Planting seeds on camp at Lake Mac

Michael 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 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.

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.”

“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.

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.’”

Pictured: Sailing at Lake Mac in 1998

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 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.”