From the Chaplain

On Monday we had two guest speakers for the students during our assembly/chapel time.  Richard Goetz, Minister from the Living Water Church, spoke to the students from Years Seven to Nine about decision-making.  He spoke about the steps involved in this and stated that we make thousands of decisions each day. When we make big decisions, it is important to pray about them and work out what God’s plans are for your life. 

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

At the end of the session, the Gideons shared a small talk about how to read the bible and had some free bibles for any student who wanted to take one.  Many students took a bible, with the group having to drop off some more to the school later as they ran out. 

Mr Darren Reynolds from Destiny Rescue came to talk to the Years Ten to Twelve group. The mission of this charity is, ‘to rescue children from sexual exploitation and human trafficking and help them stay free’. Darren spoke about how he became involved in the charity, what the charity does and showed a heart-wrenching video about how an 11-year-old girl was rescued from a club. He spoke about how the charity was founded by a tradesman from Cairns who went to Thailand with his wife and daughters and overheard a conversation about a child being abused. He decided then and there to do something about it and created this charity. Darren said that on one occasion, over 70 children were saved from one location. "Once rescued, we help children reintegrate back into their communities and stay free." 

Many of the students were touched by the stories they heard from Destiny Rescue and came up and spoke to Darren at the end to see how they could get involved in either going overseas to help or raising money for them.  As we had a lot of student interest, Darren came back on Wednesday during lunchtime to talk to students who had further questions about this charity. 

Mrs Naomi Cooper | Chaplain