CRUVIEW Spring 2018
g n i n i tra Inside this issue:
2-4
Walking Steps of Faith
5-7
Our Hearts are the Same
8-9
Confident Conversations
12-13
A Dependent Trainer
SPRING 2018
CONTENTS
PAGE 1
PAGE 2-4
PAGE 5-7
PAGE 8-9
PAGE 10-11
PAGE 12-13
The Big Picture
Walking Steps of Faith
Our Hearts are the Same
Confident Conversations
Stepping Up as a Leader
A Dependent Trainer
PAGE 14
PAGE 15
PAGE 16-17
PAGE 18-19
PAGE 20
PAGE 21
We Take Child Protection Seriously
Why is Training Important for Christians?
CRU® Ministry Updates
Lake Mac Update
Thank You
CRU® Community
UPCOMING EVENTS Crusader Women’s Fellowship
Night of Prayer
Date: 10 September 2018
Date: 10 September 2018 Location: Arden Anglican School
For more information and to RSVP, call Philippa McCredie on 02 9874 8933 (opt 4) or email philippa.mccredie@crusaders.edu.au.
A night dedicated to praying for our schools – all are welcome. For more information, email kellie.thomson@crusaders.edu.au.
Crusader Business Breakfast Date: 19 September 2018 Time: 7:15am Location: QVB Tea Room Guest speaker: Saxon Wright, Pablo and Rusty’s Coffee Roasters founder and entrepreneur For further information and to RSVP, call Roslyn Harvey or Linda Newman on 02 9874 8933 (opt 4) or email supporter@crusaders.edu.au.
Week of Prayer Date: 10 – 14 September Location: All schools A week dedicated to praising God for the work that He is doing in our schools. For more information, email kellie.thomson@crusaders.edu.au.
Wills Day CrossTrain Date: 8 – 12 October 2018
CRU® Christian leadership camp for students in years 8-11. Book today at crucamps.com.au.
Grow Lake Mac Dessert Night (Public Launch) Date: 3 November 2018 Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm Location: John Yeo Foyer & Auditorium, Roseville College To find out more or to RSVP, call Damien Wang on 02 9188 9718 or email damien.wang@crusaders.edu.au.
Date: 26 & 27 October 2018
Have your Will written for FREE by one of our experienced lawyers. To make an appointment, email Philippa at philippa.mccredie@crusaders.edu.au or call 02 9874 8933 (opt 4).
CRU® Ball 2018 Date: 27 October 2018 Time: 6:30pm Location: Hornsby RSL Club CRU Camps volunteers' thank you celebration. RSVP today at crucamps.com.au/cruball
Summit Thanksgiving Service TELL US YOUR STORY
Has CRU been a significant part of your life? We'd love to hear your story (and maybe publish it)! Send us an email at cruview@crusaders.edu.au.
Date: 8 December 2018 Time: 7pm Location: Galston Gorge Conference & Recreation Centre To find out more or to RSVP, email summit@crusaders.edu.au.
CRUVIEW
THE BIG PICTURE Gary Hill Executive Director
The Training Edition Where is the next generation of leaders?
AFES group. More recently, it has allowed me to invest in other Christian ministries in Australia and overseas.
Bible commentators tell us that Timothy was probably not so young by today’s standards, As I watch the young leaders involved in our but would have been younger than many who Summit Camps, CRU Camps and Schools Ministry, carried a similar level of responsibility in his I am dazzled by the gifts they display and their community. Yet this did not exclude him from ability, which is so much stronger than what I had ministry. Instead Paul challenged him, “Don’t let at their age. I truly regard the Summit Fellowship anyone look down on you because you are young, program as one of the best training programs I but set an example for the believers in speech, in have ever seen. Thank God for those who lead conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Tim 4:12). this and for those who are In doing so he put the onus on growing through it and our Timothy for self-discipline. “Be other training programs. diligent in these matters” (15). They produce great fruit: an “Watch your life and doctrine Don’t let anyone look down on interstate visitor observed closely” (16). you because you are young, but a senior student leading a set an example for the believers in Bible study in a school CRU But this was not a solo flight. Group and commented, “I Paul reminded Timothy of the speech, in conduct, in love, in faith didn’t think school students elders who had appointed and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12 would be capable of doing him (14) and of the input he that so well.” had received from his mother and grandmother (2 Tim 1:5). Around a third of CRU’s staff He also urged him to equip are trainees, and we invest deeply in training for others with the teaching that he had received from school students as well as those post-school who Paul, so that they in turn could pass it on (2 Tim lead on camps. This represents a key plank of our 2:2). We see a generational transfer taking place. mission statement: “To train young leaders for a life The setting of an example, intentional teaching, and of servant leadership”. Bible literacy grows, as do the provision of an opportunity to exercise ministry skills, structured opportunities to lead are provided, all combine to spread the good news. and through this, character is transformed. I am so thankful for the training that I received A new generation of leaders is being prepared… as a young Christian through CRU®. This not only and they are looking good! equipped me to lead on camps, but enabled me to take ideas and skills back to my church and my Page One
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s a high school student, Andrew Stanford had many leadership roles.
