CRUview Summer 2020: The Future Edition

CRUVIEW Summer 2020

Includes:

2019 ANNUAL REPORT

uture FO THE

EDITION

2-3

CRU's Strategic Plan

4-7

Foundations for A Future Trusting God

8-9

Equipping People for God's Harvest

13-15

Little Leaders

Contents 1 2 4 8 10 13 The Big Picture

CRU's Strategic Plan Foundations for a future trusting God Equipping people for God's harvest Inspired to learn Little leaders

16 17 24 26 28 29

Engaging youth with the gospel now and into the future Annual Report 2019 CRU® Ministry & Property Updates Lake Mac Update Thank You CRU® Community

Upcoming Events CRU® Women’s Fellowship Date: Monday, 17 February 2020 Time: 12:00pm - 1:30pm Enjoy lunch, prayer and fellowship with an inspiring group of ladies who faithfully meet to pray for the work of CRU twice a year.

For more information or to indicate your interest in coming along, call Philippa McCredie on (02) 9874 9833 (opt 4) or email philippa.mccredie@crusaders.edu.au

CRU® Business Lunch Date: Friday, 13 March 2020 Location: The Strangers’ Room, NSW Parliament House Catch up with friends, network with colleagues and hear about what God is doing in schools and on camps through CRU. There will also be an opportunity to support this vital kingdom work among young people. For more information, call Matilda Slade on (02) 9874 9833 (opt 4) or visit www.crusaders.edu.au/cbl2020

CRU® VOLT Autumn Date: Saturday, 4 April 2020 Location: 9:00am - 1:00pm A training event for CRU Holiday Camp volunteers including encouragement from the Bible, practical training and seminars.

For more information, email cruleaders@crusaders.edu.au Save the date! CRU VOLT Winter – 30 May 2020

CRU® Teachers’ Conference Date: Friday, 15 May 2020 Location: St Anne’s Anglican Church, Ryde CRU's conference for teachers and chaplains to network, be further equipped and spurred on in their vital school ministries. Hear from fantastic speakers, take part in collaborative think tanks, and be inspired by practical workshops. For more information and to register, visit www.cruteachers.edu.au NEW! Join us for a Pre-Conference Dinner on 14 May 2020. Spaces are limited.

The new LAKE MAC Grand Opening and Service of Dedication Date: Saturday, 22 August 2020 Location: CRU Lake Mac, Balcolyn Save the date! Come and celebrate the completion of Stage 1 of the Lake Mac campsite redevelopment! Watch this space for more details.

The Big

Picture Pictured: Gary Hill, Executive Director

The Future Edition “Death and taxes,” they say. Quoting 18th Century writers, “death and taxes” are said to be the only things that are certain for the future.

is clear – one can be distracted and tempted to think our thoughts, words and actions don’t matter, but if we recognise our status before God, our identity in Him, we will behave differently.

Yet Christians trust in the authority of the One from Eternity who spoke of the certainty of something At the same time, we don’t know the date of Jesus’ more. His death was imminent, but Jesus pointed His return, and don’t know whether we will be still alive disciples to a reality beyond death. He spoke of His when it happens. The list of things we don’t know resurrection, of the coming of – about our health, living the Holy Spirit, of the gospel arrangements, relations being spread throughout the with others, or geographical Yet Christians trust in the world, and of His return (Luke location – is massive. Yet authority of the One from Eternity 24:45-49). Trouble will come, while this is a long list, it is who spoke of the certainty of but this cannot cancel the completely outweighed by the something more. promise of eternal life (John certainties promised by Jesus, 16:33). This was echoed by including the victory over sin the New Testament writers: and death that is found in examples include Paul in Him alone.

I Corinthians 15; Peter in I Peter 1:3-9; and John in Revelation 21 and 22.

As we celebrate CRU’s 90th anniversary, let us be spurred on by these words, “Therefore… stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the In particular, the Bible teaches that the certainty work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in of Jesus’ future return should shape our behaviour. the Lord is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:58) Paul’s writing in I Thessalonians 4 and 5 interleaves instructions about behaviour with teaching about Remember: the “U” in our CRU® logo is shaped like a Jesus’ return and repeats the theme “Therefore encourage each other with these words” (4:18 and 5:11). U-turn sign, with an arrow extending upwards to signify our desire to point people to Jesus in all that we do.

We are described as those who are meant for, belong to, and have been set aside for “the day”. The message

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Page One

CRU's

Strategic Plan O

“We seek God’s direction as we plan,” commented CRU’s Executive Director, Gary Hill, “knowing that our knowledge is imperfect, but seeking to be responsible stewards of the resources that have been entrusted to us.”

Planning involves prayer, conversation, review of trends, consideration of broader culture and attempts to look ahead. It’s recognised that we don’t have all the answers, and that God may indeed guide us into different directions as we step forward, yet it is appropriate to use the abilities, resources and gifts that we have to seek to set a path. “We walk forward, continuing to be open to His leading.”

The next five years is centred on the completion of the first stage of the Lake Macquarie redevelopment, adding 260 new beds to the site, plus meeting and

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dining rooms and new activities. This work will provide a platform for expanding our CRU® Educational Camps program in particular. “We want to reach an extra 20,000 kids each year at the new Lake Mac once it is fully completed,” noted Gary. “By the end of 2024 we expect to be well on track for this, with around 14,000 additional campers on site each year by then.”

“

We seek God’s direction as we plan… knowing that our knowledge is imperfect, but seeking to be responsible stewards of the resources that have been entrusted to us.

“

C

RU’s new Strategic Plan “Equipping a new generation” has now been completed, outlining plans for ministry growth between 2020 and 2024. In doing so, CRU’s Board and staff have sought to build on the foundation which has been laid in recent years.

Our Educational Camps are expected to be the largest growth area between 2020 and 2024 with CRU West being the next biggest, as we seek to water the seeds which have been planted in Perth. Incremental growth is anticipated in CRU Holiday Camps or Day Camps in this period, but not a major uplift as we

Pictured: Sailing at CRU Lake Mac

focus on developing the Lake Mac operation and on reducing debt levels linked to borrowings for the site’s construction. Similarly we will be seeking to consolidate rather than grow the number of schools supported on the east coast. Investment in CRU’s workers – both regular staff and volunteers – is identified as critical for future growth in all areas.

As CRU’s Board and senior staff planned and prayed together, we reflected on some key indicators from recent years. Praise God that, even while we focused resources on rebuilding Lake Mac, we have seen the number of schools supported increase from 187 to 210 in the last five years; the number attending CRU® Holiday Camps annually increase from 3,149 to 3,322 (5.5%); and the number attending CRU Educational Camps grow by 14%. On top of this, Day Camps which commenced in 2013 now involves almost 800 campers each year; and CRU West is now engaged with 18 schools and seeing close to 100 campers attend holiday camps.

Praise God! In the last five years...

Our Schools Ministry team has supported an additional 23 schools.

An additional 173 campers are attending CRU Holiday Camps and hearing the gospel each year.

The number of campers attending CRU Educational Camps has grown by 14%.

Almost 800 campers attend Christian Discovery sessions each year at Day Camps.

Copies of the “Equipping a new generation” will be available for your information and prayer in both print and digital formats. Please email info@crusaders.edu.au to request your copy.

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Foundations for a future

trusting God O

O

ver the past 90 years, many young people have been brought to faith in Jesus through CRU® Groups, camps and other ministries.

Many of those young people, now grown, look back on their CRU experiences as children and teenagers and recognise just how important they were in shaping their faith.

One such person is Sue Hume, a former student at Queenwood School for Girls. Sue grew up in a nominally Christian family, but as was the case for so many in the 1950s, Christian faith was cultural rather than a relationship with God.

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“I’d asked my mum some questions, but she couldn’t answer them,” Sue remembers.

Thankfully, God chose to reveal Himself to Sue, beginning when she was in Year 5.

“I had a Christian teacher, and she told our class that there was going to be a Christian camp held at Bowral.

I went along. Really, what the camp did was introduce me to the idea that you could read the Bible. I came back from camp and I said to my mum, ‘I’m going to read my Bible every day!’ And she said, ‘Well we’ll see how long that lasts.’”

Now, 60 years later, Sue is pleased to say that the habit has endured and her conversation is peppered with Bible references, demonstrating her strong knowledge of the Word.

But it took a little longer after that first camp for Sue to really understand what she was reading.

