CRUview Spring 2020: The Thankfulness Edition

CRUVIEW Spring 2020

s s e n l u f k n Tha O THE

EDITION

2-5

Stage 1 is complete

6-8

Investing in gospel work...

10-11

CRU's COVID-19 stories

12-13

Meet Ed Surrey

Contents 1 2 6 9 The Big Picture

Stage 1 is complete

Investing in gospel work - past, present and future The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few

10 12 14 16 17

CRU's COVID-19 stories Meet Ed Surrey, Director of CRU West CRU® Ministry & Property Updates Thank You CRU Community

Upcoming Events CRU Business Breakfast Date: Thursday, 15 October 2020 Time: 7:15am – 8:45am Location: The Grand Ballroom, The Fullerton Hotel Enjoy breakfast in fellowship with other CRU supporters while hearing about how God is impacting young lives through the ministry of CRU. For further info and to RSVP, call Felicity on 02 9188 9719 or email felicity.schmitz@cru.edu.au

CRU West Dinner Date: Monday, 19 October 2020 Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm Location: St Mark's Anglican Community School, Hillarys WA Enjoy dinner with friends and other CRU supporters of our Western Australia ministry. Hear from our new CRU West Director, Ed Surrey, about what God is doing through CRU in WA, including school visits, camps and face-to-face ministry. There will also be an opportunity for you to partner with us for the future. For more info, please email Ed at edward.surrey@cru.edu.au

CRU Wills Day Dates: Friday 23 & Saturday 24 October 2020 Have your Will written or updated for free by one of our experienced lawyers. To make an appointment, email Philippa at philippa. mccredie@cru.edu.au or call 0417 254 617.

CRU VOLT Summer Date: Saturday, 5 December 2020 Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm Location: SMBC (Robert Dale Campus) A free pre-season CRU Holiday Camps training morning for camp leaders to be equipped, empowered, and envisioned. For more info, email cruleaders@cru.edu.au

These events are correct at the time of writing. CRU is committed to following all Government health advice which may require events to be postponed, cancelled or changed. Prior to each event, please contact us at info@cru.edu.au to confirm current details.

The Big

Picture Pictured: Gary Hill, Executive Director

The Thankfulness Edition In the depths of a pandemic, when our direct ministry connections are limited, we publish CRUview with the theme of Thankfulness. Is this a classic case of bad timing?

to build His Church. We can be thankful and rejoice because we know of victory over sin and death, and that Jesus will return.

Remembering these things will allow us to press on when things are challenging. I’m struck by the example of the apostles in Acts 5. After being put in jail, being lectured by the authorities who gathered as the Sanhedrin, and being flogged for daring to speak of Jesus, we read that they were “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (v41). Their perspective went beyond the current strife to the heavenly throne of the King.

As we talked and prayed about this issue, we didn’t think so. In fact, we thought it was ideal to feature this.

In I Thessalonians we read: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thess 5:16-18)

We note that this wasn’t written to a group of believers as they lived in comfort, sunbathing as they holidayed In a helpful reflection on the dedication of the Temple on the shores of the Aegean Sea, but to those who in the book of Nehemiah1, Jenny Salt has noted that “the joy of God’s people turned to God “in spite of is God-centred” and that severe suffering” (1:6). How do “remembering His faithfulness we give thanks when Their perspective went beyond the fosters joy.” pressure abounds?

“

current strife to the heavenly throne of the King.

“

There are reasons to be thankful when we can see projects progressing, when we see people growing in faith and love, when we reflect on encouragements.

Several of the articles in this issue of CRUview help us to recognise things for which we can be thankful – the completion of Stage 1 construction of CRU Lake Mac is just one example.

Yet going even further, we can be thankful and rejoice because we recognise that God is sovereign, and He has adopted us into His family. We can be thankful and rejoice because He keeps His promises, and continues

“If the people of God in Jerusalem were consumed by thankfulness, how much more ought that be true for us who live on this side of the cross? How much more ought that be true for us who know God’s faithfulness in the Lord Jesus Christ? Indeed, the joy of God’s people comes with thankfulness.”