“Cadets, monitoring Year 7 [students], Vice House Captain,” he recalls. “It was great.” After becoming a Christian in early high school, Andrew also had roles leading the CRU® Group at his school, The King's School. He led the junior CRU Group at first, running games, doing the Bible reading and praying. Later, he led at the senior CRU Group as well.
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But surprisingly, Andrew didn’t think of himself as a natural leader. Remembering high school, he says, “I think I'm the kind of person who sinks back if it's a new situation or an uncomfortable or different environment to what I'm used to.” Similarly, in Christian ministry, Andrew struggled to think of himself as a leader. “I had this view of other people as ‘super Christians’. Those were the ones who were going to become missionaries, and go into full-time ministry.”
WALK I NG STEPS OF
faith o Pictured: Andrew Stanford
But throughout high school, God worked powerfully in Andrew, giving him opportunities to learn, and showing him ways he could step up into leadership. Andrew remembers, “Once a term, there was a training morning for CRU leaders before school, and during morning tea, we’d prepare for what we were doing in the group that day. I also attended CrossTrain, which was massive for me. It was the first big Christian leadership camp I’d been on and
meeting other Christians from schools and having such solid teaching was awesome. I absolutely loved it.” Andrew’s view of leadership also began to shift as he was trained, equipped and witnessed the example of faithful leaders. “The leadership opportunities that came up in CRU were based on faithful attending over the years. And CrossTrain really showed me that as a leader,
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it’s not just about doing ‘things’, but making sure you’re solid in your faith so that it can be shared with other people. I learnt that leadership was not about being a ‘naturally good leader’. It’s about being faithful and stepping out.”
the kids and get to know them. But I’m gaining experience in how to deal with youth. There are so many things that have equipped me for wherever I end up in life, like learning how to understand the Bible and what it’s saying, and helping people relate to it.”
I learnt that leadership was not about being a ‘naturally good leader’. It’s about being faithful and stepping out.
After school, Andrew attended the University of Sydney, where he studied science. He became heavily involved in the Christian group at the university, and was challenged to continue considering how he could submit his whole life to Jesus. He was also meeting up with a former CRU Schools Ministry staff worker, Mark North, who told Andrew about the Schools Ministry Associate program run by CRU. “Again, I was aware of it, but I was like, that’s for other people,” Andrew recalls. “But Mark encouraged me and eventually I decided to go for it. The fact that school is where I first got introduced to Christianity, and where I got trained, meant that the schools part of it really appealed to me. And it seemed like it was a great training role, learning to preach and handle the Bible correctly with people whom I knew were great, faithful people.” Andrew is now nine months into the two-year program, and he’s loving it so far. “At the start, it was kind of daunting going on a Holiday Camp or to a school CRU Group and having to chat with
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The position is not without its challenges. Andrew notes, “In any job, you’ve got your responsibility for an area, whether it’s people, money, or something else. We are dealing with people’s spiritual lives. And when kids don’t engage with me or with the gospel, I have to wrestle with whether that’s something I am doing wrong, or something to do with their hearts.” “But I am learning that I don’t have to be the cool, funny, perfect leader. I just need to step out in faith and do what I think God wants.” For Andrew, who used to doubt himself as a Christian leader, what does the future now hold? “Potentially Bible college in the future,” he says with a smile. “But this role has given me the best possible start in being a Christian leader wherever I end up.” Interested in being trained as a Schools Ministry Associate for a lifetime of ministry? Apply today: www.crusaders.edu.au/apply
hearts OUR
o
ARE THE SAME
Pictured: Apurbo Biswas
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s a child, Apurbo Biswas, or Apu as he is known, attended Christian camps through Generation Bangladesh, an organisation in his home country running activities similar to CRU®. This had a huge impact on Apu, helping him grow in his faith. “It was everything the leaders did, that helped me know more about Jesus,” he remembers.
Generation Bangladesh runs many camps each year, ranging from small camps of 70 kids, to bigger camps of 250 youth. Apu says that a lot of what they do on camp in Bangladesh is the same as here in Australia – “We do Bible study, we sing songs with actions, there is teaching and mentoring of young people.”
Now Apu is 26. Last year, he finished a Masters in Accounting but he isn’t working in that field. Instead, he works for Generation Bangladesh, planning and organising their many Christian camps.
But some things are different. While CRU relies heavily on outdoor recreation, like rock climbing, abseiling, archery and more, GB camps rely more on indoor activities, and playing sport, like cricket and football.
