It was a significant day last Thursday as PCS sent out our first missions team in quite a few years. A total of 14 students from Year 10 to 12 jumped on the PCS bus headed for Moree. We were loaded with a stack of gear, plenty of bacon and eggs and a great attitude!
Every Friday lunch our High School students hold a lunch time Bible study, and for the past 2 years they have driven the idea of taking a mission team away to encourage students from other schools, engage in different communities and share the gospel message. How sweet it was to see this goal come to fruition, and in the process lay the foundation for future teams to go out and extend on the solid platform that has been set.
Our destination was Moree, where we were going to encourage the students at Moree Christian School, run a combined youth event on the Friday evening and spend some time in the community. The events included running a music/worship workshop for singers and musicians, running K-6 and High School chapel services, running lunchtime games and hosting a combined churches youth event which saw over 70 young people come along!
Everyone on the team contributed. Students were involved in the band, sound set up and pack down, sharing messages, testimonies, running games, cooking BBQ’s, serving food, leading worship, running games and ALWAYS being engaging with people we came across in the school and broader community. The team even turned up to Moree Parkrun on Saturday morning at 7am!
As the principal I have the awesome opportunity to attend a lot of our school excursions. If there is half an opportunity for me to be somewhere away from school with our classes, I’ll be there! For me there is nothing better than getting away with our students, having some fun and making heaps of positive memories. There is no better environment in which you can get to know students, and vice versa, than on a school excursion. I have been on heaps over the years, but I have to say that the latest mission trip was right up there as one of the most satisfying trips away ever. Seeing students work selflessly for the benefit of others, stretching themselves in unfamiliar circumstances, sharing parts of their own testimonies and gaining fresh perspectives was incredible.
Whilst I had so many highlights from the trip, some of the best moments were hearing our students share part of their story/testimony with other students as a means of encouragement. It reminded me that everybody has a story, everybody has something going on, and most importantly, everybody has significant moments in their lives (big or small), where God is evident; we just have to take the time to stop and identify it. Seeing our students do this in their own lives was a huge blessing to all who heard them speak, especially me!
We went to be a blessing, but there is no doubt that it was us who were blessed. I know I came away from the trip with a renewed sense of purpose in building on the missions arm of PCS and working with all our amazing students who would like to be part of future projects.
To the PCS 2023 Mission Team, congratulations on a job well done, and helping create a platform for many exciting/fruitful adventures in the future. Whether it is on the mission field, or in our day to day life, let’s be committed to meeting the needs of others, and bringing heaven to earth in whatever capacity we can!
Have a great week PCS.
Glen
