CRUview Summer 2022: The Rise Above Edition

CRUVIEW Summer 2022

Includes:

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

e v o b A e Ris THE

EDITION

2-4

Hope during lockdown

5-7

Planting seeds on camp at Lake Mac

9-10

CRU Holiday Camps… Online!

11-17

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:31a (NIV)

Annual Report

Contents 1 2 5 9 The Big Picture

Hope during lockdown Planting seeds on camp at Lake Mac CRU Holiday Camps… Online!

10 11 18 20 21

Continued growth in the West Annual Report CRU® Ministry & Property Updates Thank You CRU Community

Upcoming Events CRU Followers In Training (FIT) Date: Various dates, Monday 7 - Friday 25 March 2022 Location: Various locations CRU FIT is a leadership program held in various locations in NSW and the ACT, focused on training Year 5 & 6 school students in foundational leadership skills. Through this program, students grow in their love and service of Jesus. For more information, visit cru.edu.au/fit

CRU Business Lunch Date: Friday 18 March 2022 Time: 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Location: Grand Ballroom, The Fullerton Hotel, Sydney CBD Enjoy lunch in fellowship with other CRU supporters while hearing about how God is impacting young lives through the ministry of CRU. Our guest speaker will be Rev Timothy Bowden, Headmaster at Trinity Grammar School. For more information and to RSVP, call Felicity Schmitz on (02) 9188 9719 or email felicity.schmitz@cru.edu.au

CrossTrain Date: Monday 11 - Friday 15 July 2022 CrossTrain is a week-long conference for students in high school. The camp will encourage Year 7-12 students to prioritise living for Jesus and equip them with leadership skills to serve Him at school. Email crugroups@cru.edu.au for more information.

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 the most current details.

The Big

Picture Pictured: Gary Hill, Executive Director

The Rise Above Edition “Four walls. Wash basin. Prison bed.”

It was back in 1980 when Cold Chisel released ‘Four Walls’, a song describing the tedium of being imprisoned. 41 years later, I heard a radio announcer claim that it was a perfect song for the 2021 COVID lockdown. ‘Feeling blah during the pandemic? It’s called languishing’ read the New York Times headline. “Languishing – a sense of stagnation and emptiness.” (NYT, Oct 4, 2021).

For many people, though, the dominant emotion through lockdown was not just emptiness but a sense of being overwhelmed. Normal supports were absent. We were deprived of regular connections. Fear and anxiety prevailed.

We are reminded of the importance of not being seduced by the strategies of others. We also need to remember that it is not our clever plans or resources that produce fruit. At CRU® we should be thankful for our relationship with schools which has grown over the years, our beautiful campsites, our intentional camp programs, the skills of our staff and volunteers, and so on, but they aren’t the source of success. God is the giver of life and growth.

“

Psalm 20 reminds us that those who don’t acknowledge God and who refuse to bow before Him ultimately will do so.

“They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.” (v. 8). We rise above the tide of circumstances by relying on God and acknowledging His greatness and provision. “We trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Psalm 20 depicts the prayers of God’s people when threatened by a vast invading army. Yet the tone is not one of fear, but of confidence. How? Their confidence is grounded in God’s character.

He is the one who answers prayer (v. 1). He gives help, and has demonstrated it for generations (vv. 1-2). Ultimately He is the one who saves (vv.

3-9). While the hostile army might be armed to the teeth and boast superior weaponry, victory belongs to God (v. 7).

“

How do we cope when faced with such challenges? In fact, how can we not just cope, but flourish? How can we rise above this flood?

Israel’s armies before the time of Solomon didn’t utilise horse-drawn chariots but we know that Egypt boasted chariots and cavalry, and David faced enemies with chariot squadrons (Exodus 14:9, 2 Samuel 8). Warhorse-drawn chariots provided speed and bulk, and would have induced fear in opposing foot-soldiers.

As you read this “Rise Above” issue of CRUview and our Annual Report, I pray you will catch a new and wonderful vision of God’s work, and praise Him.

Page One

Hope during

lockdown O

E

mma Pfahlert, a teacher and chaplain at Danebank Anglican School for Girls, runs the senior lunchtime CRU® Groups each week. Like many other Sydney teachers and students, Emma and her CRU Groups found themselves needing to tackle the challenges that came with being in lockdown during the second half of 2021. Although difficult, the unusual circumstances encouraged Emma as she recognised God’s work in her students and received support from CRU’s Schools Ministry staff.

During a regular term, the Year 7-10 CRU Group, Focus, usually hosts around 50 students and the Year 11-12 CRU Group sees 10-20 attending each week. However, remote learning during the Term 3 COVID lockdown meant that lunchtime Christian groups at Danebank could not meet in person. Instead, Emma ran the Focus CRU Group online over Zoom.

agenda. It was a time of uncertainty, and girls were feeling quite anxious about the future, but meeting helped them to keep thinking about God and the hope that we have in Jesus. They know that this is not what life is going to be like forever and certainly not into eternity,” she reflects.

“We kept encouraging them that God is sovereign and in control over all things. Even though we don’t know what’s ahead, He does. To keep being reminded of those things during COVID was really helpful. Everyone was quite isolated, but for them to be reminded of God and to meet with other Christians regularly was a great encouragement.”

During COVID, the CRU Schools Ministry team has been working hard to support teachers and students with video talks, resources, and in prayer. Emma is particularly thankful for the support she’s received

“

Meeting helped them to keep thinking about God and the hope that we have in Jesus. They know that this is not what life is going to be like forever and certainly not into eternity.

“

Given that the students were “so over Zoom” she wasn’t expecting many girls to join. But to her amazement, around 25 girls consistently joined each week. She shares, “I think they really appreciated the opportunity to keep connecting with one another in a more relaxed way. It wasn’t a formal class.”

from Schools Ministry Worker Kellie Thomson. She recounts, “It’s just been wonderful. Kellie is always willing to help out in any way she can. During COVID, Kellie and the Schools Ministry Associates were willing and able to do a couple of video talks for me. They were fantastic, and I was able to use them for our chapel.”

Continuing to meet during lockdown was crucial for Emma, especially with only one-third of students in the group regularly attending a church or youth group.

“Two-thirds of the group don’t attend anything. They don’t go to church, and they don’t go to a youth group, but they’re coming along to the CRU Group,” explains Emma. “They’ve been brought along by friends, and I think they just enjoy it. They hear about the Christian faith in chapel and Christian studies, and they want to know a little bit more.”

Pictured: Emma hosting a virtual CRU Group

Emma believes meeting online during lockdown has helped her students continue in their faith during these difficult times. “I think it’s kept God on the

Even before the COVID lockdown, Emma and her students were thankful for the CRU staff who

Page Three

visited their lunchtime group. Emma explains, “Kellie, Naomi and Laura all came along at various times, and it was just wonderful to have their support and encouragement because it can be exhausting, week in, week out, doing chapel talks and lunchtime groups. To have that support was terrific.” Emma also mentioned that “the students love hearing the personal stories of CRU® staff. They find it so encouraging to hear from other Christians who aren’t their teachers, but other young women of faith.”

One of CRU’s Schools Ministry initiatives during COVID was to release free digital resources to assist teachers in running their online lunchtime groups.

In Term 4, Emma was excited to use CRU’s Romans 8 digital resource. “There’s a game, Bible verses and high-quality video talks, and then you have discussion questions and encouragement to pray at the end. It’s a

Page Four

really nice structure and has just saved so much time,” she shares.