I pray that as you read this issue of CRUview, you will give great praise to God, and be thankful.

1 https://www.crossway.org/articles/the-connection-betweenthankfulness-and-joy/

Page One

CRUÂŽ Lake Mac: Stage 1 is

C

complete!

O

RU’s heart is to see the next generation knowing Jesus. Give thanks to God that the completion of Stage 1 of the Lake Mac redevelopment has already allowed us to connect with a new cohort of campers!

• The unification of the site in 2013 when Lake Macquarie City Council agreed to sell us the unformed portion of Lake Rd which had previously bisected the land and limited redevelopment options.

Year 12 students on a CRU Study Camp which started on July 5th were the first camp to utilise the new cabins. The program was directed by Emmerson Brumby, a Bachelor of Arts and Advanced Studies student at the University of Sydney, who herself had come to faith on a CRU Study Camp at Galston.

Numbers were capped this year due to the need to meet COVID restrictions, and strict procedures were followed, yet the campers loved the new facilities and the whole feel of the site. “The campers all raved about the modern facilities, the prime waterfront views, and all the green space available to run around playing sport or to chill out in the sun. It’s state-of-the-art and will be such a huge asset in facilitating CRU’s ministries for many years to come,” Emmerson commented.

A session on Study Skills was presented by Matthew Hill, Director of the Barker Institute, and son of CRU’s

• The acquisition of 100 acres on the other side of Yarrawonga Park Road in 2015, allowing total site capacity to grow as well as providing options for bivouac and challenge programs.

• The appointment of Glendenning Szoboszlay as architects following a design competition in 2017.

• The funding of the construction work by generous donors and foundations who between them contributed $20m, with additional $5m funding from the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund.

“

All the new facilities are amazing, and will prove hugely attractive to schools, churches and all sorts of camp programs.

“

Executive Director, Gary Hill. “Having created so many memories on this site, and knowing how many years of prayer, planning and hard work had gone into its redevelopment, I was excited to be part of the first camp,” said Matthew. “The Boathouse Meeting Room was a great location for the Study Skills session, but really all the new facilities are amazing, and will prove hugely attractive to schools, churches and all sorts of camp programs.”

The construction work was completed ten years after the last piece of the Galston redevelopment, the dining hall, was finished in 2010. Key milestones in that time have included: • Almost 5 years of exploration of alternate locations between Brooklyn and Raymond Terrace in case a better site was available (which it wasn’t).

Page Four

• Construction by Stephen Edwards Construction began in February 2019, while regular camps ran alongside using the existing A-frame cabins and hall.

• In June 2019, buoyed by the generous support for our fundraising, and recognising the cost savings which would come from acting promptly, CRU’s Board approved the construction of a 5th new cabin.

• July 2020 saw the first CRU Camp use the new cabins!

We look forward to seeing more students, teachers, churches and community groups thriving as they enjoy using these wonderful new facilities.

The dining hall

The climbing tower

The boathouse

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

Page Five

Investing in gospel work – past, present and

future O

A

s we reach to press the doorbell, the door swings wide open and we are warmly greeted by a welcoming party - three grinning children strong! Angie and Andrew Davidson appear alongside their kids, welcome us with cups of tea, and we all settle down to hear about their involvement with CRU - past, present and future.

Angie grew up in a Christian family and remembers coming to faith as an 8-year-old, praying in Sunday School one morning and asking Jesus to be her friend.

Her first involvement with CRU was in high school where she attended the Ravenswood CRU Group and became a leader in Year 12. She shares, “Being a leader there had a big impact on the way that I matured in my faith. It was exciting to have a Christian leadership opportunity at school.”

Another highlight for her was January Leadership Camp, “JLC was a really big deal at the time for equipping young leaders. I attended that then went back a couple of years later to lead on it.” She

of my heritage, so it became a bit more my own faith at that point.”

Andrew had never heard of CRU until he saw his church friends leading on a CRU sailing camp. “I sailed when I grew up and the sailing camp sounded like a fun idea. In 2000, I went on my first Sailing Adventure camp and you know, the sailing was exciting, but also meeting other Christians not from my circle was a great experience. 20 years later, I’m still texting people who are my friends through CRU,” he shares.

