Cameron Veerhuis & Joel Spence share what encourages them most about CRU Educational Camps.
1 Corinthians 12:27 says “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
Ever wondered what true job satisfaction looks like? Meet two of our newer CRU Educational Camps staff, Cameron and Joel, who would both say they have one of the best jobs in the world! They joined CRU’s camp-based ministry as leaders in 2025, with God guiding them each on a unique journey to CRU and now playing their parts in His mission to school students.
Cameron, previously working as an electrical engineer but, with previous camp ministry experience, shares how he felt God calling him out of his previous job. “I was doing the work but not interacting with people much. It was all business. I remember thinking I can’t take a step back from engineering. To do any other job, I’d be taking less pay or starting again. But then it just kind of clicked. I shouldn’t let the world’s expectations keep me from following where God is leading.
I started looking at other jobs and asking ‘what am I passionate about? I love camping ministry and I love working with youth.’”
Cameron is now a Training Coordinator on the CRU Educational Camps team and “loves that ministry is so infused in everything that CRU does. It’s such a breath of fresh air.”
Joel was in a corporate role when he first had an interview with CRU, after God had been softening his heart towards a ministry role. “For a long time, I kind of ran away from ministry, with my parents being ministers, and I said to God, okay, if you actually want me to go into ministry you’ve got to do a bit of work in me.”
Joel is a Camp Coordinator, directing CRU Educational Camps. He loves that every day is different — he’s outdoors and there’s purpose behind everything. He says that “even on the hard days I am motivated because I get to share the good news of Jesus with students.”
Both Cameron and Joel agree that there is a uniqueness about the camp environment that is so beneficial for students, teachers and schools. CRU Educational Camps provide students and teachers opportunities outside of their normal everyday routine which in turn allows for greater connection following on from camp. The team strive to create both a safe space for campers to explore and ask questions as well as opportunities to get out of their comfort zone and be challenged.
“It’s one of the great benefits of camping ministry where kids take huge leaps in their faith because they’re in that environment. They make new friends, try new things, push out of their comfort zone and have all that connected back to God and how He wants to grow them as well.”
One of the key strengths of CRU Educational Camps is the meaningful partnerships they build with schools. Even in the short time they have with students, the impact often reaches far beyond camp. Cameron reflects, ‘I love it when we hear that teachers have been praying for their kids before camp because they know it’s going to be such a special time outside of the school environment.’
A highlight for Joel last year was when he was in a discussion group with a Year 8 student who was fairly reserved initially but by the end of camp was involved in really good conversations. “It was so good to see him actually explore his faith because someone was willing to sit and wrestle through the hard questions with him.”
Another strength of CRU Educational Camps is the intentional discipleship of young leaders. In his role as a Training Coordinator, Cameron sees a beautiful picture of biblical community — where everyone is growing together and learning from one another. As he puts it, “The old can learn from the young and the young can learn from the old.”
Having welcomed a new cohort of Summit Program Trainees this year, Joel and Cameron share a deep sense of anticipation for how God will grow and encourage this diverse group of emerging leaders. Their wide range of gifts and abilities beautifully reflects the kingdom of God—many parts forming one body — working together so that even more students can hear the good news of Jesus through CRU Educational Camps.
