In Memoriam
In Praise and Remembrance: Honouring God’s Gift in the Life of Samuel Tseng
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the sudden passing of alumnus Samuel Tseng (Wantirna South, Class of 2020). In early July, the Tseng family reached out to us with this news.
It is with great sadness that we would like to inform the alumni at Waverley Christian College about the passing of Samuel Tseng.
Samuel started as a student at the WCC Narre Warren South Campus in Year 5, and transitioned to the Wantirna South Campus for his entire secondary school education. Samuel had fond memories of his time at WCC, and truly thrived in the Christian-centred schooling environment. Most of his close friends are WCC alumni and friends from church.
Samuel truly loved Jesus, and was passionate about making Him known to others. He started the Bible Club at WCC, and continued to invest into his church and regularly discipled younger Christians, even after finishing high school.
He had strong aspirations and interests in sports and physical education, going on to complete his certificate III and IV in personal training after graduating from WCC. He worked as a personal trainer at Goodlife Health Clubs over the last three years, and loved his job.
Samuel went to Canberra with his friends and unfortunately had a sudden cardiac arrest while hiking Mt Ainslie. Despite the resuscitation efforts of his friends, paramedics and hospital staff, Samuel went to be with Lord on Sunday 29th June, 2025.
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Kind Regards,
The Tseng Family (John, Rebecca, Esther, Joshua)
Samuel, aged 23, was passionate about fitness and health, but also about sharing the good news about Jesus. While most of the news we get to share with you, our dear alumni community, is of a happy and celebratory nature, there will also be moments like this of shock and grief. It is a sobering but inescapable fact that the most guaranteed part of our days on earth is that they will someday reach an end. And we do not know when this will be, for any of us. The physical and spiritual death of every person is why Jesus chose to endure an earthly life and death of his own so that we could be reunited with God. Samuel knew all of this – this truly good news – and chose to place his trust in Jesus for his life after death; and, as surely as Jesus himself rose from death to imperishable life, Samuel now has the same.
'Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”' – John 11:25-26 (ESV)
These truths are the foundation that the Christian faith – and Christian education – are built upon. The staff at Waverley Christian College regularly pray for our students and alumni to know the truth and power of Jesus' resurrection, to live a changed life marked by God's love, and to have their hope fully fixed on eternity with Christ.
So, we dedicate this issue of the Waverley Connect Newsletter to Samuel Tseng, and believe that Samuel would want the gospel shared in his memory.
Wherever you are as you read this, however your life has changed over the years, we hope and pray that you are putting your trust for the future in the powerful and loving hands of Jesus, just like Samuel did. Though now we mourn, may our trust in Jesus bring us the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the expectation of seeing Samuel again one day.
We, the staff at Waverley Christian College, are grateful to God to have been able to play a small role in Samuel's journey, and for the wonderful opportunity it was to have him with us for a time.
A memorial service for Samuel was held on 19 July in the city and was well attended by College staff and alumni. During the service, his WCC friends shared many cherished memories—not only from their time together at school, but also from the years that followed, as they continued to stay closely connected. It was clear that Samuel’s friendships remained strong and that he had a lasting impact on those around him.
Please know that College staff are in touch with the family and offering them our care and support during this difficult time. If we at the College can be of support to you as you process this news, please do reach out to either Andrew Bawden (bawden.a@wcc.vic.edu.au) or Joel Chapman (chapman.j@wcc.vic.edu.au). We invite you to pray with us for the Tseng family, as well as for all who knew and loved Samuel, during this difficult time.