“After doing that camp for 10 consecutive summers, the friendships that we have with those people are probably my closest lifelong friends.”

The way Angie and Andrew met is a familiar CRU story.

Andrew had been leading on Sailing Adventure and Angie was good friends of a mutual CRU connection.

They had both attended a party and Andrew knew pretty quickly that he was interested in the “short and loud one” …and 3 kids later, they’re still connected to the CRU community.

“

When our time on earth is done, what really matters is that the good news continues to be shared.

“

continues, “I’m thankful I had the opportunity to grow and be stretched and be challenged, and always in a supportive environment where there was always somebody you could go and ask a question to or be mentored by.”

Years later, after completing university, Angie’s first full-time job was in CRU’s Marketing & Fundraising team where she enjoyed “seeing how it all works behind the scenes and getting to go on the Holiday Camps to take a lot of the photos and video footage for all the advertising material.”

By comparison, Andrew was also brought up in a Christian home but didn’t seriously consider his faith until he was living out of home as an adult. He shares, “My dad was a Baptist Minister and I was brought up in a Christian family. But at 18, I think I was at a stage where I just realised that God loves me independent

Nowadays, Andrew works as a teacher at Barker and Angie manages the busyness that comes with raising 3 young children. Their involvement with CRU is mainly through valuable financial and prayer support, however, they can foresee that “CRU Camps are in our kids’ future for sure!”

Page Seven

We’re so thankful that Angie and Andrew have supported CRU for so many years and when asked why they are so committed to supporting us, Angie shares, “I think there are a lot of great organisations doing good things to help others, but I know CRU is doing the most important thing in sharing the gospel… at the end of the day the only thing that’s going to last, and is of eternal significance, is the good news of Jesus.”

Before having kids, as a young married couple, Angie and Andrew had left writing a Will in the “important and will get to it someday" pile. So, when the opportunity came up to have a Will written for free at a CRU Wills Day, it was something the Davidsons found really useful.

We’re thankful that they decided to leave a gift to CRU in their Will. And now, even after having children, have decided to continue to leave a bequest to CRU. Andrew recalls, “Writing our Will gave us the

Have your Will written or updated for

free!

O

opportunity to have a really deep and meaningful conversation about guardianship and the future of our children and resources.”

Angie continues, “I think there’s an element of trust isn’t there? You’ve been responsible in dividing up your assets and trust that God will provide for the kids.

And also, that we can trust CRU to continue to share the good news after we’ve gone. It’s good for people to know that you can leave a bequest in your Will and no matter how big or small, it’s going to help the organisation in sharing the good news into the future.”

By leaving a gift to CRU in their Will, Angie hopes to leave a legacy, “We do all that we can in this life to share Jesus with our own children, our friends, and our community. But you know, when our time on earth is done, what really matters is that the good news continues to be shared.”

We’re so thankful for the many years Angie and Andrew have supported CRU, not only for the years that have passed, but for supporting us in the future through a gift in their Will. Their support is evidence of God’s kindness and faithfulness, especially in these times of uncertainty and turmoil.

As Andrew reflects on this year, we echo his thoughts, “I’m thankful that God’s in control. I often come back to God’s sovereignty because it helps me to not worry about the future or things that are out of my control and that’s something that provides peace.”

Attend a CRU Wills Day: Friday, 23 October in Mona Vale OR Saturday, 24 October in North Sydney or Eastwood

Contact us to secure your appointment: philippa.mccredie@cru.edu.au

Page Eight

0417 254 617

harvest The

is plentiful, but the workers are few!

You will be aware that the new CRU Lake Mac campsite will allow an additional 20,000 kids to hear about Jesus each year once the total project has been completed - what an incredible opportunity! We give great thanks to God that Stage 1 construction of the campsite is now done, but we are faced with a growing need…

To staff the increased demand for our CRU Educational Camps, we urgently need to grow our Summit team so we can make these camps

happen and share the gospel with the thousands of campers who need Jesus.