CRU praises God for the privilege of being able to support teachers and chaplains like Emma and hear about the fruit that comes from students attending lunchtime CRU Groups. As a new year begins, we pray that God will continue working through CRU to encourage students in their faith and help them rise above unexpected challenges.

“By coming to CRU Group, the girls have been encouraged in their own faith journey to keep praying and to keep reading the Bible. Having that time structured in the week where they were being reminded of the hope that we have in Jesus has kept God on the agenda for them.”

Planting seeds on camp at

Lake Mac

O

M

ichael and Evelyn Hall, fondly known in the CRU® community as Mick and Ev, have partnered with CRU in various ways over the last 30 years. From attending CRU Camps as a camper, leader, and director, to many years serving on the Camps Committee and now seeing their own children attend camps, their involvement has allowed them to witness God at work – not only in themselves and their family but in the lives of many others as well.

As someone who heard his older siblings rave about CRU Camps, Mick had to patiently wait until he was old enough to attend his first CRU sailing camp at Lake Mac. At 10 years old, it was on this camp where he made the active decision to follow Jesus. He recalls, “I grew up in a Christian home, going to church and Sunday school as a child. But it was on that first camp

where I had it presented to me as a decision. It wasn’t just something you did because it was how you were raised. So, I made the decision that I want to be on God’s team and live for Jesus.”

Ev’s faith story was similar in that she grew up in a Christian family, but it wasn’t until she attended a church camp in Year 12 where she realised that following Jesus was a decision she had to make for herself. “I think that was probably the point where it turned from head knowledge to heart knowledge and truly saying, ‘Yes, that’s how I want to live my life.’”

Both Mick and Ev have led and directed on many CRU Camps and training days over the years, but they are primarily involved in serving on Sailing Adventure at Lake Mac during the summer holidays. Mick fondly Page Five

Page Six

describes it as “the pinnacle week of the year.” With the busyness and challenges of raising young children, there were moments where they felt it was time to retire from camps, yet God has led them back to serving on camps every time! And with each camp, they are reminded of the unique gospel opportunities that are presented, and God has used them for His glory.

And now, with their children Annabel, Edward and Caitlin, CRU® Camps at Lake Mac are very much a family event. As babies and toddlers, they accompanied their parents on camps at Lake Mac and, now being in primary and high school, have become eager campers who look forward to attending CRU Camps with their friends during the school holidays.

Having campers return to Lake Mac year after year and seeing how God has grown them in their confidence and in their faith is one of the greatest encouragements for the Halls. “It’s amazing when you’ve been involved in camps for so long and hear stories about campers that you led six, seven, or ten years ago.” Mick continues, “You find out that they’re now leading at their church, directing other camps, going strong in their faith and being involved in ministry, and you think, ‘Maybe there were some seeds planted on camp.’”

CRU is so thankful to God for Mick and Ev’s generous financial support for the Lake Mac Redevelopment project. “Both of us were so excited about the doors and opportunities the redevelopment would open,” Ev

“

Camps take kids out of their normal routines and give them the opportunity to experience new things and learn new skills as part of a community.

“

For the Halls, the opportunities presented on camps are especially unique. Mick shares, “Camps take kids out of their normal routines and give them the opportunity to experience new things and learn new skills as part of a community. We’re able to build relationships and see where campers are at, challenge them with the claims of the Bible, and see what they think about Jesus. The whole package hopefully adds up to them having a life-changing event.”

Pictured: Sailing at Lake Mac in 1998

“The best thing about leading on a sailing camp is taking four kids on a boat and going out into the lake.

You can ask them questions, and it’s quite surprising how much they open up and say things that they wouldn’t necessarily say in a bigger group,” adds Ev.

shares. “I’m excited about the end of COVID and having the site completely filled with camps, being able to have school groups back in there, being able to have it operating at full capacity, essentially getting more people there to enjoy and experience the amazing thing that it is!”

And with loosening COVID restrictions, Mick and Ev recognise God’s kindness in allowing camps to run again at Lake Mac this summer. They were so encouraged to see that the demand for camps was so great that they were filling up weeks in advance.

“Sailing Adventure and lots of other camps have booked out. There’s obviously a massive desire to allow kids to enjoy camps again.”

After many years of serving on camps and partnering with CRU in gospel ministry, Mick hopes that they will continue to serve God faithfully, wherever He leads them. He asks, “Please pray that we remain faithful to God and pray that we trust Him. God has shown us that He has a purpose for us here, and He’s shown us that He’s in control. I trust that He’ll use us when he wants to use us.”

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CRU Holiday Camps…

Online O We give great thanks to God for the passionate CRU® Camp leaders who organised free online programs for campers to enjoy during the spring school holidays in 2021. Although COVID restrictions meant that our face-to-face CRU Camps had to be cancelled, campers who attended the online programs were still able to enjoy fun online activities and hear about the hope found in Jesus.

Christmas Capers Online Leaders: Meg Anderson & Emily Braga Meg is a primary school teacher and describes Christmas Capers as a combination of all her loves: Christ, Christmas, craft and cooking (in that order!)

Emily, also a primary school teacher, has attended Christmas Capers for ten years: as a camper, a leader, and now as a director!

Emily: Our highlight game was a scavenger hunt – a leader says an item, and the kids have to find it and bring it to show everyone. We saw pets, TV remotes, smelly socks, mums and bananas! When kids are able to share a little part of themselves with you, an instant connection is formed.

Q. How have you seen God at work during the pandemic?

Meg: The online program went really well, and the team felt energised from being involved in God’s work.

After not being able to serve on camp or at church throughout lockdown, it was very refreshing and reminded me that God is still at work!

Emily: Even though it was just a short amount of time and we weren’t able to have individual conversations with kids, the gospel was faithfully taught, and we pray that gospel seeds were sown.

Q. What did the online camp experience look like?

Emily: Although quite different to an in-person camp, we worked hard to replicate the best parts of the camp experience – we were intentional in forming connections with kids, planned exciting and interactive games, organised fun crafts and cooking for kids of all ages and included a Christian talk.

Q. How does having hope in the Lord (Isaiah 40:31) resonate with you as a CRU Camp leader?

Meg: When logging off from each session, it struck me that God gives strength and life to those who live for Him and serve Him. Although keeping kids on Zoom engaged was a challenge, we all left with increased joy from seeing God use us.

Q. Any highlights or challenges?

Meg: Through Zoom, we were welcomed into the lounge rooms and kitchens of families around Sydney.

We had parents helping their child make treasure boxes, getting chocolatey with rocky road, and saw kids sitting with their parents during the Christian talk – it was a powerful opportunity to connect with families in a different way.

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Emily: Camp is an exciting and activity-filled week, and by the end of it, weariness can set in. But when my hope is in the Lord and what He is doing in campers, not in my own ability or strength, I have a renewed spirit that the efforts and excitement of camp will be used by God to bring more of His children into the Kingdom.

CRU® Sports Online Trivia Leaders: James Righetti & Kellie Thomson James, a full-time student at Moore Theological College, previously led on the Christians in Sport camps in the UK and now co-directs CRU Sports.

Kellie, who works for CRU in the Schools Ministry team, was involved in the first CRU Sports camp in 2020 and loved it so much that she came back!

