Now in
WA!
KIDS GROW IN CHRIST WITH FIRST EVER CRU STUDY CAMP IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA! Praise God for the launch of CRU’s first ever Study Camp in Western Australia with 36 campers attending the camp in July. Gary Hill, Crusaders’ Executive Director, visited the camp and reported, “The WA Camp was fantastic! Great community, and the Gospel being proclaimed faithfully with happy campers resulted in some great conversations!” One camper, Ben, said, “This is so different to anything else I’ve been on! I’m getting so
much work done!” Leader, Kirsty Currin, shared, “Leaders’ training has been extensive and very helpful! I want to show it to my church and recommend we do it a similar way.” Another leader, Lucy Raffel, remarked, “I’m convinced that there is so much value in ministry to school students.” Boys and girls from 16 schools attended the camp, which was held at a Christian…Cont. page 2
ALSO INSIDE • Thank you for helping ‘open the doors’ for more campers to hear the Gospel! • Faithful Crusader leaves a lasting impact • Your seed-funding success!
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• CRU’s Spring and Summer Camps – It’s Where You Belong • Get your Will written for free! • You’re Invited! • The Big Picture
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HELP CLOSE THE GAP ON CAMP COSTS See page 2 to help more kids hear about Jesus!
KIDS GROW IN CHRIST AS GOD GROWS OUR CAMPS! Cont. from page 1... Venues site located about an hour north of Perth. Already one new school group has been started as a result of the camp.
With such growth going on, we value your prayers!
Praise God for our biggest camp season ever on Winter CRU Camps! God worked through friends like you to impact more young people for Christ than ever before.
• Pray for kids coming on Spring and Summer Camps to encounter Jesus like never before. Pray that God will prepare their hearts to hear the Gospel. Camps include eight Study Camps, Mac Time, CRU Plunge, Sail Mania, Game Zone, Survivor, Dirtbike, Beach Blitz and more. Pray also for camp leaders to be faithful and caring witnesses.
A total of 152 campers were reached through Winter Day Camps, which is a 100% growth since last year. And 1,406 campers were impacted through Winter CRU Camps – a 39% growth!
Your prayers and gifts are vital to keep CRU Camps growing so even more kids can grow closer to Jesus at the upcoming Spring and Summer Camps. Thanks for helping to make it all happen!
God grows our camps!
HELP CLOSE THE GAP ON CAMP COSTS SO MORE KIDS CAN HEAR ABOUT JESUS! Crusaders recently sat down with Gary Hill, Crusaders’ Executive Director, to ask about one of the biggest barriers to kids going on camp…
Q.
What’s it really cost CRU to run camps?
Gary: It’s our goal to share the Gospel with kids on camps whilst giving them a great experience with lots of fun activities. However, the cost for vetting excellent leaders, leader training, activities, insurance and equipment safety is typically more than camp fees cover. There’s an average gap of $70 per camper. Crusaders won’t compromise on quality and safety, but that gap must be covered every year.
Q.
How can CRU supporters help?
Gary: They can help close the gap by giving a special gift. Every gift of $70 covers those extra costs for one camper. Please see the enclosed reply form if you feel led to help close the gap on these extra camp costs – so more kids can hear about Jesus!
Thank you for helping
‘open the doors’
FOR MORE CAMPERS TO HEAR THE GOSPEL! We’re praising God and thanking you that the redeveloped Lyrebird meeting room and cabins at Galston have been completed. It was all ready just in time so we could open the doors to accommodate more HSC Study Campers arriving the next day. One of these campers was Taylor. Before going on camp, Taylor didn’t know Jesus. But today, she does! At the end of camp, she wrote a note to her two discussion group leaders saying, “Thank you so much for opening my eyes (gently) and encouraging me to pursue the path and my calling to follow
STUDENTS USING NEW MEETING ROOM ON STUDY CAMP
Jesus and love God. You both have really helped me, had a profound impact on me, and changed the person I am and hope to become. See you at church!” This winter season, 72 campers like Taylor – campers who would have otherwise been left on the waiting list – got to hear the Gospel. That’s why we’re so grateful for generous friends like you who contributed to this project at Galston Gorge through our June appeal last year. Thanks for helping to ‘open the doors’ for more young people to hear – and respond to – the Good News of Jesus!