Applications for the Summit Program are now open for a January 2021 start.

Please help us find the right people as we seek to recruit more workers to join the Summit Program and grow God’s Kingdom. Find out more at www.summitprogram.com.au

More than a job - make an eternal impact!

The CRU Summit Program is a full-time training and ministry program running over one or two years. Be paid to help share the gospel with thousands of school students each year while you receive transformational training!

Join our expanding team as we launch the new CRU Lake Mac. Apply today for a Jan 2021 start.

Receive Bible, youth and kids ministry, and leadership training Lead over 2,000 young people on camp every year

“To get trained and equipped in all of these different skills is amazing.” - Brooke

Complete a Certificate II & III in Outdoor Recreation

Find out more at

www.summitprogram.com.au Apply today!

Page Nine

CRU’s COVID-19

stories O

Social distancing restrictions during COVID meant that many of CRU’s usual camping and school ministry programs could not run as normal. As a result, many CRU staff have embraced different work arrangements and have adopted new and creative ways to continue their ministries. We thank God for these opportunities.

Working in aged care We’re very thankful for the partnership CRU has with BaptistCare and HammondCare during this season. A number of CRU employees were provided with the opportunity to work in their aged care centres and were encouraged by the time spent with the residents.

It has been such a joy to serve in aged care over these last three months. A particular highlight has been reminiscing with a resident who remembers camping in the huts at Lake Mac and singing camp songs around the fire, and then hearing this same lady pray for her fellow residents to come to know Christ. It was a wonderful reminder that we can never be too old to be on mission for God. I’m grateful to God for His provision in sending us into aged care and for the many new friendships that I have made.

During my time in aged care, I’ve been working as a full-time Chaplain. Through running chapels, Bible studies, prayer groups and many pastoral visits, I have really enjoyed getting to know the residents and encouraging them in their faith. In the prayer group, it’s great to see these elderly prayer warriors bringing big prayer requests to God each week. I’ve also been surprised by how much the residents love my magic shows - I’ve done 5 shows and they still want more!

- Nigel Vaux, CRU Schools Ministry Worker

- Kellie Thomson, CRU Schools Ministry Worker

I was asked to help a resident reorganise her bookshelf. It was an afternoon of reminiscing on photographs, music, Christian resources written by her late husband, and books written by other family members. She showed me a song book from when she attended the Billy Graham crusades, and I was gifted a list of trivia questions she’d used on a camp when she was young so they could have a second go. I am so encouraged by this lady’s enduring faith in our Great Father, her joy in knowing the Lord and her keenness to keep sharing this with others.

- Steph Semler, CRU Camps Volunteers’ Coordinator

Page Ten

Working in aged care has been so different to working with kids (on camps), but just as encouraging!

I’ve enjoyed working alongside fellow CRU staff who were pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones, and making the most of our situation. It was a great blessing to see how God was still working through us to bring joy to the residents by having conversations with them about faith and spending time to pray with them.

- Campbell Steven, Summit trainee

We give thanks for the initiatives of CRU Lake Mac staff in seeking to practically serve and show love to the local community. The team developed the idea of CRU FOOD 2 U, a meals delivery service, supplying meals to families, singles, and the elderly.

With the assistance of a $10,000 donation from the Bible Society, CRU Food 2 U has been able to bless the community and those in need with over 1,500 free meal portions, Bibles and trauma healing cards. CRU has received many thanks from recipients, including one mum who is not a Christian. She wrote:

CRU FOOD 2 U by CRU Lake Mac

Just want to say a big thank you to all of you kind people for the wonderful meals and the books. Thank you so very much! This week has been so hard, it’s just me and I’ve felt so overwhelmed and it was a really lovely surprise so thank you so much, I am so grateful to you all. God bless all of you.

Unable to visit schools in Term 2, the Schools Ministry Team created an 8-week digital CRU Group resource on 1 Peter that teachers and chaplains could use during their online group sessions with their students. These resources helped keep students and teachers connected and engaging with their faith even when they were not necessarily meeting face-to-face. It was used not only on the east coast but also in Perth by CRU West.