“

God is at work building His church regardless of what we face.

“

Q. What did the online camp experience look like?

James: We offered two live sports quizzes for young people in Years 5 - 9. The idea came from a sports evangelism organisation in the UK called Christians in Sport. During their lockdown, they ran weekly online sports quizzes with a short, sharp gospel talk at halftime.

With lots of prayer and preparation, we were able to offer two live quizzes in spring, and Kellie gave two excellent gospel talks about Jesus and substitution.

Q. Any highlights or challenges?

Kellie: It was so great to be able to connect with the campers and to have the opportunity to show them how fun camp will be when we’re face-to-face again, as well as still having the opportunity to share the gospel with them. Seeing campers return to each CRU Sports Trivia event was definitely a highlight - I think they kept coming back because the program was really entertaining and fun.

Q. How have you seen God at work during the pandemic?

James: Like many, I’ve been so encouraged that God’s Word cannot be chained (2 Timothy 2:9). Even though we were stuck inside and unable to meet in person, we still managed to get dozens of young sportspeople together to hear about Jesus and the good news of the gospel. That is amazing and a great reminder that God is at work building His church regardless of what we face.

Q. How does having hope in the Lord (Isaiah 40:31) resonate with you as a CRU Camp leader?

James: This really resonates with me after the challenges of 2021. After three months of planning and work, the first CRU Sports was cancelled 48 hours before it was due to begin. We were really disappointed, and I found it difficult to summon the motivation to begin thinking about the summer CRU Sports camp without having seen the fruit of everyone’s labours in June. But after praying with people from church, I could sense that God was at work helping me see the vision of what these camps will do for young sportspeople.

The buzz and excitement are back. Praise God that He renews our strength!

Kellie: I think many people can resonate with how tiring the pandemic is, but during the online quiz, while we interacted with the campers and shared with them about God’s great love for them, we were filled with so much energy! It inspired me to keep on trusting that God has got this and that He will fulfil all that He has planned.

CRU Tech Online Leader: Lachlan McGuire Lachlan works at StayKCC as the Events and Bookings Coordinator and is the co-owner and operator of the Crafting For Christ (CFC) Minecraft network, a dedicated Christian Minecraft community. With a real heart for kids and camping ministry, he’s led and directed on CRU Tech for many years and enjoys maintaining relationships with the CRU Tech campers over their monthly gaming session!

Q. What did the online camp experience look like?

Because our camp was already technology-based, moving the gaming sessions online was very simple.

Kids would come for the games, hear a couple of Christian talks on grace, join discussion groups and we’d talk about how great in-person camp was.

Q. Any highlights or challenges?

The biggest difference between being online and inperson is the ability to build relationships. Many of the leaders left discussion groups feeling deflated because they didn’t make any meaningful connection with campers, which normally takes a couple of days on a

Page Nine

camp. On the flip side, everyone enjoyed online gaming and had a lot of fun. Both sessions of gaming, which were meant to run for an hour from 4 pm, continued until 6:30 pm. It was also great to see some of the previous CRU® Tech campers join and teach the new campers how to play some of the games.

Q. How have you seen God at work during the pandemic?

I thank God for the CRU Tech leaders and the community we have. The way we love and care for each other and checked up on each other in lockdown was amazing.

Continued growth in the west While this past year has had its challenges, we give great thanks to God for His powerful work through the CRU® West ministry in WA. Two years ago, Josie joined the first-ever CRU Quest camp as a Year 6 student with 36 other campers.

Last year, on her third camp, we rejoiced in God’s faithfulness, for camper numbers had more than doubled to 80! While the CRU Quest site location may have changed each year, some things have not. Josie joyfully explained that “the talks and discussion groups were great, and the camp has been a really encouraging Page Ten

Q. How does having hope in the Lord (Isaiah 40:31) resonate with you as a CRU Camp leader?

At the end of a camp, leaders often mention that camp is a small glimpse of heaven. CRU Tech being cancelled in winter meant that the small glimpse of heaven I was so much looking forward to didn’t happen, and the lockdown that followed added to a difficult six months. Lockdown was a period of slowing down and resting in the Lord. Coming out of lockdown, I feel more connected to God and believe that He is at work in my life. I am energised and excited about how God will use me through CRU Tech over the next few years!

way to meet other Christians.” Josie was able to bring two friends from her school to find out about Jesus.

Back in 2019, when CRU Quest first started, it was one of three CRU Camps in Western Australia with a total of 123 campers. Since then, two additional CRU Camps have been added, allowing 276 campers to hear the good news of Jesus.

We are also thankful to God that seven new CRU Groups have been started over the past year in Perth, Geraldton and Albany. We hope that there’ll be a CRU Group in Josie’s school soon so that her friends from Quest can continue finding out more about Jesus and how to live for Him. Join us in praising God for what He has accomplished, for Josie and her two friends, and pray that many others like them will hear the gospel and be transformed by Jesus.

ANNUAL REPORT

SEP 2020 – AUG 2021

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ANNUAL REPORT SEPTEMBER 2020 - AUGUST 2021

God has continued to work faithfully through the highs and lows of a tumultuous year.

Summarising 2020-21 is difficult. The year was marked by immense fluctuations.

•

Government restrictions meant that no school camps were able to run in September 2020 (normally the biggest month in Term 3) and nor were any able to take place from July to December 2021.

•

Physical school visits in Terms 3 and 4 on the east coast were rare.

•

We were forced to cancel our Lake Mac Open Day in August 2021..

•

Churches cut back on camps, missing out on the opportunity to connect and lowering our guest group site activity.

Highlights: •

•

•

•

•

We saw a massive return to camps post lockdown.

School camps in Term 4, 2020 and Term 1, 2021 were at record levels. Our summer holiday camp season was the biggest for years, and autumn was larger than ever before. Winter was also in line to be our biggest before the Delta Strain hit. Both parents and schools are keen for camp programs to run.

CRU® school groups flourished through 2020 and the first half of 2021. Many schools reported large numbers attending. Students sought the connection and relationships which CRU Groups provided, especially while church youth groups and Sunday schools were unable to meet.

118 teachers and chaplains attended our Teachers’ Conference in May. Ministry in Perth was largely unimpacted by COVID events in 2021. The number of CRU Groups increased from 19 to 28 as we added our first fulltime staff member, and the numbers on holiday camps increased from 59 to 176.

•

Our catering staff at Lake Mac ran CRU Food 2 U, using our new kitchens to cook and distribute 7,000 meals via churches and community groups to those in need.

•

CRU’s holiday camp leaders ran various online programs to connect with campers.

•

CRU’s Schools Ministry team produced video resources of individual talks and series for both junior and senior schools based on Romans 8.

•

CRU’s supporters responded generously to the challenges of the year, and encouraged us greatly through their gifts.

•

Most critically, the uncertainties and limits linked to COVID pushed us to rely on God all the more, and to seek Him in prayer.

The new Lake Mac proved very popular, with schools particularly keen to book the site.

Low points: •

But in both highs and lows God has been at work.

Although we were on track for our biggest ever winter holiday camp season, lockdown hit at the end of week 1, so we were only able to run 5 out of 27 winter camps.

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Praise God that He is sovereign! Give thanks for what He has done in 2020-21 in and through CRU.

2021 at a Glance CRU's financial year is from Sep 2020 - Aug 2021.