CRUVIEW • PAGE 2
Faithful
Crusader leaves A
lasting impact
JEAN RIXON, 12 AUGUST 1927-16 JULY 2015 Jean Rixon, a much-loved member of the Crusader family, was taken home to heaven on 16th July 2015, aged 87, after a lifetime of faithful service. Jean accepted Jesus at age 11 at her school Crusader Group, attended Crusader Camps, served as Camps Committee Chairman, Council Member, Vice President, and won a recent Mayoral Award for pastoral service. Jean had a soft spot for Crusaders’ Lake Mac campsite. Gary Hill recalls, “Jean was so excited when I spoke with her about the current plans to
redevelop the campsite. She said, ‘Given the growth that occurred when the Galston campsite was redeveloped, you could only wonder at what impact a redeveloped Lake Macquarie would have.’ Jean led many Lake Mac camps, and was in charge of water-skiing because she had her speedboat driving licence. That was classic Jean: she described herself as ‘just a general dog’s body’ – willing to serve wherever needed.” We thank God for the lasting impact Jean has made through her life and legacy!
YOUR SEED FUNDING Success!
Your generous support of the June 2015 appeal helped push us above and beyond our $250,000 goal for seed-funding. Friends like you gave over $255,000. Praise God! And thank you! This will help us train new Summit Fellows like Heather, who joined our team in July, to help more kids like Louise (above left) come to Christ through Summit Educational Camps. Louise, 14, attended a Summit Camp in May, and shares: “I had no relationship with God at all before camp. My parents never talked to me about Jesus, God or the Bible. They know about God
but don’t follow Him and don’t go to church. “My leader Kristy (above right) talked me through a devotion based on the Bible, which led me to read Mark’s Gospel after camp. I decided to follow Jesus when I understood that Jesus is faithful. My life feels much better after turning to God. I know He will always be there for me. “I want to start going to my CRU Group at school so I can meet with other Christians and learn more about God. “I’ve told my parents about my decision to follow Jesus and have been encouraging my mum to read CRUVIEW • PAGE 3
LOUISE AND KRISTY the Bible!” Heather, who became part of the Summit Fellows team in July, explains why she came on board: “I wanted to share the Gospel through camp ministry… to grow in faith and serve the Lord! I’m looking forward to building relationships with campers!” Thanks for helping make such incredible life-impact like this possible. We know that it’s God who changes hearts, but He also involves friends like you in His redeeming work. Thank you for letting Him use you!
CRU Teachers and Chaplains Day
q&a
with blythe
The next CRU Teachers and Chaplains Day is coming up in May 2016. The event aims to support and resource teachers and chaplains by sharing ideas, encouragement and prayer, plus offering training focused on leading Christian Lunchtime CRU Groups and school Chapel activities. Blythe Ledsam, currently a teacher at PLC Pymble, tells how attending the last CRU Teachers and Chaplains Day inspired her Wenona Junior School CRU Group: CRU: What did you find helpful at Teachers and Chaplains Day? Blythe: It encouraged me to keep going and keep praying. It made me realise what a wonderful opportunity it is to share the Gospel with students at my school, most of whom have not heard about Jesus. It was really great to chat with people who were further along in their CRU Groups journey. CRU: What did you learn? Blythe: How to get my students to act out Bible stories as I tell them. A simple, but powerful idea.
BLYTHE LEDSAM, TEACHER
It really helps to engage my students. And great ideas for games. I downloaded the Group Games app so, if I had extra time at the end of a session, I could just grab my phone and search for a game. CRU: How has the CRU Schools Ministry team helped you run your CRU group? Blythe: Clare from CRU has helped me plan and establish the group, suggested resources, led by example by running the first couple of sessions, and helped me set the tone for the group. She checks in regularly and makes time each holidays to meet up and pray for the girls in the group. CRU: Why should other teachers and chaplains come to CRU Teachers and Chaplains Day in 2016? Blythe: Go! It will help you build a supportive network of fellow Christians – people you can turn to for advice and encouragement. Email Jacquie at jacquiew@crusaders.edu.au to register your interest in attending CRU Teachers and Chaplains Day 2016!
CRU SPRING AND SUMMER CAMPS It’s Where You Belong
Get the kids you love off the couch and into loads of fun and friendship at CRU Camps this Spring and Summer! You’ll find something for everyone – sailing, water skiing, cooking, horse riding, dirt biking, outdoor movies, treasure hunts, volleyball, paint wars, laser skirmish, fishing, rock climbing, craft, campfires and heaps more! There’s still time to register for: CRU Spring Camps from 20th September to 2nd October 2015 And get in early for: CRU Summer Camps from 7th December 2015 to 27th January 2016 Visit crucamps.com.au to find out more and register today!
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Get your
WILL
WRITTEN PROFESSIONALLY for
FREE!