When Sue moved up to the senior campus of Queenwood, a friend asked her to go along to the CRU® Group meeting on Thursday. The group at Queenwood at that time was led by Robyn Claydon (then Robyn Hicken), who taught English and Latin.

“I went along, and Miss Hicken gave a clear presentation of the gospel at my first meeting. She said that there were two ways in life, and that because of our sin we were all on the way that led ultimately to God's judgement. She said that if we believed in Jesus,

Sue continued going to the CRU Group every week, and really enjoyed it. “There was variety!

There were talks, there were panels, there was an attempt at showing films… the way that the gospel truths were presented was creative and engaging.”

The year was 1959, and the CRU Group at Queenwood was experiencing enormous growth as it was the year of the Billy Graham Crusades in Sydney. Sue was one of 200 girls attending the group that year.

For someone who didn’t come from a churchgoing family, Sue’s CRU Group became important to her because it was easy to get to and easy to invite friends to. “When I became a Christian, my parents let me go to fellowship at a church but that was two buses or a 40 minute walk! The CRU Group was easier to attend as I just took my sandwiches to the hall at lunchtime.”

“

“

CRU can be a safe place where they can learn truths that are secure.

that He’d died on the cross, then we could know that It also became a place where she developed Christ had taken our punishment and that we could leadership skills. become children of God. And I decided, well that’s what I want to do. I want to follow Jesus,” Sue remembers.

“Students were encouraged to be involved and discover Following her decision, Sue and her friend approached their gifts. Fairly early on I was asked to speak at the Miss Hicken to share the exciting commitment she'd group, and I really enjoyed doing that.” just made.

Following school, Sue was able to use the gifts and Later, while reading over the notebook that she’d skills she initially honed in the CRU Group as a teacher, kept alongside her daily Bible reading, Sue realised then working for the Navigators in Australia and New that she’d already accepted Jesus. “But I didn’t know Zealand, and finally as a volunteer teaching English in the significance,” she explains. “It’s like a human birth, Central Asia. because the baby doesn’t know the significance of the day that they’re born! It was at that first CRU Sue’s life has had its challenges. “I didn’t get married Group meeting that I understood the significance of until I was 43. I watched a lot of my friends getting following Jesus." married, and I wanted to be married, but I didn’t want

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Pictured: Sue and Syd Hume

to marry someone who I couldn’t respect and someone who wasn’t walking with Jesus. So, I thought I’d rather be single,” Sue shares.

More recently, Sue has battled breast cancer and she and her husband, Syd, have encountered many other medical issues on top of the cancer.

But through it all, Sue has been able to trust God – which she identifies as the most important thing she learned to do in her CRU® Group, more important than the leadership skills she gained. Even when she was so young, Sue learned that God is in control and can be trusted and relied on in all circumstances.

Around Australia, CRU Groups, like the one Sue joined at Queenwood, are helping young people come to

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know Jesus, and build strong foundations so that they can keep trusting God for their whole lives.

Sue recognises that these days, many young people are seeking something to trust. “Dysfunctional family relationships mean that they have a lot more to cope with. There’s probably a lot more pain, a lot more unresolved conflict in their lives, the baggage of confusion.”

But CRU can be a safe place where they can learn truths that are secure. If young people can learn the truths that God is good, that God loves us, that God is just and God is sovereign, that will give them a foundation for whatever they do and whatever happens to them.”

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If young people can learn the truths that God is good, that God loves us, that God is just and God is sovereign, that will give them a foundation for whatever they do and whatever happens to them.

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Equipping people for God's

harvest O

Mel Bell is bright, bubbly and loves working as a kids’ minister at St Andrew’s in Roseville. She first led on a CRU® Study Camp in 2012 and has served on at least one CRU Holiday Camp every year since then. We chat to her about why she keeps coming back each year and why she believes training is crucial.

CRUview: How did you become involved with CRU? Mel Bell: One of my youth leaders co-directed a CRU Study Camp and I went straight into leading on that team when I finished high school. I just loved the atmosphere and loved having a hundred-something non-Christian kids sitting and hearing the gospel! I moved from leading to directing pretty quickly and was privileged enough to be able to hand over that Study Camp to two co-directors that I’d trained up. Now I focus on speaking at camp. I just love it.

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CV: What do you think it is about CRU Holiday Camps that helps kids follow Jesus?

MB: Nowhere else would you get at least 5 days and 4 nights to invest into building genuine relationships.

Kids experience a type of Christianity that they often haven’t seen before. They might attend chapel and associate Christianity with an old-school rigid kind of thinking. But on CRU Holiday Camps they meet these leaders who just want to love them, care for them, help them think through their lives and live it

purposefully. It undoes all these assumptions and allows for actual engagement.

I haven’t seen God grow His kingdom in the North Shore in such drastic ways other than on CRU® Holiday Camps. It’s been amazing to see so many kids put their faith in Jesus on the camps I’ve been on… and I’m just one person who’s attended CRU Holiday Camps for a finite amount of time!

CV: You’ve attended a number of VOLT Volunteers Training Days as a CRU Holiday Camp leader and director. Can you share some thoughts about them?

MB: VOLT prepares you for leading on CRU Holiday Camps. They’re useful for literally anyone serving on the camp - new leaders, junior leaders, senior leaders, seasoned leaders, directors… whoever it is, they should be investing in VOLT – that’s for sure.

As a director, it was such a great help for me to have access to training that wasn’t hinging on me, or my experience, or my wisdom, or anything like that. As a leader, the skills and wisdom you receive are just

on day 3 or 4 of camp, hitting a wall, and having no strength left! I don’t think I knew true dependence on God until I directed a CRU Holiday Camp. We should be that dependent for every breath, every moment, every day. Camp was such a good reminder that it’s never about my strength or my skillset - it’s always for God’s glory and by His grace.

CV: What is your hope for CRU? MB: My biggest prayer for CRU is that we would run more camps and reach more non-Christian kids, but that it wouldn’t be at the expense of great volunteers, quality teams and well-trained people. Whenever I get ready for a CRU Holiday Camp I’m reminded that God needs to provide the farmers for the harvest. The harvest is here but we need workers, and if there’s ever a challenge in CRU Holiday Camps it’s, “Where are the workers? We need more.”

CV: What is your hope for the next generation?

MB: I think I’ve tasted spiritual revival at CRU Holiday Camps and my heart’s desire is that we’d continue

“

My heart’s desire is that we’d continue to see this revival amongst young people and that we’d see entire camps saved.

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unparalleled. You have people who’ve been on 20, 30, 40 camps and they help us grow in our knowledge and skills for serving on camp. What better way to spend a Saturday than worshipping with brothers and sisters, hearing the Word, and learning some really practical skills to help you lead on camp!

CV: How has your VOLT training and your involvement with CRU Holiday Camps equipped you in your walk with God? MB: One of the most helpful things I was trained in was how to share the gospel and have those gospel conversations. It has served me a thousand-fold already. But beyond that, I learned how to run a team, how to run a game for rowdy Year 12 kids, and lots of other practical things like that.

to see this revival amongst young people and that we’d see entire camps saved. My prayer is that God would use this ministry even more to reach the next generation… to help replace hearts of stone with hearts of flesh and to just save people.

CV: Finally, what do you hope for yourself?

MB: I pray that God would show me what He wants me to invest in. I could spend my time doing a billion things and some of it could just be fruitless. I’m trying to work out where God wants me, what He wants me investing my time in, and how best to serve Him in His kingdom.

That’s my daily question, I guess!

Help us train future generations in Christian leadership by giving towards CRU training events: www.crusaders.edu.au/futureleaders

Also, I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is just to have utter dependence on God. There’s nothing like being

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Inspired to

learn O

L

ike most Year 12 students, Campbell Steven wasn’t Towards the end of Year 12, Campbell had another camp experience when he attended a CRU West too sure what to do after he finished high school.

Study Camp. He shares, “All the leaders on my camp But one thing was certain - he wanted to keep were relatable, were easy to talk to and had heaps of learning. God used that desire and brought Campbell answers to all my questions. They helped me want to to Sydney, where he recently completed his first year be a leader on camps as well.” of CRU’s Summit Program, a full-time leadership and ministry training program.

