Crusader Union

Beginnings at Galston

emmak — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:49:18 +0000

The Galston Gorge Centre began in a very small way. Di McClellan has written movingly in the February Cruview about the way members of the newly formed Senior Crusader Fellowship pitched in for several years to get the first two cabins built and a start made on the Dining Hall, the precursor of the present fine structure.
The Senior Crusader Fellowship began at the first Crusader Easter Conference held at Wentworth Falls in 1955, when it became clear that there needed to be training for camp officers. Until then, young people were invited to go on Crusader camps as officers with little but dedication and enthusiasm. That was fine, but the need for sound Bible training as well was in the minds of Crusader leaders.
In the course of discussion, the question also arose of how the big bush block Crusaders owned at Galston Gorge might be used. In the mid-1950s, it was considered remote and inaccessible, but in reality, it was not far from Hornsby station. Hugh Braga, who became the first Chairman of the SCF, drew up a plan for a series of about a dozen small cabins that would be built along the contour close to the cliff line overlooking the gorge, taking advantage of the view and offering a bush experience. Working parties started there in 1956.
The possibility of vandalism was a concern, so each building was to be solidly built of brick on a concrete slab. Now standard building practice, this was innovative at that time. Hugh Braga was a concrete specialist, so each cabin was to have a concrete roof as well. There was no water supply until the mid-1960s, so rain water was to be collected from the roof in a large concrete pipe turned on its side and given a thick concrete lid. No vandals could shoot holes through these tanks. Unloading the heavy pipes from the back of a truck was a delicate operation, only possible through the skills of two very dedicated parents of members of the Fellowship, Mr R.W. Mackay, a Master Builder with forty years’ experience, and Mr W. Foster, a skilled stonemason. Both gave much time at many working parties to provide expert guidance to this keen but very unskilled workforce of young school-leavers.
It was Mr Foster’s skill that made it possible for a unique feature to be added to the first cabin. For more than thirty years as an architect and civil engineer, Hugh Braga added a stone feature wall to many buildings of his that were especially significant. This had become his trademark. This cabin was indeed significant. Firstly, it was to lead the way in the use of Galston Gorge for the extension of the Kingdom of God. Secondly, it was a memorial to Flying Officer Beaufort Petter, RAFVR, who was killed in World War II. It was given by his sister, Mrs Irene Young, a Crusader Council Member and Commandant of several girls’ camps, and her husband, Dr Geoffrey Young.
On the first Saturday of each month apart from January, a crowd of between twenty and thirty eager young people turned up to working parties. Jeans had not yet arrived in Australia, so the girls wore skirts and the boys wore trousers, often with cuffs.
It never rained sufficiently to wash out a working party. We felt that as we were honouring God, He was protecting our work for Him. There was little money around in those days, so the second cabin was paid for mainly by the young people themselves.
Money boxes were made from Masonite in the shape of a cabin, complete with a sloping roof, with a slot for coins. When the box was full, the roof could be removed and then re-glued for further use. Only two brick cabins were built before the overall plan developed into a different form, while essentially preserving the original layout.
The two cabins were a small beginning. A little later, members of the Holt family donated the Mary Alison Holt Dining Hall in memory of their mother and grandmother, a significant leader in the first generation of the long history of Crusaders. That began the effective use of the Galston Gorge site.
In the two generations since those early days, many more people have given generously and sacrificially of money, time and expertise to make the Galston Conference and Recreation Centre the fine facility it is today.

Stuart Braga
28 February 2012

Off Season

Nathan McElveney — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:37:31 +0000

“Things are probably pretty quiet at this time of the year, right?”

It’s a question we get fairly often as we head into the cooler months. Surprisingly though, the answer is that Summit is still a full-time proposition at this time of the year; it’s just that the day-to-day details are different from peak camping season.

We still do some camps (we’ve run five in the last two weeks). But mainly we take this opportunity to undergo training and do all the other things that keep us ticking along. Today our team has been trained on how to project our voices without damaging them – something that’s very handy to how to do when you’re on camp! We’re also working on some of our creative ministries, and doing maintenance work on the activities we use on camps.

Over the coming weeks, we’ve got training scheduled in for leadership and Bible study writing & facilitation, along with some blocks of outdoor recreation training.

Our team’s also helping out with some work on the campsites and, at some stage in the coming weeks, moving office to the new office on site.

It’s wonderful on days like today to look around at all that’s happening and to know that, even though the next camp isn’t until later on this week, today’s work is still critically important so that we can do what we do to the best of our ability.

Some small changes ‘punch outside their weight’!

lenh — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:20:50 +0000

Have you ever experienced the simple pleasure of making a small change that turns out to have a disproportionately positive outcome? I’m writing this from the Lake Mac office where I have just returned from viewing a small change we recently made on-site; the effect of which exceeded my expectations. If you have camped at Crusaders Lake Mac, you’ll know that we enjoy one of the best foreshore locations on Lake Macquarie along with great aquatic activities like sailing, canoeing, swimming & paddleboarding. Unfortunately, this attraction has a downside – campers are always returning to their cabins dripping wet, discarding wet costumes and towels onto the carpeted floor before racing out the door for the next fun activity. Back to back camps means that the carpet is rarely given the chance to fully dry out, resulting in a residual ‘damp-carpet’ odour that our returning campers have acclimatised to over the years. Last week we finally ‘bit-the-bullet’ and pulled up the carpet and replaced it with Linoleum. This was a small change that only took a few days to achieve but what a transformation! Gone is the musty odour, Gone is the dark dinghy interior, Gone is the floor that always looked dirty no matter how well you vacuumed. And in its place is a lightly coloured floor that brightens the whole cabin, is easy to keep both dry and clean and totally odourless. Now the boys won’t have any excuse for their smelly cabins! The only down side is my need to think up an answer to the inevitable question that will be asked; ‘Why didn’t you do this ages ago?’

