This year we are so thankful to have 23 incredible Summit trainees joining our team!
From Sydney to Canberra to Perth, and with two internationals, this group has come from all over the country (and world!) to share the gospel with young people on camps.
We asked each of our new trainees a few questions about why they chose to join the Summit Program and how they’ve found their first month of training.
What is your hope for your time at CRU?
TAYLOR THOMSON - To learn how to run activities, grow in my faith and gain a deeper understanding of the Bible and Christianity.
NICHOLAS VAN DER KLIP - I'm hoping to have a better sense of the gospel in a way that I can convey it to people of all ages and audiences.
STEFAN KRUGER - Just to grow more in my walk with God, but also to make more disciples and generally to have fun. Also to learn to live by myself.
LYDIA HUNTER - I'm just really looking forward to the outdoorness, all this physical activity and lots of talking with kids and different people. It'll be really fun. And I'm hoping to grow personally in my faith as well. I'll be talking about God every single day, which is more than I usually did in school.
ANDREW POWELL - I think in one sense I want to test myself in ministry, as it is something that I've wanted to go into for a few years now. That's kind of the main thing — seeing if I'm cut out for ministry, and even more specifically, if CRU is the place I actually do my ministry at!
BELLA CAMERON - Hoping to become more confident in talking to people and also talking to kids. I really enjoy hanging out with them and I want to be able to guide them in a way that they actually understand.
HEIDI PARKIN - I kind of came in not wanting to get something out of it, but wanting to give. I guess for me this is an opportunity to get into ministry, I enjoy this sort of thing so much.
ANGUS MACBETH - My hope is that I can really refine how I spend my time and use it to glorify God, but also to gain a better understanding of how I can be showing the gospel and see if this is something I want to do long term. I think mainly it's learning how I can best answer questions and evangelise to people who aren't Christian.
Which new skills are you most keen to use or share?
THOMAS MCINTYRE - I'm keen to have honest discussions with campers, build friendships and have honest and open discussion about God and life.
TOM RICHMOND - I'm keen for discussion groups. That's something I’ve always enjoyed, but now I've got that extra bit of training that will be really cool to apply on camps!
QUINTON THORNTON - The Climbing Tower! It was probably one of my favourites!
AMELIA MCINTOSH - I really enjoyed just learning everything this week — from safety procedures to how to share the gospel when canoeing. It just made me feel so prepared!
AMELIA PAULL - I'm just really excited to work the scriptures into the activities. They've given us these training techniques where you so smoothly transition the scripture into the activities to get the kids thinking. It's been so cool to learn.
KATE STOVOLD - I think assisting at rock climbing. I really enjoy doing rock climbing and I am quite scared of heights, but I feel like it is a good way to conquer your fears and support campers through that. Whether they're scared or whether they're really keen to go up and do it.
EMILY BELL - I think the water activities will be really good, especially sailing. I'm really excited for that. And stand up paddleboarding, canoeing, all of those ones!
What has been the best thing about Summit so far?
TIMOTHY SPARK - I think just meeting everyone. Everyone's really nice, and it's a great community just being able to hang out with everyone.
RONAN PARRY - One thing that really stood out is the testimonies. I loved hearing current staff member's testimonies, and that sort of prompted me to write mine and learn more.
VANESSA PIROM - Just in general, I'm really keen to go on camps, and just hang out with campers, to get to know them and chat to them — I'm really excited to connect with them!
JOSHUA CRAIG - I would say I've done a lot of good things. Stand up paddleboarding was really fun. We did terribly at it, it was a bit choppy in the water and stuff. But I really enjoyed just how fun it was with everyone. It was just a bit of a vibe and I really enjoyed that.
ELISE BELL - Just meeting everyone on the team. All the first years, growing relationships with them, and then meeting all the other team members has been really awesome because everyone's really nice!
CLAUDIA LEACH - I've really enjoyed the fellowship of being around other people. It's just been really encouraging that everyone's here for the same thing and we're all here for ministry and we’re just building each other up.
BRADLEY BULLARD - I think canoeing has been my favourite so far. Doing the capsizing activities was just so fun... and it's probably good to know how to rescue a capsized canoe!
JANNA RUJAWITZ - Just growing in community with everyone, getting to meet a bunch of new people, and even though I’m the international person, being taken in as an Aussie and getting to hang out with