“I didn’t have many Christian mates at school, but camp helped me connect with people... I found out that there Campbell’s first CRU® Holiday Camp experience was in Year 11. At the suggestion of his parents, he are actually Christians in Perth who are my age, who attended CRU West’s Spring Leadership Camp in Perth. share the same struggles as me, and have the same Admittedly, he was hesitant to attend the camp and questions as me,” he continues. says, “I didn’t want to go on camp, I wasn’t keen at all because I didn’t have any friends going. My parents just Campbell was still uncertain what to do as his final year told me it would be such a good learning experience of high school came to an end. But God made His plan for me.” clear when Campbell was accepted into the Summit Program! Although this meant moving away from his Even though he was initially reluctant to go, his feelings towards camp quickly changed as he started learning about Christian leadership and met other Christian students on camp. He shares, “As camp progressed, I After camp, I was just so inspired and got to meet some really good people my age and some enthusiastic about wanting to learn more… really nice leaders. I learned a lot about God, how to run I was just so much bolder in my faith.

Bible studies, and other different things like that.”

“

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“After camp, I was just so inspired and enthusiastic about wanting to learn more… I was just so much bolder in my faith,” he continues. This newfound boldness even led Campbell to talk about God and his faith at his school assembly. He says, “I was pretty nervous, but because of the things I’d learned on camp, I was just so much more confident about it.”

family and home in Perth, he was excited for what this new season would bring. He recalls, “I just wanted to come over here to learn. I really love learning and I just wanted to grow in my faith.”

Campbell fondly shares how the Summit Program has grown him more than he could have ever imagined. He says, “I’ve just grown in my faith so much. Coming from high school, where I had no Christian mates, to being with Christians all the time, is just amazing!”

It was also at this camp where Campbell first heard about the Summit Program from a leader. “Nate told me that if I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after school, there were great opportunities over in Sydney to learn and grow and teach kids about God. It sounded “I’ve become so much more comfortable when sharing the gospel. At school, I was just shy and scared and pretty interesting,” he recalls.

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Pictured: Campbell leading on a CRU Educational Camp

didn’t know how to share it with my friends. But now, hanging around Christians and seeing how they do it, has taught me how to share the gospel with kids in the most effective way and show them how good God is.”

Campbell is also amazed by the number of campers who are keen to grow in their faith after attending a

Camp. He shares, “One of my favourite things about working at Summit is being trained up and taking it back home to WA. It’s rewarding to see heaps of young kids, most of them I know from local churches, and being able to equip them and encourage them to know Jesus better.”

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One thing I’d love to see in the future is for me to take everything I’ve learned here at Summit, back to Perth, and see how God can use that to grow CRU West.

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camp. “After each camp we hand out so many Bibles.

It’s just so inspiring to see young kids wanting to have Bibles of their own so they can read and get to know God better,” he exclaims.

This is Campbell’s hope for the future: “One thing I’d love to see in the future is for me to take everything I’ve learned here at Summit, back to Perth, and see how God can use that to grow CRU West.”

Earlier this year, Campbell had the privilege of applying his new skills and knowledge at a CRU® West Holiday

We’re excited to see how God will be using Campbell to grow CRU West in the future as well!

Do you know someone who has a passion to see kids come to know Jesus?

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Please let them know about the Summit Program – CRU’s camping ministry and training program. The next intake will be in July 2020, find out more at www.summitfellows.com.au

Little

leaders O

E

ven when they’re just in primary school, children are a valuable part of God’s kingdom, with an important role to play.

That’s why CRU® is committed to helping young students come to know Jesus and grow in their faith, so that they can play their part in the kingdom - both now and into the future.

At Nowra Christian School, students as young as 10 are encouraged to take the lead in the CRU Group, doing talks and running activities.

One such student is Chloe Cochrane, a Year 5 student.

Chloe’s family are dairy farmers, and though her family has some Christian affiliation, they struggle to get to church each week because it conflicts with their responsibilities on the farm.

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Chloe decided to follow Jesus when she was in Year 3, after hearing about Him during God Space – the classroom Christian program at her school. “It was understanding the miracles that He did, and the stuff that Jesus did, and the stuff that was happening in the Bible,” Chloe cites as the reason she decided to become a Christian.

After becoming a Christian, Chloe started attending the CRU® Group at Nowra Christian School. “At CRU Group, it’s all about God,” Chloe says. “We sing songs, play games, and there are actions to the songs. It’s nice learning more about God and listening to the talks.”

Being part of the CRU Group has been crucial for Chloe’s growing faith, as she explains, “One of the reasons why I like going to CRU, is because of my parents’ job. We don't get to go to Sunday church, so CRU is sort of like my church.”

Now that Chloe is in Year 5, she is a leader of the CRU Group. “I wanted to be a leader because I like following God and learning about God,” Chloe explains. “It’s great because we get to sit with the younger kids, we get to lead the games, and sometimes we get to do the talks.”

Chloe was recently inspired in her leadership by attending a FIT (Followers in Training) event run by CRU for young CRU Group leaders. At FIT, students are taught how to run activities and learn some core skills for leading a CRU Group, all while having lots of fun and meeting new friends.

Chloe was particularly struck by the talk at the most recent FIT event. After hearing the talk, she has commented, “I want to learn how to be a leader, but also be a servant like Jesus.”

The primary CRU Group at Nowra Christian School is facilitated by teacher, Emily Thuaux. Emily loves the fact that even at such a young age, the students in the group, like Chloe, are being taught to be leaders.

“We find that CRU is really helpful for our kids to learn how to be Christian leaders. They’re doing things like

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practicing a talk, or leading a game, and equipping them with those leadership skills is really important. They carry those skills on to high school. Lots of our leaders move on from primary CRU Group, go to high school and continue that leadership all the way through.”

As a busy teacher, Emily appreciates the support she receives from CRU to help her run the group. “I absolutely love the resources CRU provides. It really helps to know that there are talks written for you to use,

Pictured: Chloe sharing at her school's CRU® Group

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I want to learn how to be a leader, but also be a servant like Jesus.

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that are theologically sound. It takes the weight off me having to prepare something from scratch. It’s so hard to write a talk every week so it’s great to be able to use or borrow ideas from these resources as I run the CRU® Group each week.”

Like Chloe, Emily is also a big fan of FIT. “We love it. The kids come back and they are just pumped to be able to put into practice the things that they've learned, whether it's games, or welcoming, or just how to pray.

They come back with all these strategies and they're keen to get involved.”

Both Chloe and Emily have big hopes for the future of the CRU Group at Nowra Christian School. Chloe says, “I hope that more people will be able to come, and that we might get more ideas of what we could do and maybe get a bit bigger. And I hope we might get to do more of the things that we did at FIT!” Emily is hoping that “we can really equip our Christians to be little evangelists in our schools. I hope we can keep helping them to be leaders in their faith and not be afraid to stand up and talk about God.” Help us train future generations in Christian leadership by giving towards CRU training events: www.crusaders.edu.au/futureleaders

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Engaging youth with the gospel now and into the future

By Anna Grummitt, Youth Editor, Centre for Public Christianity (CPX)

A

ttitudes towards Christianity are shifting rapidly among Australian teenagers, and it is crucial that Christian communities adapt to this changing culture in order to effectively communicate the gospel to young people, now and into the future.

To do this, we must be aware that for the majority of Australian teenagers today, religion, including Christianity, has become a distant foreign land.

A recent study of attitudes to religion among 13 to 18-year-olds (the AGZ Study), revealed that more than half of Australian teens identify as “religious nones” – that is, they don’t see themselves as belonging to any particular religion. Only 12% said they frequently attend any kind of worship service. And while some teenagers did recognise the positive contributions of religion to society, 44% thought religion caused more problems than it solved.

The majority of Australian teenagers today feel little or no connection to Christianity, have limited understanding of the Bible, and are uncertain or suspicious about religion’s place in the public square.

Therefore, we must strive to communicate the timeless truth of the gospel to young people in a way that is clear, and that does not assume any prior knowledge.

It is also essential, going forward, that we show young people how the Christian message is relevant to them – that it answers their deeply felt needs and longings.

Today’s youth are in the midst of an anxiety crisis, and often feel lonely and disconnected from others. In the 2018 Mission Australia Youth Survey of 28,000 teens, mental health was the issue most frequently identified as being of national importance – and the percentage of those who saw it as important had doubled since 2015. Smartphones and social media have made today’s youth far more globally connected than teenagers in the past, however a recent international study by U.S. research firm, Barna, revealed that only

33% of young people agreed with the statement “I often feel deeply cared for by those around me.”