“I finished my qualification, but this is my passion,” Apu says. “I love the kids. I love to work for God’s kingdom.” Over summer this year, Apu travelled to Australia and was a part of the CRU Summit Fellowship program for five months. This program trains dozens of young leaders each year in outdoor recreation and Christian ministry. Coming to Australia was a dream come true for Apu. He recalls, “Some mornings I woke up and I would think, am I in Bangladesh? Then I would realise, no, I’m in Australia! It was wonderful and
Apu got to experience and learn how to run many outdoor activities and games, including sailing, canoeing and bushwalking. “This was all new,” says Apu. “It was amazing to learn about these. I want to apply these in Bangladesh so kids are interested in camp.” Apu also says he learnt 15 or 16 new songs to teach the kids in Bangladesh, and he has already introduced some of these songs, translated into Bengali. He’s also been sharing the games he learnt with his team.
I give thanks to God because of this opportunity. I am blessed. Through Summit, God has prepared me in His kingdom to raise His kids in Bangladesh.
life-changing for me. God gave me such a good opportunity.” Summit has welcomed international fellows before, but Apu wasn’t a traditional Summit Fellow. He entered the program for a very specific purpose: “I came to Australia to learn about the outdoor activities that we can apply in my country.”
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But being in Australia wasn’t always easy for Apu. “Sometimes I didn’t understand, because English is my second language,” he says. However, Apu was thrilled by the support he received from the other Summit Fellows, who helped him understand and relate to the kids. “I am 26 years old but I learnt so much from Summit leaders, some who are only 18 years old!”
CRUVIEW
Pictured: Apurbo Biswas with Summit Fellows
Apu exclaims, “They are so friendly, so openminded and they love the Lord. What they speak, their life shows the same thing. And they are so energetic.” Apu was also impressed by how the Summit leaders interacted with the kids on camp. “The leaders spent all of the time with the kids – eating, in breaks, all the time! We need to spend more time with the kids on our camps in Bangladesh, so we can change their minds and know what problems they are facing. We need more relationships and bonding with them.” Excitingly, God is already using Generation Bangladesh powerfully. “Many kids are from traditionally Christian families but they don’t know about Jesus. They don’t know about God's sacrifice. They don’t know that God came into the world to forgive us for our sins. But at the end of camps, we have kids raise their hands and say, ‘I love the Lord’, and ‘This camp changed my life’,” says Apu.
James continues, “As Apu learned from us about how we do camp here in Australia, he also shared with us about his ministry back home. It was a wonderful reminder that God so effectively uses camping ministry to grow His kingdom, not just in our little corner of the world, but to the ends of the earth.” Apu is so grateful for the time he spent with Summit, saying, “I give thanks to God because of this opportunity. I am blessed. Through Summit, God has prepared me in His kingdom to raise His kids in Bangladesh.” Though Apu is now back in Bangladesh, he still feels close to CRU: “My course in Australia has finished, but this relationship is not finished, because our hearts are the same. Inside is Jesus.”
James Carroll, Director of Summit, is delighted that CRU is able to train people from around the world, to take proven ministry strategies back to their countries and enhance their gospel work: “It’s been a wonderful privilege getting to equip Generation Bangladesh, through Apu, with ideas and resources they can use to continue to develop their camping programs and ministry models.”
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conversations o CONFIDENT
Pictured (L to R): Matthew Duggan, Emma Duggan, Julianne Duggan
A
ccording to Julianne Duggan, her daughter Emma was not very confident when she was young. “Emma used to be this shy, withdrawn child. She didn’t like talking to people, she didn’t want to be in front of anyone.”
But lately, things are completely different for Emma. “We were at a party,” Emma’s dad Matthew remembers, “and Emma was talking to her Page Eight
cousin, asking her questions and taking a genuine interest. I hadn’t seen Emma be so confident before.” So what has brought about this change? Last year, after finishing high school, Emma joined CRU® as a Summit Fellow. She shares, “I didn’t want to go to uni, and Summit sounded great because you get to train in outdoor recreation and tell kids about Jesus for your job. You get to learn but also put it into practice at the same time.”
CRUVIEW
It was a challenging process to get into the program, Emma recalls. “I had a trial camp and then I had an interview. James [Director of Summit] and Lisa [Summit Staffing Manager] asked me some tough questions that I might get from kids on camp, and I had to say how I would answer. One was about gay marriage. So it was tough!” Then once Emma was in, she remembers that the first few weeks were also difficult. “It was so tiring. I ended up coming home after every camp and pretty much falling asleep first thing in the afternoon. It was challenging just to keep going, especially the entire first term, because it's such a full, long term.” But through the tough questions, the tiring camps and the long terms, God has been working in Emma’s life. Emma has developed resilience and confidence she never had before. “It was really cool for me to see the difference between last year’s Term One and this year’s Term One,” Emma says. “I can actually do stuff in the afternoons after camp! I also have a lot more confidence now, especially with up the front things and just in talking to people. And I’ve done a lot more deep thinking about the Bible than ever before.” Emma has had many opportunities to use her new confidence to walk alongside campers as they wrestle with faith. “I had one girl on camp who told me she was a Christian and that she had been finding it hard to trust in God. I had the opportunity to pray with her and tell her how much God loved her. On her camper survey, she indicated she’d recommitted to God! After I saw her survey, I talked to her and got to pray with her again, and she went home with a devotional book. She was so excited.” In running outdoor recreation activities, Emma has also gained skills and confidence she never expected. “I knew nothing about any of the activities we do before I started with Summit. I obviously still have things to learn and to improve upon, but I’d rate my skill level in running the activities at an eight out of ten now. I don’t question myself too much!”
