CRU Holiday Camps... Online!

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!

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. 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.

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. 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.

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!

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 in person 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 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.

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!