From the Head of College Operation's Desk

Year 7-9 girls recently returned from a careers in STEM conference. Year 10s are selecting VCE subjects and are being asked, “Have you thought about what you want to do after school.” Over the next month, Year 12s will be submitting their preferences for university courses. And they’re wondering about what they will be when they grow up. Yet we know, the more important question is: Who will they be?

This year’s Transformation theme appeals for our children (and ourselves) to be people who are not conformed to the pattern of this world but to be ones who know God’s will as they pursue to be transformed into his image (Romans 12:2). A recent book I’ve been reading: Faith for Exiles terms this as being “resilient disciples”. 

Faith for Exiles describes the current culture our youth are living in as “digital Babylon” (fast-paced, screen-saturated, and spiritually distracted) and extensive research have found the following traits as the key factors found in young Christian adults who manage to live out their faith passionately despite the pressure to conform. This is what we hunger for:

1. They Experience Jesus Personally. 

Make space for intimacy with God. Heart level encounters, not just head knowledge. 

2. They Develop Cultural Discernment.

Knowing how to think biblically, not just what to think.

3. They Build Meaningful Intergenerational Relationships

Creating time for real conversations, not just programs.

4. They Frame Vocation as Entwined with Discipleship, Not Separate.

Seeing all of life, including work and study, as worship. Knowing that God cares about their career, purpose, and impact. Encouraging excellence and integrity in school, work, home.

5. Have Fuel for a Countercultural Mission.

Living out their faith boldly in a secular world, to the glory of God and for the sake of the world. Encourage regular evangelism.

In the extensive research done for Faith for Exiles, while many young adults still called themselves Christians, only 10% of people who grew up going to church found themselves in the “resilient disciples” category by the time they were "young adults". 

Yes, always be praying! But rather than just wondering and hoping, above are five researched factors for the home, church and ourselves at Christway College to target in our nurturing of the young people in our care. So, from Preps visit to retirement homes and learning the alphabet, to Year 12 mission trips and choosing university preferences, and everything in between; in the midst of working out what they will be, with you we seek to build a generation knowing who they will be: resilient, thriving disciples of Jesus Christ, showing the world a counterculture of true life.

Learning in the Light of Eternity

Darren John

Head of College Operations