As a second-year Fellow, Emma has also had the opportunity to step up and help the new Fellows with the activities. “When you’re on a sailing boat with a first-year and they ask questions, it’s so cool to think, ‘Oh, I actually know the answer to that!’” Emma’s parents are delighted to see Emma’s confidence, joy and leadership skills developing. “She’s learning skills around ministry and she’s explaining the gospel with confidence, holding discussions and mentoring people,” Matthew says. “The skills she’s learning, she’s bringing back to church and passing those skills on to other people. She’s turned into a different person!”
She’s learning skills around ministry and she’s explaining the gospel with confidence, holding discussions and mentoring people.
Matthew recalls one moment in particular when he recognised the impact that the Summit training has had on Emma. “She was commenting to me on how another leader at church was doing story time in Sunday school, and she was worried about it. She said, ‘You can’t keep doing it that way because the kids will get bored and disinterested.’ That demonstrated to me that she’s taking what she’s learned and applying it in a different situation.” Looking to the future, Emma plans to stay on with Summit for a few more years. She is also excited about how she may be able to continue using her new-found confidence and skills to display Christ’s love at church: “When I meet new people at church, I’ll be able to go up and talk to them rather than letting other people do it. I know how to talk to people now, and build relationships.” Interested in being trained as a Summit Fellow for a lifetime of ministry? Apply today: www.crusaders.edu.au/apply
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leader o STE P P I NG U P AS A
Pictured: Rebecca Petterson
Rebecca Petterson is a Year 12 student at St Philip’s Christian College. She chatted with CRUview about her experiences as a CRU® Group leader, and how attending CRU’s training camp for student leaders, CrossTrain, shaped her in her faith and Christian leadership:
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CV: Hi Bec! What’s the CRU Group like at your school? RP: There are about 20 people in the CRU Group, which is Year 9 to 12. This year, I’ve been running the CRU Group. At the moment, I'm in charge of
CRUVIEW
that a CRU Group leader needs to do well. I really appreciated all those seminars because they helped me learn how to manage groups, how to answer tough questions, how to make rosters, how to run games… As the only person running the group, it was really cool for me to learn how to ask other people I don’t think I’d have any clue what to help me. It’s made it so I’m doing if it wasn’t for CrossTrain! much easier. I don’t think I’d have any clue what I’m doing if it wasn’t for CrossTrain!
the group, and I have five other helpers. We're also trying to get some more leaders to carry the group through when I graduate at the end of the term! CV: How did you find out about CrossTrain?
RP: We are family friends with the guy who used to direct CrossTrain and he approached me and encouraged me to consider going. I live in a small coastal town and there aren’t a lot of opportunities for fellowship with other Christians my age, so he thought that it would be a really good opportunity for me to go and meet other Christians.
CV: How many times have you been to CrossTrain? RP: Last year was my third time, so I went in Years 9, 10 and 11. CV: Why did you keep going back? RP: I’ve never really experienced anything like it. It’s just an amazing week. We spent the whole week looking intensely at the Bible and I thought about things I never would have thought about before. It was a really great way to meet Christian friends who are going through the same thing, like being a Christian at a school where that’s the minority. I was personally really encouraged each time in my faith. It was an amazing privilege to go. CV: What was the most challenging part of CrossTrain? RP: On my first CrossTrain, I really had to evaluate whether it was my own faith that I was living or if it was just something that was expected of me. So I was really challenged especially in Year 9 to understand what it meant for me to have faith. The first year changed my life! CV: How has CrossTrain equipped you to be a leader at your school CRU Group?
