Generations of Faith

Generations of Faith at the McCrae Scripture Union Family Mission

For over 50 years, generations of families have heard about the good news of Jesus through the McCrae Scripture Union Family Mission (SUFM).

Running along the picturesque McCrae foreshore camping grounds, the beach mission’s long-standing history means that countless holidaymakers and locals alike have connected with the program.

The McCrae SUFM’s ‘team dad’ Andrew credits the community’s awareness of the mission for its lasting, generational impact:

“Lots of people have a story about coming to Beach Mission as a kid themselves,” Andrew explains.

“Now they’re bringing their own children.”

As one of the team parents, Andrew brings his wealth of previous mission experience to the role, offering pastoral and mentoring support to leaders in various positions.

When he noticed the mission was short on musicians, Andrew dedicated time to supporting and getting to know the worship team.

One of the relationships Andrew nurtured was with Jesse, a team member with a family tie to the program.

“I’ve done missions before as a kid with my parents. I then came as a team member because I absolutely love doing it,” Jesse says.

It’s the connections made, both within the team and the wider community, that draw people back to McCrae SUFM year after year.

While the children enjoy fun activities that explore the Christian faith, their parents are welcomed at a coffee and conversation table, where team members invest in building relationships.

For those considering volunteering on a summer beach mission, Andrew’s advice is simple:

“Just jump in and do it. By the time you’ve finished, you’ll have made a lot more friends and had some amazing shared experiences.”

Jesse echoes this sentiment, reflecting on the friendships and impact he’s made while leading on McCrae SUFM.