Over 96 per cent of students at Macquarie Fields' James Meehan High School do not attend church, and the school has gone without any formal Christian ministry for the past 10 years. Yet the Wollongong region's Youthworks schools ministry advisor, Andy Stevenson (pictured), and Glenquarie Anglican Church lay worker Seumas MacDonald found the school supportive when they first proposed to run a day of seminars for the schools 450 kids.
What followed was a turnout of over 90 per cent of kids at the five one-hour seminars, with 10 kids indicating they had given their lives to Christ. This one day has been the catalyst for a weekly lunchtime group, which is being run in the school by Mr MacDonald and two Year 13 Youthworks students from Glenquarie Anglican Church.
On Monday August 18, a second seminar day was positively received, with over 90 per cent of the school's 450 kids involved. Each seminar consisted of an ice-breaker, gospel talk, video clip of a US Christian rap group, a testimony, interviews with students on their ideas about truth and ten minutes of discussion groups.
When feedback cards were handed out after the seminars, Mr Stevenson said "many of them said that it is good to think about what they believe as "truth', and some gave indications of understanding afresh or wanting to know more".
Other comments included: "Thank you for teaching me new and good things", "been waiting for someone to talk about God in this place" and "you guys are pretty honest and normal for Christians".
One-day SRE seminars "are a great starting point for school's ministry", says Mr Stevenson. "If you have nothing and you are starting from scratch, this is the way to make positive contact with the whole school".
Mr MacDonald indicates the team is encouraged as it continues to build a positive rapport with the kids.
"After just three weeks, we've been encouraged by meeting with a small handful of Christian students in the high school, and the chance to read the Bible with them and pray", he says.
"We are confident and prayerful that God will form a committed core of Christians within the school who will share their faith day-by-day and grow into mature Christians together."
Both Mr Stevenson and Mr McDonald view their ministry at James Meehan as the beginning of real long-term work:
"In an area like ours the school provides a real strategic point where we can meet with local teenagers, share the gospel, and encourage and disciple young Christians. We're looking forward to more SRE opportunities at James Meehan, to expanding our work into other local high schools, and ultimately to connecting with these students outside school, with their families, and with the broader local community."