It got me thinking – what other small changes can I make, either at work or personally, that could have a bigger impact? Hmm – I’ll need to ponder on that one. How about you?

More than numbers

nickh — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:17:42 +0000

Thinking back over the past 2 weeks of CRU Holiday Camps, it’s been amazing to witness firsthand the impact of camps in kids lives.

324 campers experienced 5 camps run by 81 volunteer leaders. From surveys received so far, 98.9% of campers said they’d recommend CRU Camps to their friends, 100% made new friends, 65% said they didn’t regularly attend a church or youth group before camp yet over 50% said they are now interested in doing so and that camp has positively changed their view of Christianity. A massive 98% rated camp either excellent or good and stacks of campers commented about the way their great leaders helped them to grow in confidence, study more than at home, and how camp encourage dthem to think about God while having a great time on camp.

These statistics are more than just random numbers, they are actual lives of actual campers who loved camp and are thinking more about life and eternity. Check out these camper comments from Autumn Study 2, Destination Queensland and Evacu8 campers:

“Camp has made me a stronger Christian. I know more about Jesus and God.”

“I had so much fun and the leaders were amazing.“

“Getting to hear about God and having people answer my questions was really helpful.”

“I got so much more study done than I would have at home!”

“I came on camp thinking I was Christian but hadn’t understood what it was about. It was great to actually look at what the bible says.”

“I’m starting to think that Christianity may in fact be the thing missing in my life.”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” (From a camper while descending the giant drop at Dreamworld).

“Thank you leaders for volunteering! You are amazing and so much fun. Thanks for helping me with my study.”

Let me echo that last comment – THANK YOU LEADERS!

This past season it was quite a challenge to recruit enough leaders to run camps. And with universities changing their holiday times each year it’s a problem that isn’t likely to ease anytime soon. So let me say again, THANK YOU LEADERS for giving of your time, money and self to see campers enjoy real friendships, think seriously about the claims of the Christianity, study, have fun and enjoy awesome activities. YES, those things are all possible together, and as winter draws closer they’ll all happen again with 17 CRU Camps in Sydney, at the snow and by the lake. Bring it on!

Galston Revisited

andrewr — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 03:07:48 +0000

I was chatting to a CRU Camp leader on camp today who absolutely loved the new dining room and relaxing lounge at the Galston Gorge Conference & Recreation Centre. The last time he had been on camp and seen the campsite was over 10 years ago and before all the renovations had taken place. The extra space, beautiful views and fresh, bright feel of the dining room are things we thank God for. It was a real encouragement to see the value of Gods provision through the eyes of a CRU Camp leader. I hope that the students here on the HSC Autumn Study 1 camp will have a fruitful time studying but also have a great time of fellowship together around the site, taking advantage of the wonderful new benches designed and installed with the purpose of building community. I wonder whether they will get a chance to have fun using the many activities on site, perhaps not this time because as I write this over 100 students are quietly studying for their HSC in the huge Gym next to my office. What a great venue in Sydney to enable the ministry of CRU Camps to tell kids about God. Praise Him for his provision.

It’s great to see the fruit

nickh — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:58:08 +0000

Whatever the task, it’s always a great joy and privilege to see the fruit of many hours of preparation and training.

With three CRU Autumn camps running this week, I’ve been enjoying some fruit. Yesterday I visited Autumn Study 2 at Galston and caught up with Charlotte and Hannah. They’d been studying all morning and had just heard a talk from the speaker Dazz about God being love. Both Charlotte and Hannah are Christians, and surprisingly to many, they are in the minority on study camp. I asked them to share their experience so far.

Charlotte and Hannah enjoying the opportunities and challenges of study camp

Here’s a snapshot of their responses.

Hannah – “It’s challenging but really good, so far on camp I’ve had a chance to hear the different worldviews of the girls in my discussion group, and have been able to share what I believe and why. In the discussion group yesterday, one of the girls asked me why I have faith and another wondered if Christians were bound by a set of rules. I kind of feel like a helper to the leader in the group and need to choose my words plus when to speak wisely! We’ve started chatting in our group about absolute versus relative truth, so it’ll be good to talk more this week about the truth claims that Jesus makes.”

Charlotte – “I’ve got so much more study done than I would ever do at home, which is why I’m planning to do four more study camps this year! I’ve also been really encouraged by how open people are to thinking about Christianity, particularly those who had kind of written it off. Some girls have asked my leaders about the reliability of the bible and it’s been great to see how their questions have been handled. The leaders are really easy they are to relate to and they are so interested in our lives which is amazing. I was on study camp last week as well and one of the boys named Sam asked loads of questions about God and suffering and Jesus and history, he even went to all the optional seminars during free time which was cool to see.”

As I write now I can overhear Emma and Ellie leading a discussion group after a day at the beach on Destination QLD. The campers are interested in the Easter message and asking great questions. We don’t always get to experience it, but it’s great to see the fruit of many hours of preparation by office staff, leaders, speakers and directors. I thank God for them and pray that this fruit will last.