CV: How did CrossTrain inspire you in your leadership? RP: I remember there was a girl who came in Year 9 and she shared that her CRU Group was really struggling. She came back in Year 11 and she said that the group had grown so much. It was so cool because we prayed for that and God actually worked! So that really inspired me to pray for our CRU Group. CV: As you prepare to finish school, how will your CrossTrain experiences continue to shape you? RP: I really needed CrossTrain to help me have a personal relationship with God, and to take that seriously. And I will keep that relationship going! My life has changed so much because of that. But I have also met so many Christian friends through CrossTrain. Next year, I am planning to move to Sydney to go to university and I am excited to get in touch with all those people and keep growing those friendships, which are such an encouragement to me. CV: Thanks so much Bec! We’ll be praying for you as you hand over leadership of your CRU Group, do the HSC, and keep following Jesus for the rest of your life. Want to get trained for Christian leadership at your school, church and beyond? Book your spot on CrossTrain today: crucamps.com.au
RP: There are different sessions that the leaders on CrossTrain have prepared that are about the skills
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trainer o A DEPENDENT
Pictured: Ben Bridges
T
he CRU® Groups at The King’s School in North Parramatta have been flourishing for many years. Every Tuesday lunchtime, 30 to 40 senior students meet together to have lunch, pray, and listen to a Bible talk. On Wednesdays, the same program runs for students in Years 7 to 9, with up to 60 or 70 coming along. This year, leadership of the CRU Groups at King’s has been handed over to Ben Bridges, a mathematics teacher. Ben says that initially, he was hesitant to take on the role. “I said, ‘Look, I don’t want to go where the
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Christians are. I want to go where the Christians aren’t.’ But through a lot of prayer, I felt that it was where I was supposed to go. And in the end, it’s been such a blessing this year working with the boys.” Already, Ben has seen how his classroom relationship with his students has enabled evangelistic opportunities. “Every lesson in one of my maths classes I’d ask, ‘Who's coming to CRU?’ And one day this one boy said, ‘Sir, I’m an atheist.’ I replied, ‘Well, that's exactly why you should come to CRU. He was like, ‘Are you serious?’ I said, ‘Yes! Because if you're an atheist, you don't have
CRUVIEW
anything to believe in. So why don't you come and find out? There’s nothing to lose.’ He was like, ‘Ugh, okay sir. I'll come for you.’ And that guy’s been coming every week. He's come every single week.” For all the amazing opportunities, leading a CRU Group at King’s can be a challenge, according to Ben. “King’s is incredibly busy. The amount of extracurricular things we have on is insane. Before, during, after school, every day there is something. The boys have sports training two afternoons a week. Before school there’s chapel, assembly, tutor groups or house meetings. Lunchtimes you’ve got chess, different orchestras, board games club, cadets… we’re really competing for space.”
Because of the encouragement Ben received from this teacher and others at Teachers’ Day, he returned to King’s excited about the possibility of finding a way for student-led Bible studies to happen. And he found it. From Term 3 onwards, CRU Groups will no longer run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but just on Tuesdays, with the junior and senior groups running simultaneously. That will free up Wednesday lunchtimes for the student-led Bible studies. “I’ve had 37 boys sign up! Five of them aren't Christians but really want to read the Bible to
I've had 37 boys sign up! Five of them aren't Christians but really want to read the Bible to find out more.
Recently, a Christian student came to Ben and asked if CRU could start running student-led Bible studies. Ben recalls his hesitance at trying to squeeze more CRU into the timetable – and at handing over leadership of Bible studies to young students without much training. “There were so many obstacles and challenges.” Shortly after the student suggested Bible study groups, Ben attended CRU Teachers’ Day, a professional development opportunity to equip and encourage teachers and chaplains across Australia. While at Teachers’ Day, Ben had a conversation that changed his perspective. “I was chatting to a teacher from Shoalhaven, and he said to me, ‘Sometimes we almost limit the power of God. We think that we have to be in control. But sometimes you’ve just got to pour your trust into the Spirit’s work. The kids don’t have all the answers, but they’re stepping out in faith and we should let them’.”
find out more,” Ben says with enthusiasm. “And there are a bunch more guys who said they are Christians, but they’ve never really read the Bible before.” Ben plans to train Year 10 and 11 students in leadership. There are already meetings for CRU leaders at recess, but now Ben will focus more on these leaders, investing into their faith, their theological understanding and their ministry skills. “We want to make disciples of all nations,” Ben says with a broad smile. “And investing in these kids to help them do this – as a mathematician, in terms of efficiency, it ticks so many boxes!” As the new program for CRU at King’s begins, Ben is praying for faith. “I’m so busy with so many things,” he says, “but it’s still hard to hand this over to the kids. However, I need to trust God. He is more powerful than anybody, and He uses His people to show how glorious He is.”
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W E TA K E CHILD PROTECTION S E R I O U S LY
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RU® has the immense privilege of seeing around 115,000 school children at CRU events each year. But with this privilege comes the responsibility of ensuring we protect those under our care, so CRU takes child protection very seriously. We have been at the forefront of encouraging increased vigilance in this area over recent decades, being acknowledged in the NSW Parliament by the current Education Minister, Rob Stokes, for identifying the gaps which previously existed in the screening of volunteers. This led to legislative changes which better protect children. We have also gone further in engaging carefully with the NSW Ombudsman to receive training in the investigation of incidents, and we have been commended for our approach. Each of our workers also recognises the privilege and responsibility we have in working with children. All CRU staff and volunteers are required to make a firm and open commitment to child protection. Four crucial steps are taken for every one of our workers: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Verifying that they have a current Working With Children Check (NSW) (or the interstate equivalent); A reference check with their employer and/or church minister; Completing our internal training in child protection, including our online test; and Signing their agreement to abide by our Child Protection Code of Conduct.