Professional solicitors from Lane Legal, Frank Legal, Dunn Legal and Michael Cassin Solicitors have volunteered to help friends like you prepare your Will for free at the upcoming Crusaders’ Wills Days: Friday afternoon, 13th November • Lane Legal, Level 2/16 Spring Street, Sydney NSW 2000; and • Frank Legal, Level 1/7-11 Railway Street, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Saturday 14th November • Crusaders' Eastwood Office, Suite 1/38 Rowe Street, Eastwood NSW 2122 Wills Days give you time to have your Will written or
JAMES LANE - VOLUNTEER SOLICITOR
updated for free and the opportunity to leave a gift for God’s work through organisations like Crusaders. Like you, James Lane, a volunteer solicitor, loves supporting what God’s doing through CRU. James has been working as a lawyer for 25 years, and is principal of his own firm, Lane Legal, which has offices in the Sydney CBD and Hornsby. James specialises in Commercial Law but also practices in the area of Wills and Estates. He went to his first CRU Camp as a teenager and is keen to support CRU by using his professional skills at Wills Days. To register your interest to have your Will prepared for free, please complete your details and return the enclosed reply form, or email damienw@crusaders. edu.au to make an appointment.
CRU COMMUNITY HATCHED Nerida and Angus Belling, a girl, Phoebe Thena, born 28th April Larissa and Hayden McInnes, a boy, Harry John Wilbur, born 18th May Amy and Gregg Odlum, a girl, Grace Maree, born 18th May Bronwyn and Steve Lobsey, a girl, Harper Isabel, born 9th July Crystal and Dave Forward, a boy, Jesse Wilberforce, born 13th July Fiona and Nigel Vaux, a boy, Byron Linden, born 22nd July Alex and Phil Swaisland, twins, Benjamin Christopher, born 26th July and Boaz Philip, born 27th July Bec Collett and Dave Pawley, a girl, Lorna Marie, born 19th August Daniel and Steph Cummings, a girl, Lucy Rose, born 19th August Keren and Joe Neal, a boy, Jacob Benjamin, born 21st August Janine and Kurt Heinrich, a boy, Ben Gary, born 24th August
HOOKED Eleanor Witt and Ben Reardon Gemma Varney and Jason Giam Veronica Polhill and Victor George
HITCHED Katherine Douglas and Gavin Richardson, 6th June
HOME Sir Harold Knight – 19th June 2015 Jean Rixon – 16th July 2015
CRUVIEW • PAGE 5
Claire Froggert has moved from St Luke’s Grammar School to Wenona School for Girls James Vimpany is the new chaplain at Cranbrook School Adam Larby has moved from Claremont College to Deputy Head of Shore Preparatory School
Gary Hill Executive Director
the big picture
Dear Friend, Next time someone asks you to name pairs of things that go together, don’t just answer “bacon and eggs”, “Romeo and Juliet”, or “thunder and lightning”. You could say “sharing the Good News and prayer”. The Bible makes the link clear. Recognising the need around Him, the Lord Jesus instructs His followers to “ask the Lord of the harvest… to send out workers” (Luke 10:2, NIV). Paul asks the Ephesians to pray for him, that words would be given to him and that he would fearlessly announce the Gospel (Ephesians 6:19–20). Underlying this is the understanding that it is the Sovereign God who gives understanding and who builds His church (2 Corinthians 4:6). Jean Rixon, Crusaders’ Vice President, who went home to the Lord recently, recognised this. She prayed and she acted. She acted and she prayed. The two were not casual acquaintances in Jean’s life but intimately connected as part of her character. Jean also supported Crusaders’ ministry financially. Recently she wrote: “God has blessed us at Crusaders in so many ways, and my prayer is that He will continue to do so in the coming years, so that the Word of the Gospel might reach out to those who have yet to hear, that they might be saved for all eternity.” God uses people like Jean to enable Crusaders to move into new fields as demonstrated by the growth in Day Camps, and the exciting launch of CRU ministry in Perth. We are so grateful to God for Jean and for members of the Crusader family like you who support God’s work through Crusaders by your praying, giving and doing. Thank you!
GUEST SPEAKER - MARK McCRINDLE
You’re
Invited! BUSINESS BREAKFAST Join us at the Crusaders’ Business Breakfast on Wednesday 28th October at The Tea Room, QVB, Sydney, a great opportunity for young professionals to build business networks, have great food, hear from an inspirational speaker and support God’s work through CRU. Guest Speaker is awardwinning social researcher, Mark McCrindle. Email lindan@crusaders.edu.au for your invitation.
Gary Hill, Executive Director
The Crusader Union of Australia PO Box 590, Eastwood NSW 2122 Ph (02) 9874 8933 www.crusaders.edu.au ABN: 90 213 359 332
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