Holiday Camps

49

2,669

799

Holiday Camps

campers

volunteers

293

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

454

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

97%

of campers indicated they would recommend Holiday Camps to a friend

116

9,260

41

CRU Educational Camps

campers

Summit trainees

campers indicated a commitment or recommitment to faith

501

campers indicated that they were more likely to attend church or CRU Group as a result of camp

234

744

283

schools supported

school visits made

CRU Bible study resources sold

digital resources created (3x senior, 3x junior)

597

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

504

students attended CRU Schools Ministry’s Inter-CRU events

78,865

students reached on school visits

Galston Gorge

90

10,517 campers

Day Camps

6

68,722

Day Camps

camps meals served Average rating from guest groups

4.7 out of 5 Camp types CRU Educational Camps

In the last 12 months,

2.2 million litres of black water (sewage) was treated and recycled for irrigation

43% 18% 39%

24

school partners and church partners

66

campers indicated they wanted to start attending church after camp

CRU Holiday Camps

198

79,259

campers

camps

meals served

CRU Educational Camps

87 volunteers

50%

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

99%

of campers indicated they either liked or loved camp

CRU® West

10,602 Camp types

264 campers

Guest groups

Lake Mac

59% 11% 30%

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

took a Bible or Christian resource home 1,277 campers (614 Bibles, 450 devotional books, 213 follow-up packs)

Schools Ministry* - NSW, ACT and WA

6

451

campers indicated they would like to start attending church after camp

Educational Camps

1,469

94%

Average rating from guest groups

4 Holiday Camp

176

90

campers

volunteers

99%

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

98%

of campers indicated they would recommend CRU West Holiday Camps to a friend

16

campers indicated a commitment or recommitment to faith

56%

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

CRU Holiday Camps Guest groups

7,000

4.7 out of 5

CRU Food 2 U meals were distributed to the needy during the lockdown

*Please note that statistics from our CRU West ministry have been incorporated into this section.

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Who are we reaching?

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

Abbotsleigh - Boarding__________________________________________________________ Abbotsleigh - Junior______________________________________________________________ Abbotsleigh - Senior______________________________________________________________ Arden Anglican School - Junior_______________________________________________ Arden Anglican School - Senior_______________________________________________ Arndell Anglican College - Junior____________________________________________ Arndell Anglican College - Senior____________________________________________ Ascham School - Junior_________________________________________________________ Ascham School - Senior_________________________________________________________ Australian Christian College - Junior________________________________________ Australian Christian College - Senior________________________________________ Barker College - Junior__________________________________________________________ Barker College - Senior__________________________________________________________ Belmont Christian College - Junior__________________________________________ Belmont Christian College - Senior__________________________________________ Berowra Christian School_______________________________________________________ Bishop Druitt College_____________________________________________________________ Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College - Junior___________________________________ Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College - Senior___________________________________ Blue Mountains Grammar School- Junior_________________________________ Blue Mountains Grammar School- Senior_________________________________ Brigidine College St Ives________________________________________________________ Brindabella Christian College ACT - Junior_______________________________ Brindabella Christian College ACT - Senior_______________________________ Broughton Anglican College - Junior_______________________________________ Broughton Anglican College - Senior_______________________________________ Burgmann Anglican School ACT - Junior__________________________________ Burgmann Anglican School ACT - Middle_________________________________ Burgmann Anglican School ACT - Senior__________________________________ Calrossy Anglican School - Senior___________________________________________ Calderwood Christian School - Junior______________________________________ Calderwood Christian School - Senior______________________________________ Canberra Girls Grammar School ACT - Junior___________________________ Canberra Girls Grammar School ACT - Senior___________________________ Canberra Grammar School ACT - Junior__________________________________ Canberra Grammar School ACT - Senior__________________________________ Cedars Christian College - Junior____________________________________________ Cedars Christian College - Senior____________________________________________ Charlton Christian College - Junior_________________________________________ Charlton Christian College - Senior_________________________________________ Claremont College________________________________________________________________ Coffs Harbour Christian Community School_____________________________ Covenant Christian School - Junior_________________________________________ Covenant Christian School - Senior_________________________________________ Covenant Christian School ACT - Junior__________________________________ Covenant Christian School ACT - Senior__________________________________ Cranbrook School - Junior______________________________________________________ Cranbrook School - Senior______________________________________________________ Danebank - Junior_________________________________________________________________ Danebank - Senior_________________________________________________________________ Dubbo Christian School - Senior_____________________________________________ Emmaus Christian School ACT - Junior____________________________________ Emmaus Christian School ACT - Senior____________________________________ Frensham_____________________________________________________________________________ Galston Public School____________________________________________________________ Georges River Grammar - Junior_____________________________________________ Georges River Grammar - Senior_____________________________________________ German International School Sydney - Junior___________________________ Greenacre Baptist Christian Community School - Junior___________ Greenacre Baptist Christian Community School - Senior___________ Green Point Christian College - Junior____________________________________ Green Point Christian College - Senior____________________________________ Hills Adventist College - Middle_______________________________________________ Hills Adventist College - Senior_______________________________________________ HopePoint Christian School____________________________________________________ Hunter Christian School - Junior_____________________________________________ Hunter Christian School - Senior_____________________________________________ Illawarra Christian School - Junior___________________________________________ Illawarra Christian School - Senior___________________________________________ Inaburra School - Junior_________________________________________________________ Inaburra School - Senior_________________________________________________________

KEY Students attending CRU Holiday Camps

Students attending CRU Training events

Lunchtime CRU Group

Regular support from CRU staff

CRU Educational Camp program run

Partners with Day Camps

John XXIII Catholic Primary School__________________________________________ Kambala Girls School - Junior_________________________________________________ Kambala Girls School - Senior_________________________________________________ Kincoppal - Rose Bay_____________________________________________________________ Kinross Wolaroi Preparatory School_________________________________________ Kinross Wolaroi School - Senior_______________________________________________ Knox Grammar Preparatory School__________________________________________ Knox Grammar School - Senior________________________________________________ Kuyper Christian School - Junior_____________________________________________ Kuyper Christian School - Senior_____________________________________________ Lakes Grammar - Junior_________________________________________________________ Lakes Grammar - Senior_________________________________________________________ Loreto Kirribilli - Senior___________________________________________________________ Loreto Normanhurst______________________________________________________________ Lycee Condorcet - Junior______________________________________________________ Lycee Condorcet - Senior______________________________________________________ Macarthur Anglican School - Junior________________________________________ Macarthur Anglican School - Senior________________________________________ MacKillop Catholic College_____________________________________________________ Maitland Christian School - Junior__________________________________________ Maitland Christian School - Senior__________________________________________ Mary Immaculate Primary School____________________________________________ Mamre Anglican School - Junior______________________________________________ Mamre Anglican School - Senior______________________________________________ Marcellin College___________________________________________________________________ Marist College North Sydney__________________________________________________ Marist College Canberra - Senior____________________________________________ Marist Sisters College Woolwich______________________________________________ Mater Maria Catholic College_________________________________________________ Medowie Christian School - Junior__________________________________________ Medowie Christian School - Senior__________________________________________ Meriden School - Junior_________________________________________________________ Meriden School - Senior_________________________________________________________ MLC Junior School________________________________________________________________ MLC Senior School________________________________________________________________ Monte Sant' Angelo College___________________________________________________ Mountains Christian College - Junior______________________________________ Mosman Church of England Preparatory School_______________________ Mount Annan Christian College - Junior__________________________________ Mount Annan Christian College - Senior__________________________________ Mount St Benefict College_____________________________________________________ Nepean Christian School - Junior____________________________________________ Nepean Christian School - Senior____________________________________________ Newcastle Grammar School - Junior________________________________________ New England Girl's School - Junior__________________________________________ New England Girl's School - Senior__________________________________________ Newington College Preparatory School - Lindfield____________________ Newington College Preparatory School - Wyvern House____________ Newington College - Senior____________________________________________________ New Hope School__________________________________________________________________ Northcross Christian School___________________________________________________ Northern Beaches Christian School - Junior_____________________________ Northern Beaches Christian School - Senior_____________________________ Northholm Grammar - Junior__________________________________________________ Northholm Grammar - Senior__________________________________________________ Norwest Christian College - Junior__________________________________________ Norwest Christian College - Senior__________________________________________ Nowra Anglican College - Junior_____________________________________________ Nowra Anglican College - Senior_____________________________________________ Nowra Christian School - Junior______________________________________________ Nowra Christian School - Senior______________________________________________ Oran Park Anglican College - Junior________________________________________ Oran Park Anglican College - Senior________________________________________ Orange Anglican Grammar School - Senior_______________________________ Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School Waitara________________________ Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Kensington____________________ Oxford Falls Grammar - Junior________________________________________________ Oxford Falls Grammar - Senior________________________________________________ Oxley College________________________________________________________________________ Pacific Hills Christian School - Junior_______________________________________ Pacific Hills Christian School - Middle______________________________________

