Mid-way through the convention, each attendee received a handmade hand held cross as a surprise gift. It bore the following inscription:

“This hand cross is a gift from ncyc11 and woodworkers all around Australia to you. There is something profound about holding a cross in the palm of your hand. Many people use them for different reasons. Some hold their cross to remind them of God’s presence, some will hold them during the toughest times in life, others like to hold them as they celebrate. And sometimesholding a cross can be a prayer when we have no words to pray. May God bless you richly as you turn up your faith.”

As the inscription says, many woodworkers from around Australia took many months to make these crosses and send them to the ncyc11 office, carved, sanded and polished. We were aware of many men’s groups, congregations and other collections of people making these crosses, and we were touched when several boxes turned up with no indication of where they were from.

A simple, anonymous gift is what characterises NCYC.

The maker does not know the receiver. The maker may not be involved with NCYC in any other way.

The receiver does not know who lovingly created this gift that may be a treasured item in their faith development.

Thank you to those creators.