1 Peter digital resource

The resources on 1 Peter have been really helpful for our senior school group… It's been excellent. In fact, we had 150 students log in last term for one single online session – we normally get 80 students in a face-to-face session here onsite. Please be encouraged and know that your work is not for nothing but has a long reach for the gospel and in growing God’s Kingdom.

- Mark Schroder, Chaplain at Broughton Anglican College

Our heartfelt thanks to all those in the CRU community who upheld us in prayer and provided exceptional financial support to our June Crisis Appeal.

Without the extraordinary outpouring of generosity from friends like you it’s unlikely that we’d have been able to run camps in the winter school holidays – including the first camp at the new Lake Mac campsite where 17-year-old Grace decided to commit her life to Jesus! She shares: Camp has opened my eyes so much! The leaders were all open to talk and discuss Jesus and God and were extremely helpful in answering my many questions about Christianity.

Thank you

At time of writing, it seems likely that restrictions will mean both the number of camps and number of campers will be limited for the foreseeable future.

This means we are unfortunately anticipating continued financial shortfalls for some time. Your prayers for wisdom and the provision of funds over future months would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Page Eleven

Meet Ed Surrey, Director of

CRU West

O

CRU is incredibly thankful for the provision of Ed Surrey to lead the CRU West ministry. Born and raised in England, Ed has spent the last 5 years working as Associate Pastor at St Leonard’s Church in Exeter. Prior to that, Ed spent 6 years training and working at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in WA. In June, Ed returned to Perth to serve full-time as Director of CRU West. Let’s hear his story.

While I was at uni, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of an orange. The way he was dying over that year, simply trusting Jesus and knowing that Jesus was perfect, meant that he wasn’t worried about dying.

It made me look again at Jesus Christ and His claims. For the first time, it wasn’t hard to follow Jesus. I knew pretty quickly after that, that I wanted to spend the rest of my life telling people about Him.

Q. Hi Ed, please tell us a little bit about yourself!

A: My wife, Sally, and I are originally from the UK and moved to Perth with our 3 children in June. I’ve always known and loved Jesus, though there have been wayward paths along the way and moments where I didn’t like it. But Jesus is the main thing in our lives as a family, and my life too.

Q. How did you come to faith?

A: I grew up in a large English church just south of London. It had always been a wonderful praying, Bibleteaching, Jesus-loving church and always churned up people into ministry. But although I had the most wonderful teaching, I went my own way and was a stereotypical, bored teenager, and tried to be unique… just like everyone else. I did what I wanted and took everything for granted.

Page Twelve

Q. Tell us a little bit about your education, professional background and what ministry experience you’ve had.

A: Well, in uni, I wanted to read people’s minds so I studied psychology – I was a bit disappointed when I realised it wasn’t about that. So, I ended up doing an apprenticeship at a church in the UK. After that, I thoroughly enjoyed being a maths teacher for a couple of years at a posh school near Oxford and then I came to Perth to work for a church here…

It was supposed to be 18 months or 2 years but ended up being 6 years! I also studied at a theological college and once I finished my training, went back and served at a church in the UK. We were in the process of moving back to London when the prospect and opportunity of working for CRU West arose… and it was too much for us to decline!

Q. So, what do you think it was that made you decide to join CRU West’s ministry?

A: Some dear friends here, well-meaningly texted me photos of WA beaches and sunsets, and nice things, but I said to them, “That’s really nice of you, but my mum won’t see her grandchildren more than 10 times in her lifetime. I need more than a nice beach to do that to her.”

In the end, the challenge from CRU was, “Do you have a good reason not to come? And to try and persuade more students in Perth to come and give their lives to follow Jesus?” I didn’t have a good enough reason… and instead, actually had quite a few reasons to do it.

The job description is actually a great fit to my ministry experience and I’m at a point now where my energy and experience are at a good place to try lots of things – to take 10-12 years of church experience to a new territory.

Some things won’t work, but we trust that the Lord does work by His Word as we pray and have prayerful dependence on the Spirit.

