s first strategic intent is to promote a culture that ensures the development of courageous transformational leaders. One model seeking to fulfil this intent is the provision of site-based internship programs. Internships place young people in operating campsites to discover their inner workings, engage with guests and hopefully experience deep transformation in the Christian camping environment. Internships are said to give a taste of authentic Christian community and expose young people to significant opportunities for personal growth and future careers.

Given that the idea of internships and gap year programs is increasing in popularity, I thought it might be interesting to hear from the interns themselves. While sites and facilitators think this is a worthwhile venture, do Internships really achieve their purpose? So here is the voice of the interns…

Regarding opportunities…

We believe that internships offer unique opportunities to young people.

By placing a young person in a Christian camping environment, they have an opportunity to grow and thrive, and open up future possibilities. Jonah Pearson speaks of his internship saying, “I have had opportunities handed to me that I never even dreamed of”. Internships give young people amazing opportunities to grow and develop. Todd Walsh says of his internship that it has “allowed me to actually experience what I’m learning”.

Andrew Lingley agrees, “My internship allowed me to individually pursue my passions and experience transformational opportunities which have allowed me to grow into a mature man of God.” Internships also offer a real chance to share the Gospel. Sam Tolman says, “Living and working on site has been such an awesome opportunity for me to live out my faith day to day through my interactions with staff and guests.”

Some internship programs involve travel to other countries to experience camping in other contexts. After travelling through Bangladesh and meeting an emerging Christian camping community there, Todd shares, “I was able to meet people on the other side of the world who had the same love for Jesus and to see the Kingdom of God at work through camps. On this trip, I was able to see, experience and learn the power of camp in a way that an Australian setting could not have offered.” Jonah adds, “For a short amount of time our lives had crossed, we were living along side each other, experiencing something together and blessing each other. The lessons we shared with the people in Bangladesh, I was learning as well.

I could never have understood the power of experiential learning without first being a part of an experience and learning from it. The Bangladesh trek pushed me into situations where the outcomes 14

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Teaching & Learning in Bangladesh

Learning the IT Ropes

Maintenance Work is also in the program

resulted in amazing growth, giving me confidence, knowledge and experience to add to my skills in becoming a more equipped leader in the future.” Todd concludes, “The international trek gave an opportunity for simple yet profound teachings to be learnt with a depth that only an international setting could deliver.”

Regarding community…

Adam with some of the Interns

We believe that internships expose young people to authentic Christian community. After 2 years in a full-time internship, Andrew shares, “my camp community helped shape my understanding of God and of myself by providing opportunities to learn, grow and discover exactly what God has for me.” Todd adds of his experience in community, “The relationships that I have formed through the internship are relationships that will last a life time.” Jonah describes his experience of camp community saying, “a family orientated community is an amazing platform to begin to grow. I have walked with encouraging and loving people who have been teaching and leading me, and this made finding my weaknesses and admitting failure a fantastic growing environment, rather than an embarrassing one.” Sam Tolman, after only 5 months into his internship says, “I have really loved moving into a small community that has very quickly become my second family. My respect and appreciation has grown so much for the staff on site because of the stuff they do and how well they do it.”

In summary…

Overall, this is the voice of the interns:

Getting Kids to be Quiet is a Necessary Skill

“Camp creates an authentic environment for people to take a step closer to Jesus. My time in an internship has meant being placed in an environment that is an incredibly effective tool to allow transformation to happen within me.”

“My internship has been a challenging, exciting, eye-opening and growing experience.”

“This has been an awesome, wild and confronting experience so far, with so much learning and growing personally in my relationship with God.” “Taking part in my Internship has been an irreplaceable experience that will shape the way the rest of my life lives out.”

According to interns and facilitators alike, internships are incredibly valuable. Not only do they provide an exceptional platform for the spiritual and personal development of young people, but they inject a life and energy into sites that is unique and inspiring. As an association of Christian Venues, developing courageous transformational leaders will only result in great benefit to both young people and the longevity of Christian camping.

Adam Stewart. Interns: Todd Walsh, Sam Tolman, Jonah Pearson, Andrew Lingley Communicator • Issue 42

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Southern Cross Kids’ Camps Making a Difference in the Heart of Children

A quiet chat

Southern Cross Kids’ Camps, SCKC, provides a five-day camping experience for primary aged children who have been subjected to abuse and neglect. The children we serve are referred to us via government agencies and their affiliates.

We conducted our first camp in 2000, at Camp Manyung on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and from there we have grown to having 13 camps across four states of Australia.

I think one of the distinctives of SCKC is that each child on camp has one adult “buddy” to care for them and ensure they have “a week of happy memories”.

A few of the things that we do on camp are probably a little different to most camps. We have one or two camp photographers that capture each child’s week in photos.

Each evening after the kids are asleep, their buddies put together a photo album, which is presented to the kids just prior to them hopping back on the bus to return home. Most of these kids don’t have photos of their childhood and this provides a powerful reminder of the great time they had. Interestingly, when we see these kids in the future, as we do at times, they can usually produce their photo albums, which they love to show you as they relive their memories.

We also have a birthday party for everyone during camp. Once again, many of these kids don’t experience a party in their normal lives, so this adds to the sense that each of these kids is valuable and special. We have even had a couple of children who didn’t know when their birthdays were. Hard to believe, but true.