Teenagers now also have more opportunities available to them than previous generations – but this myriad of choices often leads to them feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and paralysed by pressure to choose the right path in life. They are asking big questions - like “Who am I?”, “What’s my purpose?”, “What matters?” – and are longing, but struggling, to find adequate answers.

In this climate of rising anxiety and loneliness, the gospel is truly good news for our young people. Brian Rosner writes that “the human heart … aches for the reassurance of a satisfying story to make sense of our existence”. The Christian faith delivers this satisfying story. In order to engage youth with the gospel, now and into the future, it is vital to show them that it answers their deepest yearnings, that it speaks peace and hope into the anxieties of their lives, that it provides answers to questions of identity and purpose, and that it holds out a vision of true freedom and flourishing that is unlike anything else they might find.

As our society becomes increasingly fractured, we also need to find ways to show youth that in Christianity they can find authentic, personal community. Our Christian communities should be places where they’re deeply valued and cared for, and feel a close sense of connection to those around them.

Increasingly, faith-based schools may become one of the few places where many young people can regularly hear this message of hope, and experience a meaningful connection with a community that embodies this vision. For this reason, we must prioritise school-based ministry that helps students to see the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christianity. To truly engage with youth today and into the future, we need to show them that Christianity is both true and good – for them, for our society, and for the world.

Free CPX youth & schools’ resources are available at cpxyouth.org Page Sixteen

Annual Report

2019

Page Fifteen

2019 at a Glance CRU's financial year is from Sep 2018 - Aug 2019.

Holiday Camps

65

3,316

993

Holiday Camps

campers

volunteer leaders

360

campers indicated they either became a Christian or recommitted their faith on camp

626

88%

of campers indicated they grew in their faith/ understanding of God

94%

of campers said they would recommend Holiday Camps to a friend

campers indicated they would like to start attending church after camp

636

campers indicated they would like to start attending a school CRU Group after camp

Educational Camps

121

9,047

32

CRU Educational Camps

campers

Summit trainees

851

campers took a Bible or Christian resource home (327 Bibles, 390 devotional books, 134 follow-up packs)

486

campers indicated a commitment or recommitment to faith

Schools Ministry (includes CRU West)

228

863

289

schools supported

school visits made

CRU Bible study resources sold

984

students trained at CRU Schools Ministry leadership events (FIT & CrossTrain, not including in-house school training)

1,011

students attended CRU Schools Ministry’s Inter-CRU events

89,497

students reached on school visits

Galston Gorge

164

14,256 campers

Day Camps

100,931

camps meals served Average rating from guest groups

4.3 out of 5

31% 43%

257,110

pieces of bread

203

campers indicated they wanted to start attending church after camp

CRU Holiday Camps

49%

of campers who come from non-church families indicated they wanted to attend church

Guest groups

99%

of campers indicated they either liked or loved camp

CRUÂŽ West

4,558

83

30,275

3

campers

camps

meals served

Holiday Camps

Camp types:

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274 volunteers

increase in registrations (from 2018)

Lake Mac

30% Guest groups 25% 45% CRU Educational Camps

781 campers

22%

Camp types: 26% CRU Educational Camps

In Aug 2019, the new solar panels produced enough power to toast

15 Day Camps

CRU Holiday Camps

93% 70%

98

54

campers

volunteers

of campers indicated they would recommend CRU West Holiday Camps to a friend of campers indicated they grew in their faith/ understanding of God

Governance CRU® is blessed to be served by a group of dedicated, prayerful and godly men and women who oversee this vital ministry. In the financial year of 2018-2019, we give thanks for the service of:

Vice Presidents Roger Corbett AO B Comm, FAICD

The Rt Rev Dr Paul Barnett BD, ThL, ThSchol, MA, PhD, ASTC

CRU Board Chairman

Galston Property & Development David Attenborough (Chair) Zane Garratt ^ Gary Hill Alice Rees ~ Andrew Reeves Matthew Seidl Garry Tenkate

Lake Mac Taskforce

BA, LLB(Hons), FGIA, FAICD Legal and Governance Executive

James Ward (Chair) David Attenborough James Carroll Gary Hill Lisa Houghton Nathan McElveney Matthew Seidl David Wood *

Hon. Treasurer

Strategic Planning

Dr Timothy Wright PhD, DipEd, BSc(Hons), FACE, MRACI, CChem Headmaster, Shore School

Deputy Chairman Helen Burgess

Santino Dimarco

BEc, CA Executive Pastor, St Andrew’s Roseville

Members

David Attenborough Dip. Management, Dip Property Services Business Owner

Rev Patrick Benn BSc (Hons), BTh EU Graduates Fund Senior Staffworker (Evangelism) & AFES Sydney Area Director

Nathan Brown BHosp CEO, Christian Media & Arts Australia

Dr Jennifer George PhD, MEnvPl, BLArch, PTC Director, Community and Planning, Comcorp

Rev Alexander Koch BSc (Maths), BEd, BD, MACE, MACEL Chaplain, St Catherine’s School, Waverley

Sarah Lancaster M Teach, BPsych, BTh. Children’s and Families’ Pastor, Christ Church Anglican Gladesville

Clare Pendlebury BComm, CA, GradDip CA Manager - Business Services, CIB Accountants and Advisers

James Ward

Paddy Benn (Chair) Anna Burke Rebecca Carritt Peter Crawford Nigel Glasby Gary Hill Nathan McElveney Matthew Seidl James Ward Annette Ware

RTO and Summit

Annette Ware (Chair) James Carroll Calum Henderson ^ Gary Hill Alex Koch Michael (Frank) Leonarder Nathan McElveney Alice Rees ~ Nicole Schabort

PBI

Tim Wright (Chair until June 2019) * Gary Hill (Chair from June 2019) Anna Burke ^ Rebecca Carritt ^ Nigel Glasby ^ Nathan McElveney Matthew Seidl ^ Annette Ware *

HGLT Investment

Annette Ware

Garth Rossler (Chair) Anna Burke Santino Dimarco Michael Evans

BEd, DipTh, MACE, Head of Senior College, Abbotsleigh

Management Committees

MABus, BADes, MDIA Director, NBRSARCHITECTURE

Further Office Bearers Hon. Secretary Rebecca Carritt BSc, Cert. Lang. (German), Grad. Dip. Div., Cert III Cons. & Land Man. (N.A.R)

Committees Thank you to all who helped govern CRU by serving on committees and providing strategic direction to increase our impact as we share the gospel with young people.

These committees are formed by, and report to, either the CRU Board or the Divisional Heads management team.

Board Committees Finance

Santino Dimarco (Chair) Ian Bucknell Nigel Glasby Gary Hill Clare Pendlebury Matthew Seidl Damien Wang

Governance and Risk Management Helen Burgess (Chair) Paddy Benn Jennifer George Nigel Glasby Gary Hill Matthew Seidl Tim Wright

Lake Mac Fundraising Committee David Braga (Chair) Sam Allen Nathan Brown Ian Bucknell Anna Burke Roger Corbett Heather Henderson Gary Hill Karen Kightley Cassandra Mathews Damien Wang Tim Wright

Camps

Nathan Gale (Chair) Iain Aitchison Melissa Bell Polly Butterworth * Emma Gray David Krebs Sebastian Lane Louisa Macourt * Philip Rawnsley Daniel Sawyer Stephanie Semler Annika Williams

IT Steering Committee Dave Czapala (Chair) Anna Burke James Carroll Stephanie Chow ^ Nigel Glasby Gary Hill Nathan McElveney Phil Rawnsley Matthew Seidl

CRU Safe

Rebecca Carritt (Chair) Andrew Fahey ^ Zane Garratt Brooke Linton Allan Nicholls ^ Jessica Seal Matilda Slade ^ Kate Stace * Garry Tenkate * David Wood *

CRU West

Scott Rowland (Chair) Kim Chin Nathan McElveney Nicola Naoum Clare Potts Sheridan Raston Peter Smith Dougal Steven Michelle Underwood

Permanent Staff (Sept 2018 – Aug 2019)

Executive Director Gary Hill

Divisional Heads

Anna Burke – Fundraising Rebecca Carritt – Assistant to ED James Carroll – Summit Peter Crawford – Schools Ministry Dan Cummings – Marketing * Kathy Elliott – Marketing ^ Nigel Glasby – General Manager Nathan McElveney – Ministries Allan Nicholls – Lake Mac ^ Phil Rawnsley – CRU Holiday Camps Andrew Reeves - Galston Matthew Seidl – Properties Dave Wood – Lake Mac *