Pacific Hills Christian School - Senior_______________________________________ Parks Christian School___________________________________________________________ Penrith Anglican College - Junior____________________________________________ Penrith Anglican College - Senior____________________________________________ Penrith Christian School - Senior_____________________________________________ PLC Sydney - Junior______________________________________________________________ PLC Sydney - Senior______________________________________________________________ Pymble Ladies College - Junior_______________________________________________ Pymble Ladies College - Senior_______________________________________________ Queenwood School for Girls - Junior_______________________________________ Queenwood School for Girls - Senior_______________________________________ Radford College ACT - Junior_________________________________________________ Radford College ACT - Senior_________________________________________________ Ravenswood School for Girls - Junior_______________________________________ Ravenswood School for Girls - Senior_______________________________________ Redlands- Junior___________________________________________________________________ Redlands- Senior___________________________________________________________________ Regents Park Christian School - Junior____________________________________ Regents Park Christian School - Senior____________________________________ Richard Johnson Anglican School - Junior_______________________________ Richard Johnson Anglican School - Senior_______________________________ Rosebank College__________________________________________________________________ Roseville College - Junior_______________________________________________________ Roseville College - Senior_______________________________________________________ Rouse Hill Anglican College - Junior________________________________________ Rouse Hill Anglican College - Senior________________________________________ SCEGGS Darlinghurst - Junior________________________________________________ SCEGGS Darlinghurst - Senior________________________________________________ Scone Grammar School - Junior______________________________________________ Scone Grammar School - Senior______________________________________________ Scots All Saints College - Junior______________________________________________ Scots All Saints College - Middle_____________________________________________ Scots All Saints College - Senior______________________________________________ Shellharbour Anglican College - Junior____________________________________ Shellharbour Anglican College - Senior____________________________________ Shire Christian School - Junior________________________________________________ Shire Christian School - Senior________________________________________________ Shore Preparatory School_______________________________________________________ Shore School - Senior____________________________________________________________ Southern Cross Vocational Catholic College____________________________ Southern Highlands Christian School - Junior__________________________ Southern Highlands Christian School - Senior__________________________ St Aidan's Catholic Primary School__________________________________________ St Aloysius College________________________________________________________________ St Andrew's Cathedral School - Junior_____________________________________ St Andrew's Cathedral School - Middle____________________________________ St Andrew's Cathedral School - Senior_____________________________________ St Augustine's Senior College Brookvale__________________________________ St Catherine's School - Junior_________________________________________________ St Catherine's School - Senior_________________________________________________ St George Christian School - Junior________________________________________ St George Christian School - Middle________________________________________ St George Christian School - Senior________________________________________ St Ignatius College Riverview - Middle_____________________________________ St Ignatius College Riverview - Senior______________________________________ St Joseph's Catholic High School Albion Park___________________________ St Joseph's College Hunters Hill______________________________________________ St Luke's Grammar School - Bayview_______________________________________ St Luke's Grammar School - Junior__________________________________________ St Luke's Grammar School - Senior__________________________________________ St Mark's Catholic College Stanhope Gardens__________________________ St Mary's Cathedral College____________________________________________________ St Mark's Coptic Orthodox - Senior__________________________________________ St Michael's Primary School Baulkham Hills_______________________________ St Patrick's College Campbelltown__________________________________________ St Patrick's Marist College______________________________________________________ St Paul's Grammar School - Junior___________________________________________ St Paul's Grammar School - Senior___________________________________________ St Peter's Anglican Primary School Campbelltown_____________________ St Philip's Christian College (Cessnock) - Junior________________________ St Philip's Christian College (Cessnock) - Middle_______________________ St Philip's Christian College (Cessnock) - Senior________________________ St Philip's Christian College (Gosford) - Junior__________________________ St Philip's Christian College (Gosford) - Middle_________________________ St Philip's Christian College (Gosford) - Senior__________________________ St Philip's Christian College (Newcastle) - Junior_______________________ St Philip's Christian College (Newcastle) - Middle______________________ St Philip's Christian College (Newcastle) -Senior_______________________ St Philip's Christian College (Port Stephens) - Junior_________________ St Philip's Christian College (Port Stephens) - Middle________________ St Philip's Christian College (Port Stephens) - Senior_________________ St Pius X College Chatswood__________________________________________________

Sydney Grammar School - St Ives Preparatory School_______________ St Vincent's College_______________________________________________________________ Sydney Grammar School - Senior____________________________________________ Tara Anglican School for Girls - Junior_____________________________________ Tara Anglican School for Girls - Senior_____________________________________ Taree Christian College - Junior______________________________________________ The Anglican School Googong - Junior (ACT)___________________________ The Hills Grammar School - Senior___________________________________________ The Illawarra Grammar School - Junior_____________________________________ The Illawarra Grammar School - Senior_____________________________________ The King's School Preparatory School______________________________________ The King's School - Senior______________________________________________________ The Scots College - Boarding_________________________________________________ The Scots College - Middle_____________________________________________________ The Scots College Preparatory School_____________________________________ The Scots College - Senior_____________________________________________________ Thomas Hassall Anglican College - Junior________________________________ Thomas Hassall Anglican College - Senior________________________________ Toongabbie Christian College - Junior_____________________________________ Toongabbie Christian College - Senior_____________________________________ Trinity Christian School ACT - Junior_______________________________________ Trinity Christian School ACT - Senior_______________________________________ Trinity Grammar Preparatory School________________________________________ Trinity Grammar School - Junior______________________________________________ Trinity Grammar School - Senior______________________________________________ Tudor House School______________________________________________________________ Tyndale Christian School - Junior____________________________________________ Tyndale Christian School - Senior____________________________________________ Wahroonga Preparatory School_______________________________________________ Wenona School - Junior_________________________________________________________ Wenona School - Senior_________________________________________________________ William Carey Christian School - Junior____________________________________ William Carey Christian School - Senior____________________________________ William Clarke College - Junior________________________________________________ William Clarke College - Senior________________________________________________ Wollondilly Anglican College - Junior_______________________________________ Wollondilly Anglican College - Senior_______________________________________ Wycliffe Christian School - Junior____________________________________________ Wycliffe Christian School - Senior____________________________________________ Wyong Christian Community School - Junior___________________________ Wyong Christian Community School - Senior___________________________

The following WA schools had students who came on CRU Camps, met in CRU Groups or attended Inter-CRU events.