Remember the Reason

lenh — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:51:19 +0000

Have you ever been so totally absorbed in the daily grind of your work-life that you need reminding of the reason you are doing what you are doing? I recently received a great reminder. Being presently in the middle of project managing the installation of a new office for the Summit team at our Galston site, I am ‘up to my armpits’ with budgets, quotes, contractors, council restrictions, building standards, bush fire protection zones, and so on.

In the middle of all this busyness, one of our maintenance staff shared that he was talking to a woman at church last Sunday. When she discovered that he worked at Crusaders, she excitedly shared that over the previous weekend she had the joy of witnessing her young-adult son get baptised and publically confess his Christian faith. Apparently, a few years earlier, her son, who wasn’t a Christian in year 12, attended a Crusader HSC Study camp and upon returning home responded to his mother’s question; ‘how was it?’ with typical teenage boy minimalism; ‘ok’.

The mother never realised the role that Crusaders played in her son becoming a Christian until she heard his testimony given at his baptism. He shared how the Crusader camp, and in particular the living Christian witness of the leaders, was the pivotal moment for him on his journey in becoming a Christian.

I was greatly encouraged to hear this story since it reminded me of the reason we do the things we do at Crusaders – to share the message of Jesus with the next generation. While not every employee of Crusaders actually gets to share Jesus on camp, all of us have a crucial role to play in allowing that outcome to happen effectively. We are not ‘just cooking meals’. We are not ‘just taking bookings’. We are not ‘just mowing lawns’. As the apostle Paul said: “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” Rom 12: 4-6a

So next time you find yourself lost in the daily grind, take a moment to ‘Remember the Reason’ you are doing what you are doing.

The second best gift this Easter

nickh — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:51:08 +0000

Easter is a great celebration as we remember the most significant event in all of history, Jesus’ death and resurrection, gifted to us!

As I think about this time of year, I can’t picture anything better than sharing God’s gift with others. In just a few weeks’ time, more than 300 school aged students will have arrived at CRU Camp and will experience God’s gift to us, wrapped as it should be, in the love of caring Christians sharing the most amazing camp experience with them. Together this Easter holidays, campers and leaders will ride the heights of rollercoasters, descend the cliffs of climbing walls, share the challenges of exam preparation and the joys of friendship. All tallied up, students and their leaders will complete 7700 hours of study, 1200 hours of theme park adventures, 1600 hours of campsite adventure activities and a mega 27300 hours of eating!

So what’s the second best gift this Easter?

Just this morning I was speaking with a CRU leader whose parents are paying his leaders fees as a birthday present. This is not simply paying a boring bill; this is the gift of giving. He now gets to be the wrapping paper on the best gift of all!

A Growth Experience

Anna Wood — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 03:34:25 +0000

I always find the lead up to the annual Crusaders lunch quite stressful. My dreams beforehand are full of every conceivable thing that could go wrong! Thankfully, none of my nightmares eventuated, the lunch ran smoothly and was a hugely encouraging time. Phew!

This year 330 Crusaders supporters got together on Friday 9^th March at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel in the city and enjoyed fellowship over a meal as they heard how God is using Crusaders to reach over 52,000 students each year with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Dr Rod Kefford spoke beautifully about Crusaders’ importance at Barker College and Claire Teale and Cameron Issacs gave their personal testimonies of growth. Inspirational stuff! I would definitely encourage you to take a listen to each of their speeches yourself: crusaders.edu.au/events

The theme for the event was ‘Grow With Us’. I am constantly amazed at how God takes non-Christian kids and captures their hearts through this ministry and matures them through our school CRU Groups. My own mum was one of them, for which I am very grateful!!

Each year we need to raise close to $1m in donations to keep running ministry programs, so the lunch is critical to helping us reach this figure. Thankfully $325,000 was raised at the event to cover some of the costs of running CRU Holiday Camps, Summit Educational Camps and our Schools Ministry programs. We are so grateful to God for moving the hearts of our supporters to be generous. I consider myself very fortunate to be a fundraiser for an organisation that seeks to honour God and glorify Him in everything.

May this forever be the case….and may I grow in my trust of our great God so that my dreams next year are peaceful as I rely on Him to provide what’s needed!

The importance of reaching kids

Gary Hill — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:55:57 +0000

It has been interesting to watch a growing trend in the United States in particular question the generational focus of youth ministry. Many writers and practitioners have noted the high drop out rate of young people from Christian fellowship after they leave high school. At the same time they have reflected on the statistics which show the importance of parents and families in nurturing young believers, so that they grow more mature and are able to stand more independently. (I suspect that at least some writers are more influenced by the fact that they themselves are getting older, and are finding it easier to relate to parents and even grandparents, rather than kids!)

Whatever the reason, many are suggesting that it is better to abandon children’s and youth ministry and instead to focus on intergenerational ministry built around the extended family.

There are undoubtedly some good things behind their comments. All ages benefit from contact with those in other age groups. Equipping parents to better train their kids is really worthwhile. And helping kids to see the value of connecting with older generations is important.

However there are some significant disadvantages. It’s important to remember that the reason why parachurch organisations like Crusaders were established in the first place was that ministry to kids was a largely forgotten part of the church agenda. Additionally, a focus on helping Christian parents to best raise their kids can often lead to a neglect of those who are outside the church. As Tim Sims and others have noted, the increase in the number of split families has negatively impacted the capacity of churches to engage well with families on a regular basis.

Being a youth-focused organisation, Crusaders has a much greater opportunity to engage kids who are not church attenders. By going into schools and running camps, Crusaders is reaching where kids are at. This allows us to connect with kids, to reach them with the Gospel, to nurture them as they grow, and to train them for a lifetime of service. It is great to see kids not only “show up” but also to “grow up”, and persevere in their faith.