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All CRU® staff and volunteers are required to make a firm and open commitment to child protection.
These steps are integral in our overall approach of training and developing workers which sees senior CRU staff visiting camps, observing activities, and offering guidance and direction where needed. Training is not an isolated event but regularly refreshed to maintain currency. We welcome the recommendation of the Royal Commission to ensure that parents and children have the opportunity to provide feedback on child protection matters. Consistent with this, we have developed ways for our wider community to stay informed and to share their perspectives. You can view our Child Protection Policy on our website at www.crusaders.edu.au/child-protection-statement. This section also features our Child Protection Code of Conduct which was adopted in 2016. The introduction to this Code of Conduct states: “As a representative of Crusaders I commit myself to keeping this code of conduct which requires me to show care to all children, treating them with respect and honesty, providing a positive role model of Christian living in all I do.” Do you have any feedback about CRU’s approach to child protection? Please send any comments, suggestions or questions to our dedicated email address: childprotection@crusaders.edu.au.
CRUVIEW
W H Y I S T R A I N I N G I M P O R TA N T FOR CHRISTIANS? By Anthony Brammall, Academic Vice-Principal of Sydney Missionary and Bible College
Have you thought about how brilliantly privileged we are to be living when and where we do? 21st century Australia is a remarkable place. We have a safe and secure society for people of faith; a government that provides generous loans for people to study and train; internet connectivity to communicate near and far; and for many of us, easy access to churches that faithfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus. But we also live in a culture which is rapidly forgetting its Christian foundations. So we need to be as well prepared as possible to explain to others what we believe and why, and to teach and build up fellow Christians.
As 2 Timothy says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth.”(2 Tim 2:15) We study hard for three, four, five or six years (and often more) to be formed into effective, skilled practitioners in different areas of work. We should similarly think seriously about setting aside time to learn and prepare for whatever King Jesus has in store for us.
With a flexible approach to learning, SMBC offers full-time and part-time, day or evening, intensive mode or semester length study options – at undergraduate through to doctoral levels. Learn more at smbc.edu.au
/SMBCOLLEGE
It’s a great gift to be in churches where faithful leaders unpack and apply the Bible for us. But even in the best churches, there’s a limit to Knowing God through His how much you can learn Word shapes all our thinking week by week. In Australia, and living. It enables us to we have a wealth of great The better we know God, the more understand life and death, colleges and programs relationships, study and – interdenominational, effective we will be as his servants. work, with truth and reality. denominational – where we The better we know God, the can study the Bible deeply more effective we will be as in community, full-time or His servants. part-time, as God transforms our minds and hearts to make us fruitful servants, Of course, we can be wonderful, enthusiastic, fruitful more like his Son, Jesus. gospel messengers without qualifications – we have God’s Word and His Spirit! But if we’re given Why not consider the training opportunities you could the chance, what more important job could we be take up, as you seek to proclaim the gospel in your seriously preparing for than being ambassadors of the words and actions? Equip yourself well for a world message that brings life through that Word? that doesn't know Jesus.
INTERDENOMINATIONAL • BIBLE-CENTRED • MISSIONS-FOCUSSED
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C R U ® M I N I ST RY & P R O P E R T Y U P DAT E S We are thankful for the great work God is doing through CRU®. Stay updated with everything that is happening in our various ministries and properties.
“I took a lot away from Teachers’ Day and my CRU Group has grown as I have begun investing more into the Year 6 leaders. I left the day very inspired.”
“Camp helped me grow in my faith because the leaders answered my questions and explained the Bible very well.”
Hayley Irwin, teacher at Claremont College
Georgia, Year 6 CRU Holiday Camper
SCHOOLS MINISTRY
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“On his Year 7 camp, Jake* said he had too many questions to follow Jesus. But by the end of camp he showed a lot of interest and received a devotion to continue helping him seek answers.” Frasier Bailey, Summit Fellow
Give thanks for Teachers’ Day, which was a great opportunity to encourage and equip Christian teachers and chaplains. Give thanks for Rebecca Gough, who travelled up to Teachers’ Day from Tasmania. She had the most encouraging day, and was able to take lots of new skills and helpful information and ideas back to her CRU ministry: “It really was a brilliant day, especially coming from Tassie where I just don't interact with other Christian Studies teachers. I was very encouraged and spurred on to keep going. I'm only just starting with a small Year 8 lunchtime group this semester. At the moment I'm doing basic gospel Bible studies, but am hoping and praying they might form a good core who I can then train up to run the CRU Group.”
