CRU's Strategic Plan

CRU's Strategic Plan

CRU’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.

“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 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.”

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.