This should not be an “either-or” discussion. It is important that parents receive training and encouragement to better equip them for leading their families in a godly way. It is valuable to encourage good communication between generations (and not only as a one-directional process).

But it is vital that we grasp opportunities while they are available to reach kids with the Gospel.

Nicodemus Hitting the Stage Soon!

Linda Newman — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 02:10:00 +0000

The fun Gospel musical ‘Nicodemus’ is about to hit the stage from 21st March, 2012 at Covenant Christian School, Belrose.

It’s been incredibly fun learning the choreography, songs and drama over the past 6 months. I can’t wait to see ‘Nicodemus’ come alive when it hits the stage in a couple of weeks!

And what a fabulous opportunity to share the Gospel story with family and friends.

Tickets are selling fast to 7 performances only. Get in quick so you don’t miss out!

Plus you’ll be supporting Crusaders at the same time! Use the promo code CRUSM12 and get a $1 discount per ticket and a further $1 will be donated to support the ministry of Crusaders.

Tickets can be purchased online at: www.trybooking.com/znq

To find out more about ‘Nicodemus’ go to: www.stmattsweb.org.au/nicodemus

See you there!

Practice makes Perfect

davidg — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:38:05 +0000

It’s week 4 of Term and the Summit Crusaders Fellows have already been involved in 13 camps! It’s my job to make sure they are able to keep the kids safe whilst doing activities such as Abseiling, rock climbing, sailing and canoeing. I was so encouraged by the energy and enthusiasm of the fellows. They have the pressure of making the activities enjoyable and fun whilst ensuring that the campers are completely safe and cared for as they learn. There are high expectations set on the fellows to ensure all this happens well. Their dedication and love for the campers they’re serving always blows me away.

During an abseiling session I was observing at Lake Mac, one of the fellows (who will remain nameless) displayed the most comforting and calming manner as they helped a child descend the wall. Not only did they keep cool calm and collected, but their systematic approach left the child completely confident in their ability. When asked, the child thought their instructor was a seasoned veteran. Not bad for someone who has less than 10 hours experience as an assistant guide. Camps provide a great opportunity for both leaders and campers to grow in their abilities and demonstrate patience and love.

I am so impressed by the progress of the Crusaders Fellows, their dedication and commitment to their training stretches far beyond the scheduled training times. It is my hope that they will continue to work hard and build on this already great culture of safety and excellence.

Interested in booking a Crusaders Summit Camp for your school? Click here.

Thinking about doing a gap year that’s fun and worthwhile? Join the Crusaders Fellows Team here!

Up & Running

Nathan McElveney — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:56:29 +0000

We’re already 13.93% of the way through 2012. (Although we’d be 13.97% of the way through it if we didn’t have the 29^th February to extend our year.) Scary, isn’t it?!?! It seems that each year the weeks pass by quicker and quicker.

We’re already 7 weeks into this year – and for Summit that’s been enough time to start training up our 8 new Fellows, who joined the 19 of our team who are continuing on from last year. This week is also our 4^th week of camps for 2012; and by the end of the week, that’ll have been enough time to run 14 camps, for almost 1,500 campers. This also means we’ve had enough time for almost 100 meal times (or, more importantly, 70 morning & afternoon teas, with cakes, slice or scones), a similar number of activity sessions and a few dozen discussion group times, comprised of around 150 different discussion groups.

In one sense, when time flies like this, with so many camps, campers, meals, activities and groups, it feels like just another year, and we’re doing it all over again. But, in another sense, it still feels brand new. Each camp, campers and leaders meet each other for the first time. Each camp, campers do activities for the first time. Each camp, new conversations happen around the dinner table. And each camp, discussions in groups bring about new & fresh understanding.

While we may have done this all before, each moment is still unique. We’re up & running again for the year, and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!

Follow the Summit camps for the year at: http://www.facebook.com/SummitFellows

Connecting and Supporting Staff

Elizabeth White — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:38:24 +0000

On Monday, January 30, Crusaders’ staff met together at Galston for what is known as our Staff Connection Day. We hold these days twice a year so that everyone from the three geographical areas can meet. Specifically it’s during these days that we want employees to:

recognise that they are an essential part what we do, even if their particular role is not at the coalface
start to build relationships with each other so that they want to pray for each other through the year
feel empowered in their personal and professional life.

We want to use this time to reinforce our commitment to staff that, while employed by us they will:

grow in their relationship with God
grow in their skills and performance
grow in their active support and encouragement of one another
see God at work in and through the part they play in Crusaders’ ministry.

I’m pleased to report that the day was an outstanding success.

Karl Faase, our guest speaker, spoke with great relevance and insight. He provided some very practical perceptions into difficulties which we can face when working/living for a cause, along with how to recognise stress in our lives and deal with it in a healthy way (simply speaking, how to get things done and not kill yourself!). I also appreciated what he had to say about diversity in teams. Staff response on these two sessions was overwhelmingly positive and I’d encourage any organisation to consider Karl for your next event.

In addition, we held four electives following lunch (Managing personal finances, How to help your family thrive when you get home from work, Has Crusaders ever thought about….? and Help! I’m running Bible study next week). Having Jean Rixon share some of the history of Crusaders was really special and Santino Dimarco’s expertise in the finance elective was invaluable.

Here’s some of the feedback I’ve received about the day:

“Loved it! Thanks for the effort that goes into organising these days and the obvious thought and prayer that goes into what will help, bless, encourage and support the staff at Crusaders. It definitely does all these things for me.”

