These winter holidays marked the 10th year of CRU Blast, CRU’s longest running Day Camp. The camp takes place annually in July at Richard Johnson Anglican School and Oakhurst Anglican Church. Each year, a team of around 40 leaders run activities and Christian Discovery sessions for 80-100 campers in Kindergarten to Year 6. We give God great thanks for the lives that have been impacted for the sake of the gospel in these past 10 years!
Let’s hear how three key camp leaders have “tasted and seen God’s goodness” through CRU Blast since the very first camp back in 2014.
Stuart Rowe, Teacher
Stewart works in the secondary school at Richard Johnson as the Director of Service Learning / Ministry. While overseeing Christian Ministry at the school, each year, he coordinates the school’s involvement in the Day Camp – including rallying together a huge team of secondary student leaders. Stewart has been on every camp since 2014!
How did CRU Blast Start?
CRU Blast was the initiative of the then Principal, Paul Cockrem. He saw the potential for CRU Blast as a weeklong camp for students during the school holidays where they have fun, while learning about Jesus. CRU provides the camp ministry expertise, and Richard Johnson provides the facilities and people resource. Our other partner, Oakhurst Anglican Church, has also provided tremendous support over the years.
Why has CRU Blast continued running year after year?
The partnership between the school, church and CRU has had such a positive impact for both primary and
secondary students. There has not been a question about whether CRU Blast would run the next year! The
primary students have a great week as campers, hearing the gospel presented in a different environment, and forming positive relationships with each other and leaders. The secondary students serve as junior leaders, developing their leadership skills, sharing their faith with campers, and learning from the CRU leaders and other senior leaders. I am constantly encouraged seeing the secondary students grow as young leaders and living out their faith throughout the week!
What is your main role on camp?
My main role on camp is to recruit, support and encourage the junior leaders. We see 25-35 secondary students in Year 9 – 12 lead on camp each year, under the guidance of CRU leaders and other senior leaders, many of whom are Richard Johnson alumni. They see the faithful Christian witness of those leaders and are encouraged to emulate them as they serve Jesus. Camp is also a great stepping stone for them to become more involved in Christian Ministry at school, such as running lunchtime groups, Chapel and participating in mission opportunities.
A highlight for me is seeing my students grow in their ability to share the good news of the gospel in small groups. It is also wonderful to see students return as adult leaders after they finish school.
How have you witnessed God’s goodness through camp?
God’s goodness has been so evident throughout the past 10 years. It’s a blessing to have so many keen secondary student leaders be involved year after year. It has been a wonderful partnership with both CRU and Oakhurst Anglican Church, with a real unity and a willingness to serve together.
God has always provided just the right number of leaders for each camp, and the primary students always enjoy a fantastic week. Each camp has seen campers keen to learn more about following Jesus and become involved in the weekly CRU Groups that run in the primary school.
Nikita Kumar, Director
Nikita’s CRU Camp journey started in high school when she led on the first CRU Blast camp as a junior leader. She has since served as a leader and speaker on a number of CRU Holiday Camps, and this year, directed CRU Blast.
What were your highlights of camp as a junior leader?
I loved getting to know the campers, especially the girls and boys in my small group. During the week, it was encouraging to see them slowly opening up, being curious and trying new things that seemed scary at first, like abseiling. I was humbled seeing God at work in their lives. The leadership team felt like a family from the start – we were having fun and serving God, it can’t get much better than that!
Why did you continue to lead on camp after school?
After leading on a few camps during high school, I discovered a passion for camp ministry – the unique aspect of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in a fun, fresh environment alongside other like-minded people. So, even after finishing school, I knew I wanted to continue contributing to this kingdom-building mission. It’s wonderful to see young people learning more about Christ, especially the ones who start the week a little more closed off. Then, at the end of a day, those campers can’t stop excitedly telling their parents about the awesome time they’ve had! I was also grateful for the leaders who invested in me when I was a student. They modelled Christian leadership to me and now I get to pass that on to the new generation.
How did camp help you to grow in your faith as a leader?
Learning to explain the gospel to campers in a way that relates to them is not easy, so camp really helped me to grow in that, and as I unpacked it more with them, I also gained a better understanding of the Bible and my own faith. Camp also challenged me to consider how I was reflecting Christ through my words and actions. When I look back now, I’m amazed at how God used ministries like camp to strengthen my faith and trust in Him.
How have you witnessed God’s goodness through camp?
I have been so encouraged seeing kids who were campers in my first few years of leading now being leaders themselves. It’s phenomenal to see how God has been transforming them during these past 10 years and to have served alongside them this year – that is the fruit! I have seen God’s goodness at work in each of them, not only the growth in their faith, but also their confidence and heart for the next generation. I praise God for continuing to use CRU Blast as a place to draw young people to Himself and equipping them to help others on that journey.
Any encouraging stories from camp?
We had a camper who didn’t want to engage in any of the activities on camp - she didn’t want to participate in any of the games, talks or discussion groups. The leaders were finding it really challenging, but they persevered and constantly made an effort to try and get her involved. By the end of camp, she had decided to follow Jesus but was trying to work out how to be fearless and bold at home. She was wrestling with how she would share the news with her parents and how she would ask them about attending a local youth group. It was amazing to see God at work throughout camp, not only in this camper’s life but also in the perseverance of the leaders.
Why do you continue to support CRU and its ministry?
I love CRU’s ministry and getting to serve on camp each year. It gives me the opportunity to serve and meet a new bunch of kids that I open the Bible with every year – some may never hear about Jesus again. Serving alongside friends as leaders and serving God for His Kingdom is an awesome way to spend a week in the holidays!
Hilton Naidu, Junior Leader
Hilton first attended CRU Blast as a camper when he was in Year 2. When he reached high school, he was sad to no longer be a camper, but thrilled to continue being involved with camp as a junior leader. This year, aged 16 and in Year 11, Hilton served on camp in the skit team, ran laser tag and assisted with running a small group.
What did you love about CRU Blast as a camper?
As a kid, I found social interactions daunting, but CRU Blast was a place where I felt welcome and involved. I loved getting to know the leaders and enjoyed the activities we did, especially laser tag. I also loved the fun Christian Discovery time and learning about Jesus in a different way. And who can forget the food? I loved that!
Why did you decide to volunteer as a junior leader in high school?
I really enjoyed CRU Blast as a camper, so I always wanted to go back and lead. As I got closer to the age where I could lead, I became more eager to serve the Lord and see younger kids learn about the good news of Jesus Christ.
I have loved getting to know and grow with the campers, and the other leaders. It has been really encouraging to see the campers understand more about what the Bible is and why Jesus matters to them. I've also loved seeing those who, like me, are not the most outgoing in large social situations enjoy the camp and come back each year.
How has being a junior leader helped you grow as a Christian leader?
Camp has really helped me develop my ability to explain the gospel to campers in a way that they can understand. It has also improved my ability to work cohesively as part of a team, especially when we are leading other people – like Chapel at school. I’ve grown in my ability to show Christian values through the way I act when serving others, which stems from the foundations that were built when I was a camper. I have also gained many skills that I’ll be able to use beyond school.
What is a favourite memory from camp?
My favourite memory as a camper was laser tag. It was fun to do it with friends and the leaders made it an amazing experience. I remember looking forward to it year after year! And now as a leader, I am excited to see the kids enjoying it as much as I did when I was their age and being able to give them the same experience that my leaders did.