Summit

Emma Bennett Emma Duggan Wellen Fu Zane Garratt Andrew Garven Sarah Gillman ^ Calum Henderson Lisa Houghton Emily Jones Kristy Kinene ~ Sebastian Lane ^ Brooke Linton Bonnie Rootes (née Mason) Ben Matthews Luke Matthews Bethany May ~ Heather-Rose Newcombe Alice Rees ~ Harry Roberts Hayley Roberts Aaron Rootes Nicole Schabort Dan Shaw Kathryn Swaisland Mitchell Wall Victoria York

Training

Jeremy Crooks Michael (Frank) Leonarder Stephen Rawls

Trainees 2018

Jessica Keryaks (née Mullen) Jessica Seal Stephanie Semler

Iain Aitchison Luke Alexander Frasier Bailey Samuel Buckley Aiden Cowell Sofie Dowling * Emma Duggan Isaac Elliott Jacob Franklin ^ Wellen Fu Joshua Gazzard * Sarah Gillman Emily Jones Adriana Kanjian Meredith Kendrew Samantha Lewis Michael Lihou Lachlan Macdonald Rob Maiden Benjamin Matthews Joshua Sloan ^ Andrew Stanford Ashley Thompson David Thompson Mitchell Wall Tim Wallace

HR

2019

Schools Ministry Anna Owen Dan Perrott Kate Stace * Kellie Thomson Nigel Vaux Clare Wimble

CRU West

Hannah Killow Sheridan Raston

CRU Holiday Camps

Rhonda Ho ^

Finance & IT

Dave Czapala Alice Henderson Sue Lay Karl Winter

Fundraising

Roslyn Harvey Philippa McCredie Linda Newman Matilda Slade Damien Wang

Marketing

Elizabeth Baumgart Stephanie Chow ^ Patrizha Yeomans ^

Campsite Staff - Galston Gorge Gordon Brice Roby Budyman Andrew Fahey Tania Hawkins Dave Herrington Jenny Keighley Kanesh Narayan Megan Strachan * Garry Tenkate

Iain Aitchison Luke Alexander Aiden Cowell Isaac Elliott Jacob Franklin * Sarah Gillman * Samantha Lewis Michael Lihou Leticia Monteiro Ryan Muller * Ben Sennett Michael Sheldon Joshua Sloan Brock Sperinck * Andrew Stanford Campbell Steven Ashley Thompson David Thompson Tim Wallace Gemma Willmott Viv Yu

KEY: ^ = Started during the year * = Finished during the year ~ = Maternity leave = Holiday/Day Camps Intern = Schools Ministry Associate = Ian Holt Memorial Fellow

Campsite Staff - Lake Mac Adam Houghton Rachel Billington

Page Ninteen

Who Are We Reaching?

Praise God for the schools we are reaching in NSW, ACT & WA, through the work of CRUÂŽ Holiday Camps, CRU Groups and CRU Educational Camps.

Abbotsleigh - Boarding__________________________________________________________ Abbotsleigh - Junior______________________________________________________________ Abbotsleigh - Senior______________________________________________________________ Arden Anglican School - Junior_______________________________________________ Arden Anglican School - Senior_______________________________________________ Arndell Anglican College - Junior____________________________________________ Arndell Anglican College - Senior____________________________________________ Ascham School - Senior_________________________________________________________ Australian Christian College - Junior________________________________________ Australian Christian College - Senior________________________________________ Barker College - Junior__________________________________________________________ Barker College - Senior__________________________________________________________ Belmont Christian College - Junior__________________________________________ Belmont Christian College - Senior__________________________________________ Berowra Christian Community School______________________________________ Bethel Christian Academy - Senior__________________________________________ Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College - Junior___________________________________ Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College - Senior___________________________________ Blue Mountains Grammar - Junior___________________________________________ Blue Mountains Grammar - Senior___________________________________________ Brigidine College St Ives________________________________________________________ Brindabella Christian College - Junior______________________________________ Brindabella Christian College - Senior______________________________________ Brisbane Girls Grammar_________________________________________________________ Broughton Anglican College - Junior_______________________________________ Broughton Anglican College - Senior_______________________________________ Burgmann Anglican School - Junior_________________________________________ Burgmann Anglican School - Middle________________________________________ Burgmann Anglican School - Senior_________________________________________ Calderwood Christian School - Junior______________________________________ Calderwood Christian School - Senior______________________________________ Calrossy School - Senior_________________________________________________________ Canberra Girls Grammar School - Junior__________________________________ Canberra Girls Grammar School - Senior__________________________________ Canberra Grammar School - Junior_________________________________________ Canberra Grammar School - Senior_________________________________________ Carinya Christian School - Senior____________________________________________ Cedars Christian College - Junior____________________________________________ Cedars Christian College - Senior____________________________________________ Central Coast Adventist School______________________________________________ Central Coast Grammar - Senior_____________________________________________ Charlton Christian College - Junior_________________________________________ Charlton Christian College - Senior_________________________________________ Chevalier College__________________________________________________________________ Claremont College________________________________________________________________ Covenant Christian School - Junior_________________________________________ Covenant Christian School - Senior_________________________________________ Covenant Christian School ACT - Junior__________________________________ Covenant Christian School ACT - Senior__________________________________ Cranbrook School - Junior______________________________________________________ Cranbrook School - Senior______________________________________________________ Danebank - Junior_________________________________________________________________ Danebank - Senior_________________________________________________________________ Dubbo Christian School - Junior_____________________________________________ Dubbo Christian School - Senior_____________________________________________ Emmaus Christian School - Junior___________________________________________ Emmaus Christian School - Senior___________________________________________ Forestville Montessori School_________________________________________________ Frensham_____________________________________________________________________________ Georges River Grammar - Junior_____________________________________________ Georges River Grammar - Senior_____________________________________________ German International School Sydney Junior_____________________________ Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School______________________________________________ Green Point Christian College - Junior____________________________________ Green Point Christian College - Senior____________________________________ Greenacre Baptist Christian Community School - Junior___________ Greenacre Baptist Christian Community School - Senior___________ Heritage Christian School_______________________________________________________ Hills Adventist College - Middle ______________________________________________ HopePoint Christian School____________________________________________________

KEY Students attending CRU Holiday Camps

Students attending CRU Training events

Lunchtime CRU Group

Regular support by CRU staff

CRU Educational Camp program run

Partners with Day Camps

Hunter Christian School - Junior_____________________________________________ Hunter Christian School - Senior_____________________________________________ Illawarra Christian School - Junior___________________________________________ Illawarra Christian School - Senior___________________________________________ Inaburra School - Junior_________________________________________________________ Inaburra School - Senior_________________________________________________________ International Grammar School________________________________________________ John Colet School_________________________________________________________________ Kamaroi Rudolf Steiner School________________________________________________ Kambala Girls School - Junior_________________________________________________ Kambala Girls School - Senior_________________________________________________ Kincoppal - Rose Bay_____________________________________________________________ Kinma School________________________________________________________________________ Kinross Wolaroi Preparatory School_________________________________________ Kinross Wolaroi School - Senior_______________________________________________ Knox Grammar Preparatory School__________________________________________ Knox Grammar School - Senior________________________________________________ Kuyper Christian School - Junior_____________________________________________ Kuyper Christian School - Senior_____________________________________________ Lakes Grammar - Junior_________________________________________________________ Lakes Grammar - Senior_________________________________________________________ Linuwel School______________________________________________________________________ Loreto Kirribilli - Senior___________________________________________________________ Loreto Normanhurst______________________________________________________________ Lycee Condorcet - The French School - Junior_________________________ Lycee Condorcet - The French School - Senior_________________________ Macarthur Anglican School - Junior________________________________________ Macarthur Anglican School - Senior________________________________________ Mackellar Girls High School____________________________________________________ Maitland Christian School - Junior__________________________________________ Maitland Christian School - Senior__________________________________________ Mamre Anglican School - Junior______________________________________________ Mamre Anglican School - Senior______________________________________________ Manning Valley Anglican College - Junior________________________________ Marist College Canberra - Senior____________________________________________ Marist College North Sydney__________________________________________________ Marist Sisters College Woolwich______________________________________________ Medowie Christian School - Junior__________________________________________ Medowie Christian School - Senior__________________________________________ Mercy College_______________________________________________________________________ Meriden School - Junior_________________________________________________________ Meriden School - Senior_________________________________________________________ MLC Junior School________________________________________________________________ MLC Senior School________________________________________________________________ Monte Sant' Angelo College___________________________________________________ Mosman Church of England Preparatory School_______________________ Mount Annan Christian College - Junior__________________________________ Mount Annan Christian College - Senior__________________________________ Mount St Benedict College____________________________________________________ Mumbulla Steiner School________________________________________________________ Nepean District Christian School - Junior________________________________ Nepean District Christian School - Senior________________________________ New England Girl's School - Senior__________________________________________ New Hope School__________________________________________________________________ Newington College - Senior____________________________________________________ Newington College Preparatory School - Lindfield____________________ Newington College Preparatory School - Wyvern House____________ Northcross Christian School___________________________________________________ Northern Beaches Christian School - Junior_____________________________ Northern Beaches Christian School - Senior_____________________________ Northholm Grammar - Junior__________________________________________________ Northholm Grammar - Senior__________________________________________________ Norwest Christian College - Junior__________________________________________ Norwest Christian College - Senior__________________________________________ Nowra Anglican College - Junior_____________________________________________ Nowra Anglican College - Senior_____________________________________________ Nowra Christian School - Junior______________________________________________ Nowra Christian School - Senior______________________________________________ Oakhill College______________________________________________________________________ Oran Park Anglican College - Junior________________________________________