“I just wanted to say thank you for the awesome culture that has been cultivated at Crusaders. I feel like it is an incredibly healthy place to work which is grounded and revolving around God. This culture has been an encouragement and a support in times when I’ve definitely needed it, so thank you again.”

“I loved the fact that the electives were designed to bless us in our personal life. It made me feel like Crusaders genuinely care about their staff, not just their performance.”

One Week in Schools

Tom French — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:20:44 +0000

Over the last week I have had the privilege of going on my first few school visits for the year. In my job I get to visit CRU Groups and chapels around Sydney, and I am always encouraged by the many small (and big) works of God I see in the schools as I visit them.

For instance this week I was encouraged to pray with a chaplain who is seeking to love like Jesus and teach about him clearly even when faced with hostility from some of those he is ministering to. I was excited to have the opportunity to be led in a Bible Study at a CRU Group by a young man who I met years ago while speaking on a CRU Camp. Over the years I have seen him mature in his faith, be trained as a leader and take the role of the sole leader of his CRU group at school. It was so good to see how God has been at work growing and training him over the time I have caught up with him on camps and at school.

I was encouraged by the opportunity to meet a young girl enthusiastically telling me about her up-coming camping adventures with Crusaders. I loved having a chance to chat with a School Principal on the phone about how encouraged he is by the Christian growth of his students. And I always love coming back after holidays to hear kids tell me about the fun and life-changing times. Not to mention that I’ve had to chance to speak to many young people about the hope we have in Jesus.

And all this is just in my first week of school visits for the year. I am so blessed to be able to see God at work through the ministry of chaplains, teachers, students and CRU in so many places. It’s going to be a good year because God is going to keep doing good work.

We are family

sylvias — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:42:42 +0000

The youngest of five kids, my siblings used to call me “little sister with a blister”, because I required a lot of attention. I was the family “dibber dobber”, because I couldn’t keep secrets and often tattled on my siblings. Lastly, I was very bad at compromising, because I always wanted things “my way”!

As I grew older, I learnt that I couldn’t grow my relationships if I was always demanding attention, but not giving it, breaking confidences and not being willing to compromise. Our families are more functional when we put others needs before our own.

That’s one of the reasons why I love holiday camps. While our families have to love us, no matter what (something I am ever so grateful for!), holiday camps throw us into a new, large, temporary family. Suddenly, on camp, we become part of a family where everyone has a different way of doing things. Added to that, the exhaustion that comes from all the crazy games and activities and the effort to just “get on” needs to be more intentional. It’s a great opportunity for both leaders and campers to practise being gentle, compromising and loving.

Directing Aussie Adventure last week, I had to have a few conversations with some of the primary school girls about this very thing. As one cabin was arguing about whether or not to use a night light, I sat down with the girls and encouraged them to compromise and put each others needs before their own. They compromised, and in the end agreed to use a glow stick as their night light – bright enough for the girl who needed it, and soft enough not to bother the other girls as they slept. They were able to come to this decision because they put each others needs first.

It’s the same thing the apostle Paul talks about in his letter to the Philippians. Encouraging them to be like Christ, he tells them, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5)

Camps are so much more than a fun getaway for kids during the holidays. They help develops character, growing the children into people who care about others and striving to be more like Jesus in every way.

That’s dedication

sylvias — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:13 +0000

One of the best things about my job is meeting people who donate their time, energy and resources to serve on CRU Camps. These directors, leaders, house parents and cooks see their precious annual leave or school holidays as an opportunity to love campers, entertain them and care for them.
Take Neil & Nikki, for example, who have spent the first week of January at On Two Wheels, every year, for the last five years. “We revolve our holidays around it”, he told me. While visiting On Two Wheels, I watched Neil lovingly and gently encourage a young boy on the dirt bike, as he struggled to get his bike going. For over an hour, in the hot sun, Neil ran along side the boy on the bike, calling out encouragement and other useful tips as the boy kept trying to ride. He got the hang of it, eventually, and no one was more proud than Neil.
His wife, Nikki, was helping out on Summer Trails, a high school girls horse riding camp. “She’s the best camp mum ever!” one girl told me. “She brought everything with her, even beads so we could make jewellery if we were bored”.
It’s this considerate and gentle care that makes Neil & Nikki, and the many other leaders like them, such a special and significant part of CRU Camps. It takes selfless love and a genuine compassion to achieve what they have – campers feeling loved, and having a great time on camp. They create an awesome opportunity for campers to see and experience Jesus’ love, and the transforming power of His Spirit in the daily interactions and lives of His followers.

Nicodemus Tickets on sale NOW

Linda Newman — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:56:07 +0000

I’m excited to announce that tickets for the musical ‘Nicodemus’ are now on sale!

‘Nicodemus’ is a musical telling the story of Jesus through the eyes of Nicodemus and is a fantastic opportunity to present the Gospel to family and friends leading up to Easter.

I’m also performing in the cast and would love you to come and enjoy the show!

Performances are at Covenant Christian School, Belrose, on these dates:

Wed 21-Mar-12 8pm-11pm – Opening Performance
Fri 23-Mar-12 8pm-11pm – 2nd Performance
Sat 24-Mar-12 2pm -5pm – Matinee – 3rd performance
Sat 24-Mar-12 8pm-11pm – 4th Performance
Fri 30-Mar-12 8pm-11pm – 5th Performance
Sat 31-Mar-12 2pm -5pm – Matinee – 6th Performance
Sat 31-Mar-12 8pm-11pm – 7th and Final Performance

Remember that when you book tickets, enter the promotional code for Crusaders – CRUSM12 – and receive a $1 discount on each ticket sold. A further $1 from your ticket will also be donated to Crusaders to support our ministry!