All Saints College Christ Church Grammar School Churchlands Senior High School Dale Christian School Emmanuel Christian Community School Geraldton Grammar School Great Southern Grammar School Greenwood College Iona Presentation College John XXIII College Perth Kelmscott Senior High School Leeming Senior High School Methodist Ladies College Mount Lawley Senior High School North Shore Christian Grammar School

Penrhos College Peter Moyes Anglican School Perth Modern School Presbyterian Ladies College Perth Rehoboth Christian College Shenton College St George’s Anglican Grammar School St Mark’s Anglican Community School St Mary’s Anglican Girls School St Stephen’s School Carramar St Stephen’s School Duncraig Swan Christian School Wesley College Willetton Senior High School Woodvale Secondary College

552 students representing 102 NSW, ACT and WA state or Catholic schools also attended CRU Holiday Camps or CRU Educational Camps.

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

107 students from disadvantaged backgrounds attended CRU Camps.

Please note that this list is sourced from Sep 2020 - Aug 2021. Only schools that have two or more students are listed.

Governance CRU® is blessed to be served by a group of dedicated, prayerful and godly men and women who oversee this vital ministry. In the financial year of 2020-2021, we give thanks for the service of: Vice Presidents Roger Corbett AO B Comm, FAICD The Rt Rev Dr Paul Barnett BD, ThL, ThSchol, MA, PhD, ASTC

CRU Board

Sarah Lancaster MTeach, BPsych, BTh Children’s and Families’ Pastor, Christ Church Anglican Gladesville Dr Scott Marsh (appointed Feb 2021) BMus Ed, Med, PhD Headmaster, William Clarke College

Chair

James Ward MABus, BADes, MDIA Director, NBRSARCHITECTURE

Dr Timothy Wright PhD, DipEd, BSc(Hons), FACE, MRACI, CChem Executive Director, Timothy Wright Educational Executive Coaching

Annette Ware BEd, DipTh, MACE Dean of Senior College, Abbotsleigh

Deputy Chair Helen Burgess BA, LLB(Hons), FGIA, FAICD Legal and Governance Executive

Hon. Treasurer (to Jan 2021) Santino Dimarco (resigned Jan 2021) BEc, CA Executive Pastor, St Andrew’s Roseville

Hon. Treasurer (from Jan 2021) Ian Bucknell (appointed Jan 2021) BBus, GAICD, FCPA CFO & Company Secretary, Ioneer Ltd

Directors David Attenborough Dip. Management, Dip Property Services Business Owner

Further Office Bearers

Board Committees

HGLT Investment Santino Dimarco (Chair)1 Ian Bucknell (Chair)2 Nigel Glasby Jess Hewson Gary Hill Matthew Seidl Matilda Slade Damien Wang2

Governance and Risk Management

Property & Development

Page Sixteen

Gary Hill (Chair) Anna Burke Rebecca Carritt Nigel Glasby Nathan McElveney Matthew Seidl

Finance

Nathan Brown BHosp MAICD, JP CEO, Christian Media & Arts Australia

Rev Alexander Koch BSc, BEd, BD, MEdLead, MACE, MACEL Deputy Headmaster – Secondary School, Arndell Anglican College

Annette Ware (Chair) James Carroll Calum Henderson (Summit only) Gary Hill Alex Koch Michael Leonarder (RTO only) Nathan McElveney Emma Pesavento

PBI Rebecca Carritt BSc, CertLang(German), GradDipDiv, Cert III Conservation & Land Management

Helen Burgess (Chair) Paddy Benn1 Jennifer George Nigel Glasby Gary Hill Matthew Seidl Tim Wright

Jessica Hewson BBus(Acc)/LLB, GradDip CA Risk Executive, Commonwealth Bank of Australia

RTO and Summit

Hon. Secretary

Rev Patrick Benn (resigned Jan 2021) BSc (Hons), BTh EU Graduates Fund Senior Staffworker (Evangelism) & AFES Sydney Area Director

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

Rebecca Carritt Peter Crawford Nigel Glasby Gary Hill Nathan McElveney Matthew Seidl James Ward Annette Ware

David Attenborough (Chair) Zane Garrett Nigel Glasby Gary Hill Andrew Reeves Matthew Seidl Kat Swaisland2 Brett Taylor Garry Tenkate James Ward

Strategic Planning Paddy Benn (Chair)1 Tim Wright (Chair)2 Anna Burke

Garth Rossler (Chair) Santino Dimarco1 Ian Bucknell2 Michael Evans Anna Burke (Secretary)

Management Committees Camps Nate Gale (Chair) Mel Bell Ryan Betbeder1 Lyzzi Donnelly-Coode1 Jade Haji James Hall Joshua Hall David Krebs Seb Lane1 Nate McElveney Phil Rawnsley Emma Roberts Steph Semler1 Cristyn Sloan2 Annika Williams1

IT Steering Dave Czapala (Chair) Anna Burke James Carroll Stephanie Chow Nigel Glasby Gary Hill Nathan McElveney Phil Rawnsley Andy Reeves2

Matthew Seidl Damien Wang2

CRU Safe Rebecca Carritt (Chair) Brendan Corner2 Bailey Dodds Andrew Fahey1 Zane Garratt1 Adam Houghton Ben Matthews2 Luke Matthews Matilda Slade

CRU West Scott Rowland (Chair) Kim Chin1 Roger Coetzer2 Hannah Killow1 Nathan McElveney Nicola Naoum1 Belinda Overmiere Jacinta Patterson Lucy Pratt2 Sheridan Raston Peter Smith Dougal Steven Edward Surrey

Senior Management Team Gary Hill – CEO Anna Burke Rebecca Carritt Nigel Glasby Nathan McElveney Matthew Seidl

KEY: 1 = Finished during the year 2 = Started during the year 3 = Maternity leave

The State of the Union Thank you for your support!

The 2020-2021 financial year was impacted significantly by COVID cancellations and restrictions. There were three months when we could run no school camps, but other months were massive. Holiday camps ran with restricted numbers in spring 2020, although we then saw record numbers book into holiday camps in other seasons as parents sought enjoyable activities for their children. Unfortunately, in winter, although we had our highest ever bookings, we could only run 5 of the 26 camps scheduled due to the COVID lockdown. Guest group bookings were also impacted throughout this period, particularly for churches.

A comparison with the previous year also shows an expected decline in Capital Campaign donations for Lake Macquarie as grants and gift pledges were completed. In 2020-21, donations made up 20% of our total income, compared to 25% in 2019-20.

By contrast, Lake Mac revenue made up 18% of our total revenue, compared to only 6% in 2019-20.

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM

We continue to be thankful for the generous support of donors whom God led to sustain us through this time, and for the COVID emergency funding provided by the Government.