Oran Park Anglican College - Senior________________________________________ Orange Anglican Grammar School - Junior_______________________________ Orange Anglican Grammar School - Middle______________________________ Orange Anglican Grammar School - Senior_______________________________ Oxford Falls Grammar School - Junior______________________________________ Oxford Falls Grammar School - Senior______________________________________ Oxley College________________________________________________________________________ Pacific Hills Christian School - Junior_______________________________________ Pacific Hills Christian School - Middle______________________________________ Pacific Hills Christian School - Senior_______________________________________ Penrith Anglican College - Junior____________________________________________ Penrith Anglican College - Senior____________________________________________ Penrith Christian School - Junior_____________________________________________ Penrith Christian School - Senior_____________________________________________ PLC Armidale________________________________________________________________________ PLC Sydney - Junior______________________________________________________________ PLC Sydney - Senior______________________________________________________________ Pymble Ladies College - Junior_______________________________________________ Pymble Ladies College - Senior_______________________________________________ Queenwood School for Girls - Junior_______________________________________ Queenwood School for Girls - Senior_______________________________________ Radford College - Junior________________________________________________________ Radford College - Senior________________________________________________________ Ravenswood School for Girls - Junior_______________________________________ Ravenswood School for Girls - Senior_______________________________________ Reddam House - Junior _________________________________________________________ Redeemer Baptist School - Junior___________________________________________ Redlands - Junior__________________________________________________________________ Redlands - Senior__________________________________________________________________ Regents Park Christian School - Junior____________________________________ Regents Park Christian School - Senior____________________________________ Richard Johnson Anglican School - Junior_______________________________ Richard Johnson Anglican School - Senior_______________________________ Rosebank College__________________________________________________________________ Roseville College - Junior_______________________________________________________ Roseville College - Senior_______________________________________________________ Rouse Hill Anglican College - Junior________________________________________ Rouse Hill Anglican College - Senior________________________________________ Santa Sabina College_____________________________________________________________ SCEGGS Darlinghurst - Junior________________________________________________ SCEGGS Darlinghurst - Senior________________________________________________ Scone Grammar School - Junior______________________________________________ Scone Grammar School - Senior______________________________________________ Scots All Saints College - Junior______________________________________________ Scots All Saints College - Middle_____________________________________________ Scots All Saints College - Senior______________________________________________ Shellharbour Anglican College - Junior____________________________________ Shellharbour Anglican College - Senior____________________________________ Shire Christian School - Junior________________________________________________ Shire Christian School - Senior________________________________________________ Shore Preparatory School_______________________________________________________ Shore School - Senior____________________________________________________________ Southern Highlands Christian School - Junior__________________________ Southern Highlands Christian School - Senior__________________________ St Aloysius College________________________________________________________________ St Aloysius College Junior School____________________________________________ St Andrew's Cathedral School - Junior_____________________________________ St Andrew's Cathedral School - Middle____________________________________ St Andrew's Cathedral School - Senior_____________________________________ St Augustine's Senior College Brookvale__________________________________ St Benedicts Catholic College________________________________________________ St Bernadette's Primary School Castle Hill________________________________ St Bernard's Primary School Berowra Heights___________________________ St Catherine's School - Junior_________________________________________________ St Catherine's School - Senior_________________________________________________ St Clare's College Waverly______________________________________________________ St George Christian School - Junior________________________________________ St George Christian School - Senior________________________________________ St Ignatius College Riverview - Middle_____________________________________ St Ignatius College Riverview - Senior______________________________________ St Ives Preparatory School______________________________________________________ St John Bosco College - Junior_______________________________________________ St Joseph's Catholic High School Albion Park___________________________ St Joseph's College Hunters Hill______________________________________________ St Leo's Catholic College________________________________________________________ St Luke's Grammar School - Bayview_______________________________________ St Luke's Grammar School - Junior__________________________________________ St Luke's Grammar School - Senior__________________________________________ St Mary's Cathedral College____________________________________________________ St Michael's Primary School Baulkham Hills_______________________________ St Patrick's College Campbelltown__________________________________________ St Patrick's Marist College______________________________________________________

St Patrick's Primary School Asquith__________________________________________ St Paul's Grammar School - Junior___________________________________________ St Paul's Grammar School - Senior___________________________________________ St Peter's Anglican Primary School Campbelltown_____________________ St Philip's Christian College (Cessnock) - Junior________________________ St Philip's Christian College (Cessnock) - Senior________________________ St Philip's Christian College (Gosford) - Junior__________________________ St Philip's Christian College (Gosford) - Senior__________________________ St Philip's Christian College (Newcastle) - Junior_______________________ St Philip's Christian College (Newcastle) - Senior_______________________ St Philip's Christian College (Port Stephens) - Junior_________________ St Philip's Christian College (Port Stephens) - Middle________________ St Philip's Christian College (Port Stephens) - Senior_________________ St Scholastica's College Glebe________________________________________________ St Ursula's College Kingsgrove________________________________________________ St Vincent's College_______________________________________________________________ Stella Maris College_______________________________________________________________ Sydney Grammar School - Senior____________________________________________ Tangara Junior School For Girls_______________________________________________ Tangara Senior School For Girls_______________________________________________ Tara Anglican School for Girls - Junior_____________________________________ Tara Anglican School for Girls - Senior_____________________________________ Taree Christian Community School_________________________________________ The Anglican School Googong Junior (ACT)_____________________________ The Armidale School - Senior__________________________________________________ The Hills Grammar School - Junior___________________________________________ The Hills Grammar School - Senior___________________________________________ The Illawarra Grammar School - Junior_____________________________________ The Illawarra Grammar School - Senior_____________________________________ The King's School - Senior______________________________________________________ The King's School Preparatory School______________________________________ The Lakes Christian College - Junior_______________________________________ The Pittwater House School - Senior________________________________________ The Scots College - Boarding_________________________________________________ The Scots College - Middle_____________________________________________________ The Scots College - Senior_____________________________________________________ The Scots College Preparatory School_____________________________________ Thomas Hassall Anglican College - Junior________________________________ Thomas Hassall Anglican College - Senior________________________________ Toongabbie Christian College - Junior_____________________________________ Toongabbie Christian College - Senior_____________________________________ Trades Norwest Anglican College - Senior________________________________ Trinity Christian School - Junior______________________________________________ Trinity Christian School - Senior______________________________________________ Trinity Grammar Preparatory School________________________________________ Trinity Grammar School - Boarding__________________________________________ Trinity Grammar School - Junior______________________________________________ Trinity Grammar School - Senior______________________________________________ Tudor House School______________________________________________________________ Tyndale Christian School - Junior____________________________________________ Tyndale Christian School - Senior____________________________________________ Victory Lutheran College Wodonga_________________________________________ Wahroonga Preparatory School_______________________________________________ Waverley College Senior School______________________________________________ Wenona School - Junior_________________________________________________________ Wenona School - Senior_________________________________________________________ William Carey Christian School - Junior____________________________________ William Carey Christian School - Senior____________________________________ William Clarke College - Junior________________________________________________ William Clarke College - Senior________________________________________________ Wollondilly Anglican College - Junior_______________________________________ Wollondilly Anglican College - Senior_______________________________________ Wycliffe Christian School - Junior____________________________________________ Wycliffe Christian School - Middle___________________________________________ Wycliffe Christian School - Senior____________________________________________ Wyong Christian Community School - Junior___________________________ Wyong Christian Community School - Senior___________________________

1,384 students representing 429 NSW and ACT state or Catholic schools, and WA schools also attended CRU Holiday Camps or CRU Educational Camps.