So get cracking and purchase tickets here.

I look forward to seeing you at the show!

A new experience on a CRU Camp

nickh — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:58 +0000

It’s now half way through the CRU Camps summer season of camps. 13 camps will have finished by the end of this week, and I’m so thankful for all that has happened in leaders and kids’ lives.

Here’s my favourite moment so far…

Aaron had never been on a camp before, and I think life is sometimes pretty tough for him. While visiting Lake Mac, I took him sailing on a Hobie catamaran. It was a beautiful day with good wind conditions. The other boys on the boat were full of excitement, learning to skipper and control the jib at the same time as holding on to anything they could grab in the big swell. Aaron was tentative; this was his first time on a boat on camp, maybe his first time ever. His fingers grasped the hull and stuck like glue. His eyes focused on the bright blue trampoline connecting the hulls. He was silent. I asked him if he wanted to have a go at skippering and a slight shake of the head was his answer. Maybe an hour later and after some more reluctance, he shuffled toward the back of the boat, never once letting go of the hull. He grasped the main sheet and the tiller extension and for the first time looked up at the waves as he focused ahead and began steering. His eyes lit up and a wry smile appeared as he felt the power of the wind and his control over the boat through the rudders as we powered ahead. I asked how he felt, and a quiet ‘good’ was muffled by the gusty winds and crashing swell as the nose of the Hobie dived forward into and under the oncoming wave. Aaron suddenly looked up and quickly asked me to take over, that was enough for the day!

For Aaron, so much of this camp experience was new. I don’t think he has ever seen what he saw, both in terms of the activities in God’s creation, or the compassion and care of the leaders who have created an amazing sense of camp community for the campers. I hope that I can meet him again, see him tacking and balancing on a sailing boat, and holding onto God’s love like he held on to the boat that day!

Well Worth a Read

Gary Hill — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:30:21 +0000

Summer! As well as a big holiday camps season, endless cricket and an abundance of food, summer provides an opportunity to catch up on some reading.

When the brain needs a slow gear, I enjoy some crime fiction, but I thought I’d also share some of the other books which are lurking beside my desk/bed/lounge. These current favourites include:

Jim Packer’s A Passion for Faithfulness: wisdom from the book of Nehemiah: an easy read with reminders on almost every page of the importance of prayer in serving a faithful God.
Dale Ralph Davis’ The Word Became Fresh: how to preach from the Old Testament narrative texts: I was first drawn by the title, then Davis’ reputation, and have found this book to be really helpful. The gems start from the first chapter. Consider this excerpt:

“We may have a high view of the Bible; we may be distraught because large sectors of the church seem to ignore its authority. Yet in our own Scripture work we easily ignore its chief Interpreter. Professionalism rather than piety drives us. We needn’t be surprised by our own sterility and poverty if we refuse to be beggars for the Spirit’s help.” (p.2)

Paul Kelly’s How to make gravy: Kelly has to be one of Australia’s greatest modern songwriters and his skill in weaving tales is evident in this book of the story behind his songs. It reveals much of the Australian spirit and the search for purpose in everyday life.
Patrick Lencioni’s Silos, Politics and Turf Wars: I first read Lencioni to prepare for some training I was running for another Christian organization. He uses fables to pinpoint core issues relating to teams, meetings, leadership styles and corporate cultures. His material is not taxing: the value comes from considering applications.
John Stott’s The Living Church: convictions of a life long pastor: Just started this one, triggered by a desire to consider how Crusaders can build even stronger links with churches. I hope you’ll see some fruit in the months to come.

So that’s what I’m reading! I’d love to hear any comments if you’ve dipped into some of the above, or your suggestions about other books which should be added to the pile. Let me know what’s on your list!

Gary Hill

Crusaders Fellows reach the Summit

davidg — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:14:12 +0000

Over the last few weeks I have been extremely encouraged by our Summit Fellows. After 12 months of hard work, the fellows were able to celebrate completing their certificates with their Crusaders Family at the Summit Thanksgiving service.

Whether it be the hours of assignment work, countless time practicing set ups, polishing their facilitation and group management skills or the time they spent developing relationships, each of the fellows were able to share their experiences and reflect on a busy but rewarding year.

It was particularly encouraging to see how far they have come over the past 12 months, one individual was hesitant to even get close to a cliff, but now is a fully confident (and competent) Abseiling guide. It is amazing to see how much one develops when slightly outside their comfort zone.

Each of the Fellows is now equipped with a Certificate II, III or IV in outdoor recreation which is a nationally recognised qualification. Even if the fellow decides to move on in the New Year, they have a solid qualification and work experience at a reputable organisation.

Even though it will be sad to see some of the fellows not continuing, it is encouraging to see so many of them moving on to God’s work in other places. It is great that Crusaders is able to act as a stepping stone into other ministries.

The New Year is just around the corner which means a whole new group of 1^st year fellows arriving on our door step. Please pray for them as they adapt to life in Summit, and for me as I train them.

- Davo

Nicodemus to Sing & Dance at Covenant!

Linda Newman — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:42:33 +0000

We’re all busy learning our lines, practising our parts and kicking up our heels to present you with the fantastic musical ‘Nicodemus’ in 2012!

Plus we’ve found a great place to sing & dance – Covenant Christian School at Belrose! They have a very large stage (we’ll need it) and the Covenant Dance Troupe will also be performing alongside us.

