Still sharing Jesus with a
new generation O
Pictured: CRU® Camp leaders on Winter Study 1, 2019
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rusaders’ Executive Director, Gary Hill, recalls parking his car outside one of Sydney’s oldest independent schools back in 1995, ready to speak in the chapel. As he did, he noted two students entering the school gate who were wearing Muslim clothing. “I began thinking how every student needed to hear the good news of Jesus, and how I hoped that the name of Crusaders wouldn’t be a blockage to that message.” Discussions at the time suggested that it was not likely to be a major barrier, and the existence of the Canterbury Crusaders Rugby Union franchise in the Super Rugby competition was noted by many, yet a sense remained that this could become an increasingly significant issue. In 1997, Crusaders moved from the traditional heraldic shield logo, complete with helmet, crown, sword and scroll, to a stylised eagle. At the same time, the name changed from “The Crusader Union
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of NSW” to “The Crusader Union of Australia” as it was recognised that opportunities existed to operate in multiple states. “CRU®” was being used increasingly to refer to school groups, resources, holiday camps, and this magazine, with the name “CRU” being trademarked. “CRU” was an obvious choice: it maintained the historical link with Crusaders, reflecting thankfulness for the pioneering work in sharing the gospel with school students, while providing a new vitality and removing a potential barrier. Now in 2019, the time has come to adopt “CRU” more extensively across the organisation, with a new logo being developed to specifically represent our heart and our mission. The key distinctives of the new logo emphasise this. The top of the “U” is an arrow which symbolises our intention to point to Jesus in all that we do. The “U” itself is shaped like the familiar “U-turn” sign, representing our mission to see children and young