10 students representing 9 NSW and ACT state or Catholic schools, and WA schools also attended CRU leadership training events (e.g. CrossTrain and Spring Leadership Camp WA).

382 students from disadvantaged backgrounds attended CRU Holiday Camps (incl. sponsored campers).

Please note that this list is sourced from Sep 2018 - Aug 2019. Only schools that have two or more students are listed.

Financial Reports Thank you so much for your support in 2019!

God has provided abundantly through faithful people like you! Over 102,500 young people were reached last year with the gospel through CRU® on camps and in schools across NSW, the ACT and WA. We appreciate your time, prayers and gifts which helped make CRU’s ministry to young people a reality.

Thank you to those who have sacrificially given towards Stage 1 of the Lake Mac campsite redevelopment. Praise God that we have now met our $19m community fundraising target plus received a $5m government grant! We are still reaching out to supporters who haven’t yet had an opportunity to give to this project. Further contributions will help fund an additional (fifth) cabin that has been brought forward to Stage 1, creating more accommodation space, and help reduce bridging finance costs.

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Year ended 31 August 2019

Year ended 31 August 2019

2018 ($)

2019 ($)

REVENUE AND OTHER INCOME

2018 ($)

2019 ($)

8,723,486

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

8,531,695

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN INCOME

6,480,733

9,011462

5,352,135

5,004,888

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

11,373,745

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SCHEME

18,114,820

(5,045,293)

(5,592,912)

TOTAL ASSETS

20,385,207

23,466,955

CAMP EXPENSES

(1,533,396)

(1,501,104)

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

3,912,444

3,675,535

ADMINISTRATION & IT EXPENSE

(636,740)

(669,561)

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

602,721

555,423

CATERING EXPENSE

(536,056)

(599,465)

TOTAL LIABILITIES

4,515,165

4,230,958

(651,704)

(997,643)

NET ASSETS

15,870,042

19,235,997

DEPRECIATION, & IMPAIRMENT EXPENSE RENT, UTILITIES, INSURANCE, REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

MEMBERS' FUNDS

(571,131)

(634,038)

RETAINED SURPLUS

15,745,042

19,235,997

FINANCE COSTS

(52,619)

(33,471)

GENERAL RESERVE

125,000

-

MARKETING & ADVERTISING

(362,045)

(334,225)

TOTAL MEMBERS' FUNDS

15,870,042

19,235,997

CURRENT YEAR SURPLUS

5,623,444

3,365,955

INCOME

EXPENDITURE 22% CRU EDUCATIONAL CAMPS

33% GALSTON

16% HOLIDAY CAMPS

26% CRU EDUCATIONAL CAMPS

18% GALSTON

13% DONATIONS

Income* $8,723,486

11% ADMIN, IT & GOVERNANCE

Expenditure $10,362,419

19% HOLIDAY & DAY CAMPS

6% SCHOOLS MINISTRY 10% DEPRECIATION & AMORTISATION

7% LAKE MAC

*Does not include Capital Campaign Income

2% OTHER (INCLUDES SCHOOLS MINISTRY, TRAINING, WA CAMPS & INTEREST INCOME)

6% LAKE MAC 4% FUNDRAISING 1% CRU WEST

3% LAKE MAC REDEVELOPMENT

3% MARKETING

LAKE MAC REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT Year ended 31 August 2019

2019 PROJECT TOTAL (INCL 100 ACRE PURCHASE)

Campaign Revenue ($)

Campaign Costs ($)

Consultants, Preliminary, Building & Other Project Costs ($)

5,004,888

356,621

7,804,258

14,405,606

1,208,821

10,688,682

(Includes original bequest received of $2.6m)

Page Twenty Two CRU’s Finance Committee supports the CRU Board in providing financial direction and oversight to the organisation. This includes regular meetings to review and approve the accounts. The 2018/2019 Full Year Financial Statements were audited by NEXIA.

Thank You Thank you for your prayers and financial support over the past year.

Please partner with us in 2020 as we seek to glorify God and reach a new generation of Aussie kids with the truth about Jesus, and help them to grow in their faith.

CRU® Ministry & Property Updates We are thankful for the great work God is doing through CRU®. Stay up to date with everything that is happening in our various ministries and properties.

“

“Camp helped me understand more about where I am in my faith.”

Nate Giles, camper on Easyriders Winter 2019

“Since we re-book our Mid-Year Conference in advance after the camp each year, the process of booking our stay is always very easy and smooth!

CRU staff are excellent in ensuring that our group is well-catered for and are great in responding to our enquiries as quickly and efficiently as possible... The appearance and cleanliness of CRU Galston is always at the highest standard.

And once again, the food (especially the jam donuts) are always a highlight for everyone!”

Sarah Brown, CU Macquarie Uni, guest at CRU Galston Gorge

“Everyone, from office staff to cooks and cleaners were friendly, helpful and accommodating. Thank you for making us feel welcome - a challenge with over 160 excited primary school children!”

Jenny Hilderbrandt, Hornsby North Public School Band Program, guest at CRU Galston Gorge

HOLIDAY CAMPS • Praise God for the 24 Holiday Camps that ran over the summer season. We saw

over 900 campers and 300 leaders enjoy the fun and sun, while also discovering that Jesus is the answer!

• CRU Ball (our annual thank you event for CRU’s volunteer leaders) happened again in October and saw over 180 leaders celebrate and give thanks for what God has been doing through CRU Holiday Camps.

• In spring, our Galston campsite hosted its largest ever cohort of Year 12 students on CRU Study Camps, with 355 students attending over 2 weeks.

• Throughout Term 1 of 2020, CRU is expected to run a total of 39 Educational

EDUCATIONAL CAMPS

Camps for over 2,545 campers. We’re incredibly thankful for the opportunity to share the gospel with every one of these students as they come on camp with CRU. We are also very thankful for our partnership with these schools that bring their students on camp with us.

• At the start of January, we welcomed our new Summit Program trainees (formerly referred to as ‘Fellows’). It is very exciting to have some fresh faces on board who are ready to share the gospel on camps and we are very thankful to God for His provision.

• Along with our corporate rebrand, Summit Educational Camps is being renamed to CRU Educational Camps. We pray that this change will help communicate unity in CRU’s brand and wider ministry, especially for teachers and students.

• Praise God for the opportunities that students have to be in God’s creation and for the many opportunities for gospel conversations while completing activities.

Praise God for Nathan*, in Year 7, who was chatting to a leader throughout a bushwalk on camp. He shared with his leader that he was unsure where he was at with God and they were able to have a great conversation during the walk. As they reached the top of the hill at the lookout, Nathan commented, “Wow, how cool is this? God must be pretty epic!”

Page Twenty Four *Name changed for privacy reasons

GALSTON GORGE

• We are delighted to see increased use of the indoor high ropes, the flexibility it

provides, and the enjoyment it produces for guest groups, CRU® Holiday Camps and CRU Educational Camps.

• Praise God for the successful installation and operation of 100KW solar panels.

We are grateful for the excellent service provided by the contractors and for the financial savings the panels are producing.

• As we rebrand to CRU, it has been exciting to be involved in the design of new quality signage across the site. The new signs are impactful upon arrival and clearly guide people around the site as they search for their accommodation and meeting rooms.

SCHOOLS MINISTRY

• The Schools Ministry Team are excited that the latest CRU Groups resource

on Colossians is now ready for chaplains, teachers and students to use in their lunchtime groups.

• Praise God that over the last 12 months, the Schools Ministry Team have witnessed many CRU Groups growing in the number of students who attend each week. The team has enjoyed visiting all the CRU Groups and sharing the love of Jesus with them.