Also, visiting CRU Galston and Lake Mac, and just seeing the humble work that goes on there week by week was great. Seeing school students come for a week, or a few days, and hear the gospel - you can’t beat that as a job!

Q. What is your role as Director of CRU West?

A: I think what Perth needed was someone who could give their full-time energy to it. Sheri, Hannah and others who have set it up have done a brilliant job, but for all of them, it’s one of many jobs they’ve got.

I think what my job is, is to take over the baton of CRU West in all the various aspects of it, full-time, and experiment and see whether it can grow here, in the same way it has over 90 years in Sydney.

“

all we’re doing, it’s very simple, but in the territory of camps and schools. Things in the west may look slightly different from the way it looks in the east, and we've got to not be scared of that, but trust that Jesus will grow His church to glorify God. Q. Are there any particular ministry opportunities you can see in WA? A: I think the specifics will happen over time and will appear as we get to know the area and the people, and what the needs are and where the focuses can be.

But I think for the moment, we just want to establish it as - we pray and teach His Word, and then we see what happens.

One big thing we need is lots of leaders. Lots of people who not just know how to win people, but people who are won by Christ. The best argument for the gospel isn’t just winning arguments against others, but showing that Christ has won you. So, we need lots of people like that who are willing to give time, money, prayer, to the cause of winning people for Christ.

Q. Having moved from the UK to WA, what are you most afraid of?

A: My fear is that I’ll give into worldly temptations, just to get numbers up. My fear is that I’ll think I’m wiser than God, in trying to be a success here, and not being faithful to His mission field, and His mission tactics of Word and prayer. That’s my fear more than anything else.

Q. What can we be praying for you as you and your family settle into life in WA? A: There are so many ordinary things to be extremely thankful for. Our kids have settled and God’s been very kind in helping them see that doing this for Jesus is worth it and God’s been helping us along all the way.

What my role is, is to make disciples with the two tools of Bible and prayer - talking to people about God and talking to God about people.

Also, we’re always just thankful that although we are sinners who deserve nothing from God except His rejection and to be isolated from Him, we are instead His children, filled with His Spirit.

And therefore, what my role is, is to make disciples with the two tools of Bible and prayer - talking to people about God and talking to God about people. That’s

The moment we’re not thankful for that is ‘game over’ I think. And if someone wants to pray for CRU West, it would be that we’d be thankful for that every day.

Because that will fill our lifetime of ministry more than any stats or camps or anything will.

Page Thirteen

“

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.

Story from Winter Study 3, CRU Holiday Camps

HOLIDAY CAMPS

EDUCATIONAL CAMPS

Page Fourteen

“

“I was able to make the decision to become a Christian through being able to discuss things personally and quietly with really thoughtful and caring group leaders.” - Annabelle went to church when she was younger but wasn't sure about where she stood with Jesus. While she had been on other CRU Camps before, it was on this camp where it really clicked for her and she decided to follow Jesus after some one-on-one discussions with leaders and a Christian friend.”

“

“I was surprised to find out that the most eager member of the group wasn't a Christian. Despite this, she was always involved in discussions and it was clear that she thought deeply about what was shared in discussion groups. By the last day of camp, her understanding of who Jesus had grown tremendously and she decided to become a Christian. She shared, ‘I didn't know how much Jesus loved me!’ She went home with her first Bible and a devotional book, and is now a friend of Jesus.”

Belle, leader on a Year 7 CRU Educational Camp

• Give thanks that 11 camps were able to run in winter, hosting over 550 students

and 160 leaders. Praise God that Anthony, a camper on a CRU Study Camp, became a Christian. He shares, “It’s kind of hard to explain. There was such compelling evidence and it just needed that leap of faith.”

• Give thanks that we successfully hosted our first camps at the newly redeveloped Lake Mac campsite during the winter CRU Camp season - a study camp and an activity camp. Both campers and leaders enjoyed the brand-new accommodation!

• We’re really looking forward to more study and activity camps at the new CRU Lake Mac as the campsite grows in reputation and momentum. We anticipate that the new accommodation and activities at the site will attract many more campers to attend a Holiday Camp.