This will be an exciting opportunity to share the Easter story with family and friends in a creative and fun way.

7 shows will be performed from Wednesday 21^st March – Saturday 31^st March, 2012. Tickets go on sale in January.

Plus you’ll be supporting Crusaders at the same time! $1 from all ticket sales to the Crusader family will be donated to support the ministry of Crusaders. So start thinking about who you’d like to invite!

For more information, visit www.stmattsweb.org.au/nicodemus.

See you there!

Food, Fun, Fellowship and Funds Raised

Bridget Carroll — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:29:56 +0000

Former Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable John Anderson AO, joined over 120 young business men and women on 23^rd November for Crusaders’ annual Business Breakfast at NSW Parliament House. Guests enjoyed a tasty breakfast and were encouraged to hear how God had been working through Crusaders.

John Anderson encouraged guests to focus on the bottom line of what really mattered – speaking out about the truth of the Gospel, allowing God to transform lives and therefore society as a whole.

Hayden Berrigan, a year 12 student from Sydney Grammar, also told his story and said:

“Crusaders changes lives through the word of God and getting involved with them has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life… CRU Camps have helped me find true home, life and love in Christ and I’m going to take my new found faith with me for the rest of my life – there is no turning back. I’m excited about what the future holds and I thank God, and all of you, for sustaining this awesome ministry for guys like me.”

Thanks to the amazing generosity of everyone there, the Breakfast raised over $54,000 to support Crusaders’ work, exceeding our target of $50,000 – praise God!!

To listen to John Anderson’s inspiring message please click here.
To listen to an encouraging message from Crusaders’ Executive Director, Gary Hill, please click here.
To listen to the testimony of student speaker Hayden Berrigan (Year 12, Sydney Grammar School) please click here.

To help continue transforming young lives for Christ, head to www.crusaders.edu.au/donate and donate online. Select ‘Other’ for where you want your donation to go and write ‘Breakfast’ for your reason for giving.

If you would like to attend next year’s Business Breakfast, or any other Crusaders event, please contact Anna Wood on annaw@crusaders.edu.au.

While searching for an old wooden boat……

lenh — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:32:31 +0000

Over the weekend I had an encounter with a complete stranger that reminded me of Crusaders’ rich heritage in serving God over many generations.

Out of personal interest I was trying to track down the whereabouts of a wooden sailing boat that my father built in our garage in the late 70’s and launched in the early 80’s – making it around 30 years old.

I found that the Sailing Association for the type of boat that dad built kept an historic and current register of boat owners. I eventually phoned the Association Registrar (volunteer of course) – an older gentleman by the name of Barrie. We chatted for a while about boats and sailing (of course) and Barrie promised to email me information on my dad’s old boat if he could find any.

I gave him my Crusader email address to which he immediately replied “I know where you are, you’re on the western side of the Gorge – first turn left after leaving the Gorge when coming from Hornsby”. It transpired that Barrie knew the location because he was one of the volunteers who helped build the original cabins on the site way back in the 50’s. Our conversation reminded me of how thankful I am to our God who builds current-day ministry on the building blocks of the faithfulness of previous generations.

On reflection it occurred to me that, while we at Crusaders are busy with our day-to-day ministry, God will hopefully also use our work as building blocks for future Crusader ministries. In twenty years’ when my time at Crusaders has long since been confined to the annals of history, wouldn’t it be both satisfying and humbling to observe that God is still using Crusaders to bring people into his Kingdom.

The Journey Begins!

Nathan McElveney — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:29:09 +0000

I love lots of things about working at Crusaders. I love talking with kids on camp. I love hearing stories from the various programs that we do. I love being involved in blocks of ministry and Bible training with Summit’s trainees. But one of the other things that I love most is meeting applicants for each Fellowship intake.

Most weeks of Term 4 there are two or three interviews, and they’re usually the highlight of my week.

It’s a great encouragement to talk with young adults who love Jesus and are keen to hang out with kids on camp. I love watching the way the current team makes each applicant feel so welcome when they come on their trial camp.

The most special thing though, is that all of our current Fellows & I still remember their trial camp, and when we first started talking about them joining us in this ministry. It’s wonderful to look back some years down the track and reflect on where their journey started. And it’s exciting to know that those journeys are just beginning now for our January intake.

Find out more about Summit or the Fellowship positions here!

Schools Ministry Associate Positions

miker — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:34:27 +0000

What’s your next move? Imagine:

Sharing the gospel with thousands of teenagers
Helping disciple young people in schools and on camps
Being trained for a lifetime of faithful Bible teaching through Cornhill Sydney and at Crusaders
Working alongside other passionate Christians in a dynamic, caring team

We have 2 exciting new positions starting in January 2012 & are looking for energetic young people for a 2 year paid Associate Program who are motivated to learn & serve.

Contact: Peter Crawford – 9874 8933 or peterc@crusaders.edu.au

Applications Close 30^th November

Rewards Of Servanthood

curtiss — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:56:28 +0000

It was so good watching people enjoying themselves (and getting quite competitive) at the Lake Mac campsite the other day. I could just see that they were thinking about what they’d just heard in the Bible talk during their camp. Just seeing them hanging out around the freshly painted table tennis table was great. Some were discussing the talks they’d been hearing on camp, some were just chatting as they were attempting to hit the ball and some you could just tell were born for ‘table tennis’. “DO NOT say a word while the ball is in play!!!”