Year ended 31 August 2021 2020 ($)

2021 ($)

REVENUE AND OTHER INCOME

9,685,502

11,366,698

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN INCOME

6,989,553

1,804,222

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

(6,490,487)

(6,673,909)

CAMP EXPENSES

(754,152)

(567,286)

ADMINISTRATION & IT EXPENSE

(774,306)

(786,588)

CATERING EXPENSE

(421,035)

(766,120)

(750,631)

(1,612,326)

(529,870)

(793,320)

DONATION TO HGLT RELATED PARTY

-

(350,000)

FINANCE COSTS

(109,594)

(253,047)

MARKETING & ADVERTISING EXPENSE

(325,832)

(324,338)

CURRENT YEAR SURPLUS

6,519,148

1,043,986

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

(EXCLUDING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN INCOME) 20% DONATIONS 19% CRU EDUCATIONAL CAMPS 18% LAKE MAC

Income $11,366,698

17% GALSTON GORGE 17% FED GVT JOBKEEPER/ CASHFLOW BOOST 8% HOLIDAY CAMPS (INCL. DAY CAMPS) 1% OTHER

EXPENDITURE (EXCLUDING CAPITAL EXPENDITURE)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION Year ended 31 August 2021

16% CRU EDUCATIONAL CAMPS

2020 ($)

2021 ($)

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

8,481,778

8,833,401

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

36,027,588

35,909,522

TOTAL ASSETS

44,509,366

44,742,923

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

15,538,895

6,985,961

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

3,215,326

10,957,831

TOTAL LIABILITIES

18,754,221

17,943,792

NET ASSETS

25,755,145

26,799,131

RETAINED SURPLUS

25,755,145

26,799,131

GENERAL RESERVE

-

-

TOTAL MEMBERS' FUNDS

25,755,145

26,799,131

15% LAKE MAC 14% GALSTON GORGE 13% ADMIN, IT & GOVERNANCE

Expenditure $12,126,934

13% DEPRECIATION & AMORTISATION 8% HOLIDAY CAMPS (INCL. DAY CAMPS)

MEMBERS' FUNDS

8% FUNDRAISING 5% SCHOOLS MINISTRY 2% CRU WEST

LAKE MAC REDEVELOPMENT & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

3% MARKETING

3% GVT JOBKEEPER TOP UPS

Year ended 31 August 2021

Campaign Revenue ($)

Campaign Costs ($)

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

2021

1,804,222

138,770

1,263,742

PROJECT TOTAL (INCL 100 ACRE PURCHASE)

23,199,381

1,478,870

30,711,939

CRU’s Finance Committee supports the CRU Board in providing financial direction and oversight to the organisation. This includes regular meetings to review and approve the accounts. The 2020/2021 Full Year Financial Statements were audited by NEXIA.

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.

“

“Your partnership in the gospel is so valuable – Praise God for the digital resource video talks. They can be used in video chapel services, are well produced, and easy to watch and learn from.”

“Thank you for running the sports quiz. My son enjoyed it a lot and had fun listening in. When we heard there was going to be a second one, we recommended it to a couple of his friends who also like sport. Thanks so much!”

Kylie Wilson, teacher at St Catherine's School

Jaqui Reid, parent of CRU Sports Quiz camper

•

• •

HOLIDAY CAMPS

• • •

DAY CAMPS

•

•

•

Page Eighteen

Jenny Whalan from Pennant Hills Public School, guest at CRU Galston Gorge

“

SCHOOLS MINISTRY

“The site provided ample rooms for all our tutoring groups and you were so flexible and friendly in all parts of the booking and logistics process.”

Although this past year has meant that many students could not meet in person in their CRU Group, praise God that many groups have continued to meet online. The CRU Schools Ministry team took the opportunity to create resources for the groups to use in their online meetings, including a 5-week series on Romans 8, a 6-week series on 1 John, an 8-week series on 1 Peter and a Christmas talk. We received lots of encouraging feedback about how helpful these resources were and how much the students could grow in their love for Jesus through them!

Give thanks for the two online Inter-CRU events held in recent months. These events encouraged students from CRU Groups in NSW, ACT & WA to keep living for Jesus at school.

Praise God for the Schools Ministry Associates and the opportunities they have had to encourage secondary school students on camps and in schools.

Pray for the Holiday Camps staff as a number of new team members learn their roles.

Pray that they’ll find their feet quickly and are able to effectively work to support the great CRU volunteers who serve on camps.

Thank God for the huge interest we had in our summer camps! Several camps were fully booked by the end of October. Please pray that this interest in CRU Camps will continue to be strong as opportunities for domestic and overseas holidays increase in 2022.

Thank God for the directors who work tirelessly to run excellent camps. Pray for them as they prepare camps and teams each season and pray that they’ll grow in their relationships with God as they enable leaders and campers to do likewise.

Pray for the Day Camps staff as we hope to run more camps in 2022 after so many affected seasons in 2021. Pray that schools and churches will be excited to have camps back if the opportunity arises, and that parents will be eager to book their children onto camp after a year or two off.

Thank God for our volunteers. It is so encouraging to work with so many great student leaders as well as church workers, teachers, chaplains and other adult volunteers. Pray that God will sustain and grow them in their ministry with CRU and in the ministry they do in other contexts.

As schools and churches review their calendars in light of COVID, pray for new opportunities for new camps to reach new communities with the good news of Jesus through Day Camps.

GALSTON GORGE

• •

•

LAKE MAC

•

•

•

EDUCATIONAL CAMPS

•

•

•

CRU WEST

• • •

Praise God for His provision during December and the start of January. As the site welcomed back kids and youth on CRU Camps, it has been wonderful to serve the campers and see them enjoying many outdoor activities.

Give thanks that guest groups continue to contact us and book in their school and church camps. Despite a slower start than usual in Term 1, we are seeing more bookings this year. Please pray that we would manage guest groups well as they navigate the ever-changing COVID situation.

The newly installed audio visual upgrades to the site have been put to the test, and it was great to see the systems being used to share the good news of Jesus again.

Give thanks that the site has seen many improvements and upgrades this year, including the turfing and landscaping of the bivouac camping area in the 100 Acres, and the completion of the U ​ ndercroft Meeting Room. The room is now protected from the weather and has been fitted out with carpet and AV, creating a great new activity and meeting space seating 300 people.

Praise God that campers were able to enjoy our expanded activities onsite this summer. A ski boat was purchased to allow for water skiing, wakeboarding and tubing, and the challenge course area was built and landscaped​. We are excited to see more campers growing in confidence as they experience these activities on upcoming camps.

Please pray that God will provide suitable staff to join the Lake Mac team. Due to the COVID lockdown and having to pause site operations, some staff have found other employment. We need to employ and train more staff for the year ahead. The Lord has blessed us with an amazing facility, and we are looking forward to serving and sharing the good news of Jesus with many guests.

We thank God that we were able to run day programs in Term 4 as restrictions eased. We ended up running programs for 26 different school grades, for over 1,300 students, in just 4 weeks. It was a joy to have kids back at our sites again after such a long period of lockdown!

Praise God for the schools that continue to book their Educational Camps (previously called Summit Camps) with us. We are set to run our biggest-ever Term 1 with 46 camps and around 4,425 campers, however, we aware that the evolving COVID situation may impact this. Please pray for the team and for schools as we navigate the year ahead. We are very thankful for the way that God uses the Educational Camps team to touch the lives of the next generation.