HOLIDAY CAMPS
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The CRU Schools Ministry Team, in conjunction with The City Bible Forum, held a special event for students in Years 10-12 at St Andrew’s Cathedral, with guest speaker Os Guinness. Os spoke on the topic of "Time for truth - Living free in a world of lies, hype, spin and fake news" and challenged all who attended to know the truth and to live it out freely in their lives.
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Praise God for excellent autumn and winter camping seasons, with over 2,000 campers across the two seasons. It is especially exciting that over 100 campers indicated that they made a first-time decision or recommitment to follow Jesus!
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Praise God that around 80% of Christian campers from the last two seasons said that camp helped them grow in their faith. This is a vital function of CRU Camps, helping those who already have faith in Jesus to stand firm.
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Praise God that we saw our biggest ever Galston study camps this winter. All three weeks saw over 170 campers per camp!
Page Sixteen *Jake is not his real name. We have changed his name for confidentiality reasons.
CRUVIEW
GALSTON
SUMMIT
LAKE MAC
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The indoor high ropes course is almost complete. Thanks to God’s work through the generosity of donors, we are excited to launch this fantastic new activity. We look forward to Summit and CRU Campers having a wonderful time scaling the giant spiders web, the wobbly walls, the spaghetti junction and the chimney climb, amongst many other thrilling activities.
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The Properties Team has been busy keeping the site safe and beautiful for our guests. Our annual tree survey identified a number of trees that required work to be carried out. This involved either dead wooding or removal. It was wonderful seeing this work completed to provide a site that is safer and more enjoyable for all. Our guests have recently been commenting on how great the site is looking and we praise God for how He is using the site for His purposes.
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One of the great features about Galston is its many breakout spaces used for small group discussions, band tutorials and just relaxing. Recently, our team has finished the construction of roofing over seven verandas which now makes these beautiful spots usable in all weather. We can’t wait to hear the band tutorial groups practising their music, and to see the Summit and CRU Teams discussing Jesus with kids on camp.
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For Term 3, Summit is expected to run a total of 29 camps for over 1,900 campers. We’re incredibly thankful for our partnership with the schools who bring their students on camp with us, and for the opportunity to share the gospel with every one of these campers.
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Two new Ian Holt Memorial Fellows joined the Summit Team in July. We’re very thankful to God for His provision of enthusiastic new camp leaders who are keen to share the gospel through camps.
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Praise God for the opportunity the Summit Team had to go on a staff retreat as a team in July. During this time, the team were able to encourage one another in their faith, grow in their knowledge of God and practise a variety of spiritual disciplines that were designed to push their boundaries and deepen their relationship with God.
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Praise God for opportunities to gain much needed rest for the staff, as well as scheduled maintenance of the Lake Mac property.
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Preparations are underway to begin setting up the site for construction. This entails packing down various sections of the property such as the maintenance shed, readying the female toilet block for demolition, and organising a temporary replacement.
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The redevelopment of Lake Mac will lead to a need for more staff as the site grows. Please pray for the provision of additional staff, that they might be trained and ready to work as the site opens.
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LAKE MAC REDEVELOPMENT LAUNCH
o
Get on Board
CRUVIEW
T
here is a tangible sense of excitement in the CRU® office. After years of prayer, planning and preparation, the redevelopment of the Lake Mac campsite is imminent. Architectural plans, DA approvals, consultant assessments have all been completed. There’s just one more thing to finalise before 20,000 extra campers each year can experience Christian community at Lake Mac - to raise the funds!
We are appealing to the whole CRU community to get behind this project and support it financially and in prayer. On November 3rd, we will be running a special Dessert Night to officially launch the Lake Mac Fundraising Campaign and give everyone the opportunity to get on board to help this kingdombuilding project become a reality!
3D RENDERINGS OF THE NEW LAKE MAC SITE
New cabins accommodating over 300 campers
New dining hall seating 350 campers and visitors
New boatshed with second storey meeting room seating 120 campers
YOU'RE INVITED We’d love for you to come to the Lake Mac Fundraising Launch. 3 November 2018, 7:30-9:30pm John Yeo Foyer & Auditorium, Roseville College 27 Bancroft Ave, Roseville, NSW 2069 View the plans, hear the latest update, and find out how you can be involved in sharing the gospel with over a million kids! To register your interest, please contact Damien Wang on (02) 9188 9718 or email damien.wang@crusaders.edu.au.
