Principal

Where does Faith fit into what we do?

Last weekend I was privileged to join the Western Melbourne Lutheran Congregations and School Dialogue hosted by Pastor Brett Kennett (District Pastor for Congregational Support). We all had an opportunity to share recent challenges and opportunities.  Some that are a result of the pandemic, some were just highlighted more in this time. 

One of our challenges has been the declining numbers attending worship and the availability of emerging leaders in church activities.  The media have highlighted the census data that tells us there has been a decline in numbers identifying as Christian. However, in contrast, research (McCrindle 2021) also tells us there is an increase in people (young people in particular) having spiritual conversations and reading the Bible. Enrolments in faith-based schools continue to increase despite the hardships many faced during the pandemic.

This indicates a renewed search for faith in the community and confirms the importance of Christian values in our lives. 

The growing interest in spirituality within the young people, in our community, reinforces our need to maintain the underlying mission of our college to provide opportunities for our students to explore what faith means to them and to nurture an existing faith. Discussions that arise in morning devotions and Christian Studies allow a natural curiosity to be explored. Through uncertain times, comfort is found in predictable routines, but these routines also provide an environment to question and investigate.

Most young people are looking for answers to help them understand who they are and how they connect with others. They want to know:

          Do you see me?

          Do you hear me?

          Am I accepted?

          Am I significant?

          Do you love me?

They want more than to hear an answer, they need to feel and believe the answers. There are different phases they will move through, as they explore their spiritual self through these questions. It is where faith can begin or grow.

Just as you would approach us if you need help satisfying your child’s natural curiosity in perhaps mathematics, science, sustainability, literature or philosophy, please remember to let us know if you need help satisfying their spiritual curiosity. When they are ready and eager to ask questions, we should meet our students where they are at while being aware that they may be looking for different things than what we grew up with.

Isaiah 43:19

See I am doing a new thing! 

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

And streams in the wasteland.