We were told that chaplaincy work in schools was flat out and that we would be going at a hectic pace for the week…now at the end of the week we definitely understand what Rev French was talking about! The team at St Luke’s in Dee Why have had an awesome week going to Christian studies classes, being in chapel, going along to lunch time groups and chatting to students around the grounds. We’ve been on the go all week and we are so thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of the ministry here. Here’s what we’ve been doing the last couple of days.
Wednesday morning kicked off in style as we churned out over 700 pancakes before school and at recess. Topher was an absolute weapon on the BBQ, wielding the flipper for a solid three hours! It was great to have so many kids lining up and it was great to be able to build on some of the conversations we had on Monday and Tuesday. In some ways it was challenging to have meaningful conversations but we have definitely seen the fruit of that morning the last couple of days as we have continued to go into classes.
On Wednesday we taught a kindy and a year two class as well as year 9, 10 and 11. We have been getting into the swing of classes and it has been great to have the chance to teach the same material and to act on the feedback we have received. We have been so welcomed by the Christian studies staff and have been so encouraged by their faithful work. Pray for them as they keep teaching these young people the gospel and point the kids to Christ week after week.
There was also a group year 9 girls that Hanna, Lily and Kat joined at lunchtime on Wednesday. There were 7 or 8 girls there who had so many great questions. The girls on our team were greatly encouraged. Pray for those year 9 girls as they keep searching and investigating Jesus, that they would put their trust in him.
Thursday was also a big day with more Christian studies classes. The big highlights of the day were Chapel and The J (the lunchtime Christian group). Daz preached up a storm at Chapel, on the end of Philippians 4. He challenged the kids to live to give, by generously and sacrificially seeking to meet the needs of others. But this life of giving is only possible and sustainable when we understand that we have first received in the gospel. It’s because we have received that we can live to give. Pray for all the staff and students who were there, that God would reveal to them his amazing generosity in giving his only Son for them.
The J went off on Thursday lunchtime with more than 30 kids there (more than ever before!). It was so great seeing the excitement of the kids who are regularly there at the boost in numbers, and so encouraging for us to see young people who love Jesus and so excited for others to come to know him. Lily spoke for a few minutes about our need for rescuing and the rescue that we find in Jesus. There was some really great discussion afterwards and some kids were really confronted by the way Lily spoke about our great need of rescue. Pray for the Christian kids that God would strengthen them by His Spirit and they they would continue to persevere in an environment where they might sometimes feel in the margins. Pray for those kids that do not yet know you, that they would grasp the truth that they need rescuing, but also that they would see the good news of the gospel really clearly and accept the rescue offered in Christ.
Continue to pray for the team, giving God thanks for his grace and mercy to us this week and askimg that he would give us the energy to work right through to the end of the week. Rev French shared Philippians 1 with us in our debrief on Wednesday, reminding us of the partnership we have in the Gospel and that God would finish the work he has begun in us. Praise God for the partnership we have in Christ and the way we have experienced this over this week, and praise God for his faithfulness and ask us to trust in his sovereignty, that he will use this week to finish the work he has begun in us and in this school.
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