Touching Jesus

By David Faull

In recent times, questions have been raised concerning the viability of Adventist education and whether investment in our schools continues to be justified. As principal of Avondale School, home to some 950 vibrant students, I feel compelled to answer this question directly on their behalf. As I watch the outstanding student leadership around our campus and witness staff sharing their own spiritual journeys, I see our students truly touching and being touched by Jesus on a daily basis.

They begin school life as expectant but tentative children, entering the Avondale campus holding tightly to Mum or Dad's hand, and walk out hand in hand with Jesus, as positive and productive young men and women 13 years later. The support, guidance and care students find as part of any Adventist school community allows them to view the world through the eyes of faith, and provides a solid foundation for their spiritual development.

Our teachers strive to bring God into the lives of students in ways they can understand-to make Him real and tangible. Kindy classroom teachers might ask our littlest students to consider what kindness would look like if a woman's grocery bags split open at the shop and the groceries went everywhere, or what honesty and trustworthiness would look like if they saw money on the teacher's desk and wanted to spend it at the canteen. While in the Senior years, students are encouraged to talk about the values of the week and consider how Jesus used these values in His daily life. Teachers make the time, commitment and effort to structure lessons that not only talk about faith but connect it at a level where it is alive, real and practised in each child's life.

Outside the classroom, the connection with the minds and hearts of our young people on a moment-by-moment basis has lasting impact. A teacher has a unique opportunity to interact on a daily basis with young minds struggling with some big issues. At such times, students don't want instruction but are searching for acceptance, security and someone to recognise they are struggling. It may take effort to encourage and affirm the smallest achievements, to demonstrate compassion and care but the results are often astounding. Sharing ourselves as teachers opens the doors for deep and meaningful discussion that no amount of sermonising would ever open, providing us the opportunity to be the support base in times of need and to represent Jesus in daily interactions across our campus.

Former Avondale School student Chris Starrett sums this up when he says, "My experience at Avondale showed me that teachers who are passionate about Christ are an immensely positive influence on their students. The respect and relationships that develop between the teacher and students has an impact far beyond any content that can be taught in a classroom. This realisation inspired me to pursue a career in teaching."

We feel privileged when students find clarity in our teaching. It intensifies our appreciation for the importance and place of Christian education, even more so when our students express their new-found or deepening belief in God. Take the example of Zoe from Year 11. She came from a non- religious background and had never been to church on Sabbath. "I meet with Christ every week at chapel now and also every Sabbath. When the singing starts, you can definitely tell the spirit of God is in that room," Zoe says. "The speakers are inspirational and they encourage us to dive deeper with God and spend more time with Him. I am a changed person from when I first came to Avondale School."

Our school exists for two reasons: to provide students with high-quality values-based education and to give each student the opportunity to experience Christ. A well-run chaplaincy program is not an optional extra. It is core.

School chaplain Pastor Mel Lemke says Avondale School is a place where whole-of-life support is offered. "With a strong chaplaincy program, not only do students receive a great education in a safe environment but they and their families also have access to a range of support services in times of life transition or trauma, and in their personal growth," he explains.

As a school, we have invested in a church on campus that extends the opportunity for non-churched families to have a safe place to discover what being part of a community of faith adds to life. Pastor Lemke says that through joining school, church and family, we build strong "communities of hope."

"Such a campus community forms our most effective means of building bridges of hope to families who don't know Christ," he says.

How succinctly this sums up our vision. Teachers make their own daily walk with Jesus paramount and are open to the Spirit's leading. They use God's gift of enthusiasm to communicate God's word and offer direction to our students. As a school body, our collective souls leap when we see members of our school community-child, teenager or parent-realise the depth of God's love for them, when their eyes light up and their shoulders lift.

When we look around each day, the thing that stands out most is that we are surrounded by energetic, eager, open-minded young people full of potential who, if given the right opportunities, could carry our church into a new era of witnessing and impacting this world for Christ. In Adventist schools, teachers meet daily to ask God to bless and for the Holy Spirit to touch lives.

Is it worth the tireless hours? And is it viable? Absolutely!

David Faull is principal of Avondale Schools in Cooranbong, New South Wales

This has been a feature from Record, August 15, 2009 - the Adventist education special

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