• Thank God for the opportunity to run some staff training since restrictions began to lift in July. The Summit trainees have been training in theology, apologetics, leadership and outdoor recreation. It is exciting to see this training grow the Summit team, further equip them to run camps, and help them correctly handle the Word of truth.

• We’re thankful that, whilst residential camps have not been able to proceed, a number of schools have still wanted to provide their students with a camp-like experience this year. As restrictions have allowed, we’ve been able to run day programs in schools and field trips to our sites with a handful of schools. It’s wonderful that this ministry can still go ahead, and that a number of kids have taken home Bibles in order to continue to get to know Jesus.

• Through the difficult season of COVID-19, we are thankful for God’s provision of JobKeeper in order to help financially. We are also overwhelmingly thankful that many staff were willing and able to engage with work in the aged care sector during a time when camps were not running. These two things prevented the stand down of staff, and the engagement in aged care provided some unique ministry opportunities for staff.

GALSTON GORGE

LAKE MAC

• Praise God for the willingness of the Galston team to be redeployed in other

areas of work and contribute to seeing CRU work its way through this challenging time. Thank God for His provision in supplying work opportunities during restrictions on running camps. Those who were redeployed returned with encouraging stories and enthusiasm for the ministry they were doing.

• Thank God for the 3 Study Camps that were held at CRU Galston Gorge in winter.

Give thanks that God protected the camps from illness and allowed the camps to run smoothly.

• Praise God for the glowing feedback that the Department of Health gave as they inspected CRU Galston Gorge and its COVID-safe practices. They praised the process in place and assessed that operations were ‘basically perfect’.

• Please pray for the Galston team as they come back together, transition back into their roles, and prepare for upcoming camps.

• We are thankful for the time that we have had to be able to complete a number of

projects around the current site to refresh the existing cabins and attend to some landscaping projects.

• Praise God that the CRU Lake Mac redevelopment project has been able to continue to successful completion through this time of COVID-19. We are extremely thankful for God’s provision to enable us to complete stage 1 of this project.

• We are looking forward to camps coming back into the site and can’t wait to see the new site being used for gospel ministry. Please also pray for wisdom and creativity as we explore ways to engage with young people in the local community.

SCHOOLS MINISTRY

DAY CAMPS

• Thank God for the creative ways that the Schools Ministry staff have been able

to support CRU Groups to keep running, even when students were learning from home. It has been wonderful to see the team continue to support and maintain relationships with the schools during a difficult season.

• Give thanks that the Schools Ministry team could bless many teachers and students with a free digital CRU Group resource on 1 Peter. Many recipients expressed their gratitude for having this resource available while they met with their students online during Term 2.

• Praise God for the opportunities that are opening up for the Schools Ministry staff to head back into schools and teach the Bible to students in CRU Groups and chapels. While the team have embraced their time serving in other ministries, they can’t wait to get back into schools!

• We’re thankful for the support shown by our Day Camp partner schools and

churches during this challenging time for CRU. It’s been encouraging to speak with them about the ministry they’ve been doing and we’ve been heartened by their prayers for us.

• The CRU Blast Day Camp at Richard Johnson Anglican School was able to run in the winter holidays. Praise God! This is our longest running Day Camp and we had the 7th year of camp this year. It was exciting to see one Year 6 camper return who has been on camp every year since Kindergarten! We thank God for the partnerships we share with Richard Johnson Anglican School and Oakhurst Anglican Church in sharing the gospel with kids on camp every year. It was also encouraging to see another large group of high school leaders on camp and we’re thankful for the impact camp has in developing their ministry skills.

• We look forward to being able to run as many Day Camps as possible throughout the rest of the year. There’s still uncertainty around which camps will be confirmed but we thank God for his steadfast provision in sustaining the ministry of CRU through this time.

Page Fifteen

Thank You CRU® is so thankful for those who faithfully give of 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:

JESSICA HEWSON

Jessica has been involved with CRU for close to 15 years. Jess first attended and then had the opportunity to lead on Year 12 Study Camps.

Jess grew up in a Christian family, but made a commitment for herself at youth group in Year 7. She sees CRU playing such an important part in shaping young people’s faith at this formative age.

