Article
Supporting SCKC ES Report
Jacqui Willing, 25th July 2022
Hi there! My name’s Jacqui and I’ve been part of the Anchor family for five years.
Over the June long weekend, I had the privilege to serve at Southern Cross Kids Camp Eastern Suburbs
(SCKC ES).
The camp welcomed a dozen primary-school age children who have endured neglect or abuse and provided
them with a safe place where they can make joyful memories, find their confidence, and learn that they are
valued and loved by our good God.
This is my second-year volunteering as a child’s buddy on camp and I must confess, it’s the single most
rewarding ministry I’ve ever had the honour to be involved in.
What made it even more special this year was the support that our Anchor family provided to make it
possible.
Up until 2020, SCKC ES camps have been almost fully funded by The Tops Conference Centre, the venue
that hosts us in Stanwell Tops.
But COVID decimated their outdoor education programs and their main source of income, so they were
forced to pare back their contributions. It left a significant gap that threatened the viability of the program for
2022.
Two days after our camp leaders advised the team of 20+ volunteers that they would need to start a
crowdfunding campaign to help cover camp costs, Anchor announced the Generous Campaign – a $5000
donation available to any community need that we had encountered.
I still remember sitting in the Factory Theatre that Sunday and smiling knowing that God was so clearly at
work.
Our church family had just sat under the words of a sermon series that called us to live from the overflow of a
generous Father who longs to bless his children with good things and then – BAM – He handed us the
opportunity to (quite literally) bless children with the best of things – His love. Talk about an answer to
prayer…
Anchor’s donation went towards covering several camp expenses including the coach that transported the
children from Sydney.
But perhaps the most memorable of the blessings was the contribution it made towards the “Birthday Bags.”
This is an assortment of quality gifts we present to every child.
To say it’s one of the highlights of the camp – for children and volunteers alike – would be an
understatement. Some of the children that attend have never celebrated their birthday before as they are
shuffled from one foster home to another. Their smiles are unforgettable, and their gratitude insurmountable.
My buddy even insisted I keep a small bracelet from her own Birthday Bag and asked me to remember her
by it. I pray over this token daily now, thanking God for my buddy and for my Anchor family that extended
their blessing.
This is what stays with me long after camp has ended. Not the obstacles that were thrown our way – like the
cancellation of our January camp at the eleventh hour due to the Omicron wave – but the transformation of
the children and the godly love that flows through the volunteers.
The fruit this camp bears is powerful for all – breaking the cycle of loss that children have experienced with a
a tangible manifestation of God’s love and unconditional acceptance.
Some of the children that come on camp have even come to faith as an adult and returned to volunteer!
All this to say, thank you, Anchor Church, for supporting SCKC ES with your generosity.
If you would like more information about the camp or would be interested to be involved in their January
2023 camp, please reach out to me one Sunday or via social media. The more volunteers we have, the more
children we can bless, so you are most welcome.