We are incredibly thankful for our new intake of Summit Program trainees for 2022.

Praise God for His provision, and please be praying for them as they are trained and equipped during January, ready to begin leading on camps in February.

Praise God for the partnership dinner held in November. We thank God for the chance to rejoice about what the Lord has done in WA over the past year and partner together in prayer and support for the year ahead.

A fifth camp started in WA this summer with 67 campers. This brings the total number of campers to over 270 over the last six months, more than double the year before.

Student Josh* wanted to start a CRU Group in his school, even though he was leaving a term later! Thank God for many students like Josh wanting to make Jesus known at school. *Name changed for privacy reasons.

Page Nineteen

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:

CRAIG TUBMAN

STEPH SEMLER

Craig is the Senior Chaplain at St Andrew’s Cathedral School. Craig first heard about CRU as a school student at Barker College, where he went on CRU Camps and attended inter-school events. Since then, he has led on CRU Study Camps and leadership camps and has had the privilege to speak on several CRU Study Camps.

Steph works part-time for CRU West while she also studies Art History.

She had the opportunity to go on a CRU Study Camp in Year 12 when she was living on the east coast and, from there, led on CRU Camps and joined Sydney staff as the CRU Camps Volunteers Coordinator until the end of 2020.

Craig believes CRU Camps are a great space for ministry. For students hearing the gospel afresh in a camp environment, away from the school context, bears so much fruit. Craig has greatly benefitted from the support of CRU’s Schools Ministry team. To be able to catch up with them for personal encouragement and support while he ministers to the St Andrew’s school community has been a real blessing.

Steph explains that it has been such an exciting experience to move to the CRU West team when she relocated last year. She shares, “What a joy it is to see the gospel being shared in schools on both sides of the country.” Steph has also been encouraged by the volunteers in WA, with so many leaders invested in seeing the gospel go out among children and teenagers in Perth.

Craig sees the camps, the support of CRU staff, the conferences and the Mega-CRUs as a much-needed ecosystem outside of school. Craig reflects, “For a long time, CRU has been part of the fabric of Sydney schools and, as such, it’s easy to take it for granted. But when I consider what the landscape of schools ministry would look like without CRU, I am reminded of its immense importance.”

CRU Groups and CRU Camps are such a great way for young people to have fellowship, to spur one another on, and to be trained up for future ministry. And with more and more kids coming on CRU West camps and the growing demand for school ministry support, Steph can’t wait to see what God will continue to do through the ministry. Steph is passionate about the impact of CRU and declares, “What could be more important than sharing the gospel!”

Thank you, Craig, for your passion and commitment to help kids come to know and love Jesus!

Page Twenty

Thank you, Steph, for your involvement with the work God is doing through CRU West, on camps and in schools.

TREVOR STRICKLAND

Trevor attends St Philip’s Anglican Church in Eastwood and has been a member there for 42 years. He has long had a passion for seeing kids come to Christ, teaching and leading young children for 20 years.

Trevor’s late wife, Jane, was involved in CRU as a member and leader on camps. Trevor enjoyed taking his young family to CRU’s Family Easter Conference at Gilbulla for many years, during which time he was greatly encouraged in his faith.

“CRU is a vital link in bringing young people to Christ,” says Trevor. He knows that camps are an excellent way for kids to have fun while learning about the importance of knowing and understanding our Lord and Saviour, as many of them come from nonChristian families.

Trevor regularly attends the CRU Business Lunch, where he enjoys hearing inspiring testimonies from students and connecting with likeminded people.

In order to see more kids reached for Christ, Trevor has decided to leave a gift in his Will to CRU, so young people will hear the Word of God for generations to come.

Thank you, Trevor, for your commitment to the work of CRU over many years and for leaving a gift in your Will so more kids can come to know and love Jesus.

Community

HOOKED • Naomi Andrews & Chris Hammond • Josie Campbell & Luke Zakris • Samantha Hayes & Mike Sheldon • Emily Jones & Ben Matthews • Heather-Rose Newcombe & David Thompson

HITCHED • Evelyn Ling & Lachlan Crawford – 23 October 2021 • Emma Duggan & Michael Deane – 4 December 2021 • Laura Caristo & Brett Taylor – 19 December 2021

HATCHED • Alex & Mat Stevens – a girl, Mia Hope, born on 20 September 2021 • Maddie & Jeremy Nance – a boy, Caleb Rickey, born on 22 September 2021 • Kait & Alex Chapman – a boy, Myles David, born on 21 October 2021 • Val & Ming Wong-Too-Yuen – a boy, Joshua, born on 31 October 2021 • Jessica & Marco Keryaks – a boy, Luca Michael, born on 10 November 2021 • Janette Leong & Brett Jackson – a girl, Olivia Janice, born on 26 November 2021 • Patrizha & Matt Yeomans - a boy, Henry Benjamin, born on 5 January 2022

HOME • Neil Ingham – 21 September 2021 • Sam McKay – 14 October 2021

TEACHERS ON THE MOVE • David Chilton is finishing up as Assistant Chaplain at Barker College - Senior and will be commencing as the Head of Ministry and Service at St Luke’s Grammar School at the beginning of 2022.

• Brett Hartley moved from being Principal at Shire Christian School to Principal at Rouse Hill Anglican College.

• Tiina Hufton finished up as the Head of Senior School at St Philip’s Christian College, Port Stephen’s, and commenced as the Head of Senior School at Danebank in Term 4, 2021.

• Rev Sam Hwang is finishing up as the Head of Christian Development and Assistant Chaplain at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, and is commencing at Arden Anglican School as the Head of Christian Studies in January 2022.

• Josh Lamb moved from being Apprentice Chaplain at The King’s School to teaching at Richard Johnson Anglican School.

• Adam Larby moved from being Deputy at Shore Preparatory School to being Principal at Tudor House School.

• Nick Little is moving from Sydney Grammar School to Newington College.

• Matt Richards is moving from being Chaplain at Thomas Hassall Anglican College to Chaplain of The Scots College Preparatory School in 2022.

• Mark Rundle moved from being Chaplain at Arden Anglican School to being Chaplain at Calrossy Anglican School.

• Brian Tran is leaving St Andrew's Cathedral School to take up the position of Assistant Minister at Darling St Anglican Church in Rozelle.

• James Vimpany moved from being a science teacher at Calrossy Anglican School to being Head of Christian Studies at Nowra Anglican College.

Keep us posted

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

Page Twenty One

Get back to CRU Lake Mac! Perfect for your school, church, band or community camp

Peaceful lakeside setting

Set on the picturesque shores of Lake Macquarie with 6.5 hectares of water frontage and an additional 40 hectares of adjoining bushland!

Find out how CRU Lake Mac can meet your camp needs. Get in touch today - dates in 2022 are filling up fast.

New accommodation and facilities

Rest well in comfortable ensuite cabins, meet together in large meeting rooms and smaller breakout spaces, and enjoy fully catered, delicious meals with panoramic views of the lake.

Experience the great outdoors

Relax and unwind with lakeside nature walks and beautiful sunsets from our jetty, or get the adrenaline pumping with exciting activities such as the climbing tower, archery and canoeing.​

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

ENQUIRE TODAY crulakemac.com.au groupbookings@cru.edu.au (02) 9199 1676 (opt 2)