It’s always a great feeling when we see the fruit of something we’ve been working on. It’s another reminder that every little thing we do (even painting a table tennis table!) has some level of significance. I love seeing ways to make something better and watching the joy on people’s faces as it benefits them.

To find out more about the Lake Mac Outdoor Recreation Centre, click here.

Schools Ministry Inter-CRU held last week at Shore School

dano — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:54:14 +0000

Crusaders Schools Ministry division held the final Inter-Cru event for 2011 last Friday. These meetings are opportunities for students from CRU Groups in schools across Sydney to come together for fun, food and encouragement from the Bible.

Last Friday was no different, with many students from many schools making their way to Shore School. This year’s Inter-CRUs have been based around the theme ‘Join the Resistance’, and on Friday Ed Springer concluded that series by encouraging the students not to ‘conform to the crowd’. He reminded students that they have the great news of Jesus to share in their schools so not to remain silent, but rather to be a voice. The Shore students and staff did a wonderful job of hosting the event, and we had a great afternoon together.

We’re already planning next year’s Inter-CRU events. Please join with us in praying that God will continue to bless these meetings and use them grow and challenge students across Sydney and the ACT next year. If you haven’t been to one yet you are missing out on a great schools event. Why not aim to get to one in your local region in 2012.

Come and see Nicodemus sing and dance!

Linda Newman — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:37:43 +0000

Just before Easter next year, the musical ‘Nicodemus’ will be performed to thousands of people over 7 nights. This is a fantastic opportunity for your family and friends to be presented with the Gospel in a creative and highly entertaining way.

And you’ll be supporting Crusaders at the same time! $1 from all ticket sales to the Crusader family will be donated to support the ministry of Crusaders. So start thinking about who you’d like to invite!

I’ll be there, in the cast, singing and dancing in front of lots of people. As it’s not something I do very often (in fact not since school), you coming along to lend your support and encouragement would be great! I look forward to seeing you there.

For more information about ‘Nicodemus’ visit www.stmattsweb.org.au/nicodemus

Tickets go on sale January 2012.

CRU Camps competition – Enter now!

Angie Davidson — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:40 +0000

Long lazy days, trips to the beach, ice cream & mangoes, time with family & friends and 24 CRU Camps to choose from…there’s so much to love about the summer holidays!

This summer CRU Camps are giving YOU the chance to WIN 1 of 10 $50 iTunes Vouchers! Entering is easy. All you need to do is jump online and ‘like us’ on Facebook, then tell us in 25 words or less ‘Why I want to go on a summer CRU Camp’.

Is it the great activities you’ll experience? The new friends you’ll make? The legendary leaders you’ll meet? Let us know why your summer won’t be the same without a CRU Camp experience!

Enter now! Check out www.facebook.com/crucamps for details.

Life is full of tough choices…

Angie Davidson — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:07:06 +0000

Did you know that 4 in 10 people do not have a valid Will?

Organising your Will can seem like hard work, so why not come and have your Will written for FREE at Crusaders’ Wills Day by a qualified solicitor! We have 2 convenient days for you to choose from:

Friday 18^th November, 2011/Sydney CBD
Saturday 19^th November/Crusaders’ Office Eastwood

This is a completely free service – we don’t even ask for a donation! The only thing we ask is that you consider leaving a Bequest to Crusaders in your Will. Of course there is no obligation to do so, and if you choose not to, you are still more than welcome to take advantage of this offer. Your Will is a personal matter and will be kept between yourself and the Solicitor.

For more information please email Linda Newman at lindan@crusaders.edu.au or call (02) 9874 8933 ext 315.

Farewell Faithful Servants

Angie Davidson — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:10:01 +0000

On Friday 12^th August over 150 people gathered together to honour and farewell Max and Helen Bywater.

Max and Helen have faithfully managed Crusaders’ Lake Macquarie campsite for over a quarter of a century, and Max’s retirement has brought an end to a stage of ministry which has truly provided refreshment to the lives of thousands. There was much laughter and friendship as stories were shared and experiences remembered by many who have been impacted by the hospitality, service and friendship of Max & Helen over the years at Lake Mac.

Their involvement with Crusaders started in the early 1980s, and became more formalised when they moved onto the site in 1988. Through the decades they have wholeheartedly served everyone who has visited the site, praying for those in attendance, sharing a smile and a word, cooking, cleaning, maintaining equipment, providing security and ensuring that every aspect of the site is the best it can be.

Max was recently interviewed by Christian Venues Association. When asked what excited him about Christian camping, Max replied, “Serving God, helping kids to hear the Gospel, and seeing growth in those who return.” Crusaders’ Executive Director Gary Hill says, “I have been so thankful to both Max and Helen for showing true hospitality. I have valued their prayers, their wisdom, their teaching, their patience, their example, their labour, their perseverance and their love. I thank God for them and their years of service to God, through Crusaders ministry.”

Hot off the press! New CRU Group Resources on sale

Anna Wood — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:33:45 +0000

Brand new CRU Resources are available now!

The Holy Spirit can seem confusing and mysterious. Life Switched On (Primary) and Powered Up (Secondary) are brilliant resources delivering 9 engaging sessions that will help your students discover from the Bible who the Holy Spirit is and what He does.
Each series is designed to run for one school term and includes a specific week where students can invite their friends to hear the Gospel. The resources are able to be photocopied for use within the school.

Click here to view a sample of Life Switched On or Powered Up.

To purchase visit our online store or contact Tom French (Schools Ministry staff worker) on tomf@crusaders.edu.au or (02) 9874 8933 ext 309.