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SPRING 2018
T H A N K
yI ou
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 the past few years:
STU BLAIR
Stu’s first experience with CRU was on a dirt bike camp when he was in Year 5. In Year 8, he attended his first Brightwaters camp, which he says “was the most enjoyable week of fun and Bible teaching. It has shaped my life ever since.” Stu began leading on CRU Camps including Brightwaters, straight out of school, and once he finished university, he began to focus his efforts on directing Brightwaters. As an experienced director, Stu has had many opportunities to see God at work on camp. “To see youths hear of Jesus for the first time and experience God's love, to see sceptical campers come to put their trust in Jesus and to see Christian campers spurred on and challenged to live out their faith every day is why I continue to come on camp. It’s all about the campers, they make it all worthwhile!” Stu has also decided to leave a gift in his will to CRU, saying, “I want to ensure that these camps are equipped to continue to change lives through Christ well beyond my time. I want to see campers that could not come on camp otherwise be able to have the same experience that I had back when I was a camper.” Thank you Stu for your dedication to Brightwaters and for your passion for seeing kids come to know Jesus through camps, now and in the future.
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CASSANDRA MATHEWS
Cassandra is a partner in the KordaMentha Restructuring Team and attends Manly Life Church. She first got connected with CRU when her parents led Gordon Seniors Saturday Night Meeting (a youth group style meeting that CRU used to run). She attended CRU Camps through high school, led on camps in university and has been a financial supporter since then. Now, Cassandra is also the Visionary Chair on the Lake Mac Fundraising Committee. Speaking about Lake Mac, Cassandra says, “Lake Mac is a wonderful oasis for people to meet God. I can attest to this as I gave my life to Jesus on a camp at Lake Mac in Year 10!” As the Lake Mac Redevelopment project ramps up, Cassandra encourages readers to “Pray for the project, both for the remaining funding required and the development itself. I also encourage all members of the CRU community to prayerfully consider their own financial involvement to help an extra 20,000 campers each year hear the gospel. We cannot raise the funds unless the whole community gets on board. I’d also encourage everyone to come along to the Lake Mac Fundraising Launch Launch evening to find out more about how they can get involved” (see page 19 for more details). Thank you Cassandra for your many years of involvement with CRU, and for your leadership in the Lake Mac Redevelopment.
STEPHEN EDWARDS
Stephen is the Deputy Headmaster at The King’s School in North Parramatta. He came to King’s originally as the Chaplain in 1999, and took on the Deputy position at the beginning of 2017. Stephen is a champion of CRU at King’s. He says, “I attended a state school so when I arrived at King’s, I was delighted to learn about CRU. The support CRU gives to our school groups is greatly appreciated. I ran the CRU Group for many years – I am not as involved now, but love to speak at our meetings once a term.” At King’s, Stephen has seen CRU make a big impact, and he is excited about the leadership he is seeing in the students. “The CRU Group provides a wonderful opportunity for Christian boys and for those who want to explore the faith to meet together. The boys who come love to hang with each other, eat food and learn. One of the great impacts has been the development of student leaders. Once we supported the students in taking control, the group grew!” Stephen says his favourite Bible verse is Luke 15:20, from the Parable of the Prodigal Son: ‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.” Thank you Stephen for your efforts in introducing our loving Father to the boys at King’s, and for your continued dedication to Christian leadership in your position as Deputy Headmaster.
CRUVIEW
CRU® COMMUNITY
HOOKED
HITCHED
• Kirralee Elliot & Ben Hillier
• Claire Reinthal & Alex Martínez – 20 Jan 2018
• Cristyn Freeman & Josh Sloan
• Anna Zhang & Andrew Garven – 5 May 2018
• Charlotte Holmes & Joel McElveney
• Amber Mason & Luke Said - 12 May 2018
• Jessica Mullen & Marco Keryaks
• Mardee Cassin & Tom Job – 12 May 2018 • Jacqueline Young & Elliott Argaet – 26 May 2018 • Anna Wood & Cameron Burke – 7 July 2018
HATCHED HOME
• Marie & Adam Watkins, a girl, Hannah Grace, born 5 May 2018 • Tori & Andy Bell, a girl, Norah Catherine, born 16 May 2018 • Kate & Mark Grobicki, a boy, Alexander Ted, born 24 May 2018 • Ariane & Tim Starr, a boy, Harry Milton, born 2 July 2018
TEACHERS ON THE MOVE
• Harry Winter – 11 May 2018
• Scott James has commenced as Headmaster at Knox Grammar, following the retirement of John Weeks. • James Grady is leaving St Paul’s to return to the staff team at his church, Campbelltown Baptist. • Anna Owen has moved from St Andrew’s Cathedral School to the CRU Schools Ministry Team. • James Vimpany has moved from being Chaplain at Cranbrook School to a teaching and chaplaincy position at Calrossy Anglican School. • Ben Yap has left St Philip's Christian College in Gosford to be the Head of School at the International School of Qingdao, China. • Tim Watson is leaving Roseville College to be the Principal of Northern Beaches Christian School.
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g n i n i tra
The Crusader Union of Australia PO Box 590, Eastwood NSW 2122 Ph: (02) 9874 8933 www.crusaders.edu.au ABN 90 213 359 332