• Give thanks to God for the 223 students who attended Mega-CRU in November 2019. Pray especially for the students who heard the gospel of Jesus for the first time at the event.

DAY CAMPS • Praise God that this winter, we saw our first Day Camp reach 100 campers!

St Paul’s Castle Hill partnered with us for this camp.

• Thank God for the 128 high school assistant leaders who were trained in Christian ministry over this past year.

• After many seasons of growth since Day Camps began in 2013, we’re now

entering a phase of consolidation. We are working towards a goal of improving processes, efficiencies and quality of programs, while maintaining the current level of around 750-800 campers per year. Pray that God will continue to work in campers and leaders through this new phase.

CRU WEST

• Praise God for the way that Inter-CRU events in WA have grown - from 8

students at the first event in 2018, to over 50 students at our most recent event in November 2019.

• We’re thankful for the way our partners have joined with us at a growing number of prayer meetings, and are generously giving at a level that allows us to increase our staffing in WA. • Praise God for the growth in Perth’s Spring Leadership Camp, which had 15 campers in 2017, 39 campers in 2018, and 59 campers in 2019. Also thank God that there are more campers who want to be involved in CRU Groups at their school after camp each year.

Please turn over to view Lake Mac updates Page Twenty Five

Lake Mac

Update O

• Praise God that the construction of Stage 1 is well underway.

• Praise God that we can carry on with existing camps while half of the site has been sectioned off for the redevelopment.

• Thank God for the successful completion of the new climbing tower. Our guests have enjoyed the new climbing challenges that the tower offers.

The Stage 1 works to redevelop the Lake Mac campsite are well underway. If you were to visit this week, you would find: 1. A new 13m abseiling and rock climbing tower 2. A new boathouse and storage yard nearing completion with a 2nd level meeting room 3. Cabin 4 nearing completion with ensuite accommodation for 52 campers 4. Cabins 1, 2, 3 and 5 well underway which will provide ensuite accommodation for an additional 208 campers 5. A new dining hall under construction with capacity for 350 people 6. A new archery range and beach volleyball court almost complete 7. A new maintenance shed under construction 8. Pedestrian access for the 40-hectare bushland area complete 9. Bivouac and Refuge Building on the 40-hectare bushland area almost complete

We continue to seek God about all aspects of this project and thank Him for His continued provision and guidance.

Whilst the major fundraising campaign is over, there are still opportunities for supporters to give towards this project. Further support will help provide funds for the fifth cabin (brought forward into Stage 1), as well as assist with the costs of bridging finance.

“

We continue to seek God about all aspects of this project and thank Him for His continued provision and guidance.

“

P

raise God that very soon, thousands more campers will have the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel at the new Lake Mac!

To donate, please call the CRU Fundraising team on (02) 9874 8933 (opt 4).

You can stay updated on the progress of the redevelopment, view photos, and watch drone videos of the construction at www. growlakemac.com.au The Grand Opening and Service of Dedication for Stage 1 will be held on 22nd August 2020.

Watch this space for further details! We are so grateful to the CRU community for your continued prayers as we build the new Lake Mac - for God’s glory!

This project is funded by the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund

Page Twenty Seven

Thank You CRU® is so thankful for those who faithfully give their time, money and efforts to support our ministries. We want to say thank you to these three people, who have played a vital role in the work of CRU over many years:

ANNETTE WARE

DANIELLE BROCKINGTON

TOM PATTISON

Annette came to faith as a 19-year-old and now attends St Andrew’s Anglican Church at Roseville. Over the past ten years, Annette has served faithfully on the CRU Board. As Dean of Senior College at Abbotsleigh, Annette loves spending her days with young women who are keen to live life well and with meaning, purpose and hope.

In Year 12, Danielle attended a CRU Study Camp which brought “greater clarity” about her relationship with God. Danielle also remembers fondly the CRU breakfasts held at her school, Roseville College, where they “ate croissants and heard interesting stories about God.”

Tom Pattison came to faith through a youth group, and has served on 10+ CRU Study Camps as a volunteer leader and speaker. Tom started his ministry at St Mark’s Avalon, then studied at Moore College, worked as a Minister at Grace City Church, Waterloo and in 2020 will begin working at Geneva Push. He is married to Brie.

Annette says, “CRU Groups allow students at all stages of their faith journey to learn and grow, to ask questions, and to be encouraged and supported... Many students credit CRU with being a key factor in their coming to faith and growing as a Christian. Many also learn valuable leadership skills as they give talks and lead others."

Danielle is married to Peter and has two daughters, Chloe and Millie. Danielle currently works at Westpac managing projects and has a business distributing skincare products.

Annette continues, “CRU Study Camps are enormously helpful for developing good study routines while also providing an opportunity to investigate afresh the person of Jesus at a key time of transition in their lives.”

Since her school days, Danielle’s connection with CRU has remained strong. Danielle and Peter are regular table hosts at the CRU Business Breakfasts.

“CRU is a great way for children to hear the gospel message, explore their faith, and grow in their knowledge of God - in a safe environment. I’m amazed at how many children CRU is able to connect with each year through schools and camps!”

Thank you, Annette, for your faithful service to the Lord through CRU!

Thank you, Danielle and Peter, for your faithful support of God’s work through CRU.

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Tom shares, “On the most recent Study Camp, I saw a girl who had come to faith on a previous Study Camp, return as a leader and stand up to tell her story… Study Camps provide a unique opportunity where 17 to 18-year-olds can explore faith in a comparatively anonymous environment, full of compelling leaders who are a couple of life stages ahead of them. They can ask the deep questions of life and take a step forward in a way they never would at school.”

Thanks so much, Tom, for your faithful service as a volunteer leader and speaker on CRU Study Camps.

CRU Community ®

HOOKED • Emma Bennett & Damon Pesavento • Emma Gray & Harry Roberts • Ash Lambert & Lachlan Bunn

HITCHED • Bonnie Mason & Aaron Rootes – 21 September 2019 • Mel Brady & Brock Sperinck - 2 October 2019 • Jolly Gomes & Apurbo Biswas - 31 October 2019 • Jaimi Fenwick & Joel Fullerton - 9 November 2019

HATCHED • Kait & Alex Chapman – a boy, Jude Alexander, born 25 August 2019 • Emma & Martin Robinson – a boy, Isaac Andrew, born 7 September 2019 • Grace & Damien Wang – a girl, Rosemary Joy, born 21 September 2019 • Elise & Matthew Hill – a girl, Magnolia Henrietta, born 8 October 2019 • Emily & Blake Peisley - a girl, Indiana Isla, born 12 October 2019

TEACHERS ON THE MOVE • Kylie Wilson will be School Chaplain and Head of Biblical Studies at St Catherine’s School from Term 1, 2020.

• Jonathan Brayshaw is taking leave from Pacific Hills Christian School to teach in Canada during 2020.

• Richard Browning will become Director of Mission for Anglican Schools in the Brisbane Diocese in 2020.

• Matt Stackhouse has finished up as School Chaplain at Charlton Christian College and will commence full-time PhD studies on the Spiritual Formation of Christian Educators.

• Marty Telfer will be starting his new role as Principal of St Philip's Christian College (SPCC) Port Stephens from Term 1, 2020.

• Dr Tim Petterson has moved from SPCC Port Stephens to be Headmaster of Shore School from Term 1, 2020.

• Keith Dalleywater is moving from being Head of Brisbane Boys' College Junior School to be the Head of SPCC Port Stephens Junior School from Term 1, 2020.

• Suz Gorham has moved from being Chaplain at Roseville College to Senior State Chaplain - Specialist Commands with the NSW Police Force.

• Damien Whitington will become Chaplain at Northern Beaches Christian School.

• Matthew Richards is moving from a teaching role at St Peter's Anglican School to be an Assistant Chaplain at Thomas Hassall Anglican College.

• Jann Robinson has announced her retirement from her role as Principal at St Luke's Grammar School at the end of Term 2, 2020.

HOME • Bill Hayward – 6 August 2019 • Sally Warren – 21 September 2019 • Craig Sinclair - November 2019

CRUVIEW

Keep us posted

If you have any news, updates, or stories that you would like to share with the CRU community, let us know by emailing cruview@crusaders.edu.au

Page Twenty Nine

Sharing Jesus with a new generation

The Crusader Union of Australia PO Box 590, Eastwood NSW 2122 (02) 9874 8933 www.crusaders.edu.au ABN 90 213 359 332