We love to have the kids come on camp for the first time when they are seven or eight years old. This means that they get to return for several years and it is amazing how we get to see the kids’ lives transformed over that time. Once a child has been on camp, SCKC pretty 16

Communicator • Issue 42

A Special Birthday Box

much becomes the highlight of their year. I remember one boy coming up to me in our main street one day and saying “Hi Pete, it’s only 53 days to camp”. I went home and counted the days and he was correct! He was obviously counting down and really looking forward to being on camp again.

Naturally we take part in the whole range of activities that camp sites have to offer.

There is a teaching time each day that is focussed on the fact that each child is known and loved by God, no matter what the situation or circumstance of their lives and there is singing, drama and fantastic stories. After this, there is a time for a quiet chat between the children and their buddies, to say what they might have been learning or thinking. And yes, sometimes the quiet chat happens when you are playing football!

Welcome to Camp

Having lots of fun

New positive experiences

As you would well know, it takes quite a deal of finance to run camp and there is no charge for either our kids or leaders to attend. Our finances come from three main sources. We apply for grants via some philanthropic trusts, we run some outstanding fundraising events and we have some generous donors that love and support the work that we do.

Not only that, but we have been magnificently supported by several CVA member camp sites and I do want to mention them.

Dave and Tammy Tolman at Stanwell Tops have been incredible for our three NSW camps. We even have our own storage shed on site! John & Rhonda Kroon host two camps at Oasis Camp site in Mt Evelyn in Victoria and have supported us for many years. And Marcel Edmonds and CYC have long supported us at Adanac and now at Forest Edge. And with the introduction of a new camp where the kids will come from the Geelong region, the amazing Geoff and Kendra Calwell and Baptist Camping are assisting us enormously as we are using the Burnside site at Anglesea. We can’t thank you all enough!

In finishing, my favourite story from a recent camp occurred right at the finish of the week, as kids were returning to their carers. One little guy went up to his buddy as they were saying their farewells and said “I wish I had a time machine”. “A time machine?” his buddy said back to him, and then he asked a great question, “Where would you go?” The boy came straight back and said “that’s easy, I would go back to Monday!”

That is what Southern Cross Kids’ Camps does. It gives a week of happy memories to the kids in our communities who need it most and we feel honoured to be able to play a part in the restoration of these young lives.

SCKC loves CVA! Thanks for the support and we look forward to working together in the many years to come.

Peter Lusk - General Manager

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the LAST word

Thoughts on God’s Word

Sandra and I are enjoying our role as CVA chaplains in Victoria, and having the opportunity to share a few thoughts for this “Last Word”. So, who has the last word in our home? Sandra thinks it’s me; I have a different opinion. I would like to share some thoughts on “God’s” Word. His word has given me, perception, correction and direction.

Perception is about how we see and understand things. My perception was not always truth. As a child, I interpreted my teachers encouragement to read God’s Word every day to mean that if I didn’t and Jesus came back that night, I would be left behind.

So as I lay in bed, I would recite scripture. I still regularly read His word but I have a different perception of Father God and that he loves me and that I can live my life secure in him. Over the years, we have worked with many that have a faulty perception of Father God. They see God through their experience of a harsh, abusive father.

Correction - I believe that we need to have a godly perception on his correction. Job 5:17 says that we are blessed when God reproves us. In those times of correction, God is saying “I am doing this because I really love you and want the very best for your life”.

Earlier this year, I was given some news on one of my employment positions, that left me feeling rejected. As I went back to my office thinking some thoughts that were very 18

Communicator • Issue 42

ordinary, I sat & opened my Bible to my daily reading and read ESV Duet 4:9 “Only take care and keep your soul (your mind, will and emotions) diligently”. It was time to revise, forgive again and get my attitude right.

Direction - Ps 25:4. “Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation.”

Over the years, God has directed me through his word. I remember an invitation to assist a pastor in country Victoria; I opened my Bible and read “Do not go into that town or tell it in that town”. Well, we visited my parents’ home & dad was having a family devotion he read from a different Gospel the very same words. And so it was that it would have been a mistake if we had gone into the country, as the pastor moved suddenly.

In 2011, I was given some bad news on my health - at the time, I was State Director for Chaplaincy Australia and asked the chaplains to pray. Upon returning to my office, I opened my Bible to my daily reading, Mt 19:26. I felt to write the scripture on the back of my hand - and as I did this, one of our chaplains texted me the very same scripture. It was a great inspiration.

I encourage you in your faith journey; to ask God for right perception, to understand his correction and follow his direction.

Phil Martin - CVA Chaplain, Victoria

CSC Buying Group has already saved members over $120,000 on their energy!

"As a member of the Christian Buying Group, Baptist Camping Victoria made the move to “Make It Cheaper” in November 2011. Since the move, we have saved thousands of dollars with no change in supply service. Not only was the changeover seamless, the service by the new supplier has been the same. We enjoy saving, smooth power supply and good customer service."

- Donald Kenny, Baptist Camping Victoria, VIC. “We’ve been using “Make It Cheaper” for some time and they’ve always got us a better deal. It’s easy to do and you’ve got nothing to lose.

This year, the deal we got will save us about $4,000!”

– Eddie Jansen, Winmalee Christian Conference Centre, NSW.

CSC Buying Group - A Savings Ministry Communicator • Issue 42

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MASTER of LEADERSHIP

A program designed for those existing and emerging leaders within Christian Venues Association membership who are looking to both formalise their existing skills as well as develop and expand their skills and knowledge so as to work more effectively within their chosen ministry and vocation.

For more information: On the Web: www.cv.asn.au/mol Email: study@christianvenues.org.au Telephone: (02) 4587 7155 20

Communicator • Issue 42