Christian Formation News

Student-Led Community Worship Night 

Date: Wednesday 10th of September 

Time: 7pm till no later than 8:30pm 

Location: Library Hub

This term we are delighted to announce a student led Community Worship Night, open to students, staff, and families across the Primary and Secondary schools. 

Even amidst a busy week and term schedule, our students have felt led to come together as a Christian community and host an evening of worship through scripture, prayer and song. Members of our middle and senior school worship bands, who led us beautifully at Faith Camp, will be hosting this worship space, so we would love to extend an open invitation to all who would like to participate.

For the Year 12 members of the worship band in particular, this is the fulfilment of many prayers sown, to see the commencement of regular worship within the Christian community of PVCC. It will be their last opportunity before exam period commences, and we have no doubt this will be a terrific occasion to worship and give thanks to God for His goodness towards us. 

Please note the following:

• The College is providing limited supervision, so Primary and Middle School students will need to attend with their parents. 
• Parents will be expected to supervise their children.
• Look out for the email form next week in order to RSVP.

We look forward to gathering with you. 

Christian Formation Team

Craig Ogden & Isaac Addison

Faith Camp

Earlier this term, in week 1, 30 students across the secondary college gathered together at our annual Faith Camp, held in the beautiful facilities at Upper Plenty Conference Centre. 

Supervising staff Craig Ogden, Jodie Tregale, Karen Roberts and Isaac Addison joined the students in beginning this new semester with rich moments of worship, prayer and fellowship. 

Faith Camp is open to students who have engaged and invested into the Faith at School group, which meets regularly to help bring voice to the Christian community within the secondary school, and provides valuable opportunity for the Christian Formation team to hear what the needs and desires of the students are. Additionally, Faith at School members have the opportunity to gather for lunch time discipleship groups, and within our senior cohorts, a pre-school morning Bible study that runs weekly. 

Faith Camp provides an amazing opportunity to gather together as one community of believers – it’s a time of re-aligning, and sowing vision and inspiration for the second half of the year.

The theme of this year’s camp was “Intimacy with God”. Our chaplain, Isaac, was able to speak into this, helping students to see that intimacy first flows out of identity. If we perceive God rightly, and understand how He sees us, then the revelation of this truth emboldens us to draw near to Him rather than withdraw in fear or shame. 

We also got to hear testimonies from two of the students. Both Josiaah E and Hannah J shared beautifully and sincerely of what God has done and is doing in their lives. 

One of our faithful student parents, Chris Craig, held a workshop on intimacy with God, providing space for practical engagement, reflection and application from students, on things that contribute to, or pull us away from, intimacy with God. We sincerely thank Chris for giving up his own time to share his wisdom and experience. 

We ended the camp with a final session of prayer and declaration led by Craig Ogden, praying into what we sense God is wanting to do in the college through the students. To finish, one of the most significant moments of camp each year is when students publicly declare before one another what they sense God has been speaking to them over the camp. Here are just some examples from what was shared: 

“I listened and this word came to mind: Anew! We can start anew every day, fresh in the grace of God”

“Release all that is not of me so I can give you what is so much better. I am drawing you to myself I am yours and you are mine.”

“He is realigning my life and taking away my burdens and pain and mess and anxiety and is healing me.”

“Take heart my daughter, your faith has healed you. It is my peace I leave with you. Rejoice, and be glad.”

“I don't need to earn God's love. He sees me in my pain.”

How beautiful and encouraging it was to witness the sincere words that our students have been hearing from our God. 

Though the camp is only 24hrs, the Holy Spirit met us in our midst and brought an amazing sense of intimate fellowship and unity. We’re so grateful to the work that our middle school and senior school worship bands put in, to lead us in worship. A big thanks to Esther B and Mikaael E for organizing their peers and bringing it together. We also sincerely thank alumnus student Haansley Ernest for helping with sound and technology. 

We pray that the words spoken and the truth revealed through camp would be sealed in the hearts of every student. And we also ask for your continued prayers for our growing Christian community of Plenty Valley Christian College, that our students would know Christ deeper and in surpassing value to all other things of this world.

Isaac Addison

Chaplain