Playing a Part in God's Story

Therefore, you shall impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul, and tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as bands on your forehead. You shall teach them diligently to your children (impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths), speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

This week our focus has centred on farewelling our fabulous class of 2024. We have cheered, clapped and high fived them as they revelled in the walk of honour, celebrated their growth and achievements and most importantly, prayed for them many times. One hundred and forty-five students, many of whom complete their entire 13 years of education at Donvale. 

During enrolment interviews I meet families at the beginning of this journey. I’m privileged to hear them voice their hopes and expectations of Christian education that our college partners with them to fulfill. Whilst we all carry deep desires for our children, fulfilling these cannot be achieved on our own. 

Our educational creed reminds us that ‘the fruit of all Christian education depends on the gracious operations of the Holy Spirit’. Our responsibility as parents and staff is to serve with ‘constant prayer’ so that ‘the children come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal saviour…whom they follow and serve in all spheres of life’, as ‘good instruments in His hands,’ this being their ‘greatest privilege and joy’. 

And so, the class of 2024 have been intentionally guided through learning experiences that recognise, among many things, our utter dependence on God, the authority of God’s word, their uniqueness as an image bearer of God and an understanding of faith and identity in Christ. 

The message of Jesus has been presented often, enthusiastically and authentically. Our deep hope and prayer is that all students would embark on the next stage of life with a foundation of God’s precepts on their minds and his truths in their hearts. 

By way of encouragement, I conclude with this reflection from a recent Donvale graduate.  May this be true of all our students. 

My Christian education shaped my heart. A heart that can tap into God's endless love for people. Surrounded by a rich school culture of serving your community, it reinforced a missional, heavenly perspective that I can play my part in God’s story. 

My Christian education firmed the foundation of my relationship with God. A foundation and backbone that helps me face all that life brings head on. I can see how the Lord had purposely placed me there (at Donvale) to transform me, to further strengthen my heart for Him.