“CRU provides a space and opportunity for students to engage with and ask questions about Christianity before so many of the distractions of life such as university, work and family take hold.”

Jess knows several young people who have come to faith through CRU. She sees the value of strong relationships built on camp - many years on, people remain close and continue to encourage each other in faith.

Jess and her husband, Paul, have financially supported the ministry of CRU and Jess has recently joined the CRU Board and Finance Committee.

Jess also loves spending time with her baby Isla – a future CRU camper!

Thank you, Jess, for your involvement in CRU Camps and for using your finance expertise to serve God through CRU.

Page Sixteen

SIMON DUNN

EMMERSON BRUMBY

Simon is a lawyer, father and songleader for Mona Vale Anglican Church. He has attended a number of CRU Business Lunches at Parliament House and has heard some moving and inspiring testimonies from students who have come to faith on CRU Camps.

Emmerson came to faith on a CRU Year 12 Study Camp in 2017!

It was the very first time she had encountered Jesus and the Christian faith - and in the space of a few short days, she became convinced of the truth of Jesus and convicted of her need for His love and forgiveness.

Simon volunteers his legal services each year so that people in the CRU community have the opportunity to get their Will written for free, and to consider including a gift in their Will to CRU. Simon attended a Men’s Working Bee weekend at the Lake Mac campsite 10 years ago and is looking forward to more kids hearing the message of the gospel at the campsite now that the site has been redeveloped.

Simon believes that the work of CRU is especially important in high schools as teenagers are questioning the world and their place in it. He says, “CRU leaders are uniquely placed to make a connection with students when they are engaged in outdoor activities, experiencing God’s creation away from their usual routines.”

Thank you, Simon, for your involvement with CRU and for offering your legal expertise at our upcoming Wills Day on Friday, 23 October.

Emmerson said it was a great honour to be able to direct the very first camp at the redeveloped Lake Mac site. Over the course of the week, Emmerson had the privilege of witnessing two campers come to faith, four recommit their lives to Christ, and many others who were keen to keep exploring Christianity further.

“CRU is doing life-changing, eternityaltering work, all for the sake of the gospel and to the glory of God. The effect and impact of this is just immeasurable,” Emmerson says. She is excited for the work of CRU to continue to impact young lives in the years to come and prays for a revival of people who know, love, and trust in the Lord Jesus.

We thank you, Emmerson, for directing the first camp at the new Lake Mac site and for your passion and commitment to help kids come to know and love Jesus!

Community

HOOKED

CRUVIEW

HATCHED

• Charlie Parry & Naomi Dodd • Ben Robson & Lily Davidson • Matthew Wale & Laura McLachlan • Damien Whitington & Rachel Manchester • Ryan Betbeder & Natasha Jenkinson • Bailey Dodds & Stephanie Troost • Tim Wallace & Sophia Fish

• Karl & Lani Bonner – a girl, Ambrose Augustine, born 10 July 2020 • Andreas & Jessica Muratidi – a girl, Mabel Poppy, born 22 July 2020 • David & Emma Bott – a boy, Samuel David, born 26 July 2020 • Andrew & Anna Garven – a girl, Annika Dianne, born 1 August 2020 • Mike & Angella de Beer – a boy, Tyler James, born 2 August 2020

HITCHED • Harry Roberts & Emma Gray – 27 June 2020 • Christopher Gates & Adriana Kanjian – 25 July 2020 • James Dimarco & Karla Jeffery – 22 August 2020 • Mitch Wall & Bridie Carroll – 12 September 2020

Keep us posted

HOME • Maxine Kidd – 1 July 2020 • Phil Smith – 3 July 2020

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

Page Seventeen

We are ready for

you !

R

The newly redeveloped CRU Lake Mac is here, ready and waiting to welcome your church, school or community group as you enjoy some long-awaited time together.

Be one of the first to enjoy our brand new ensuite accommodation and facilities!

BOOK NOW - dates for 2020 and 2021 are filling fast: www.cru.edu.au/lakemac We're ready when you are.

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