Toongabbie Christian College

LAUREL OFFEREINS Parent 1993-2012 Staff Member 2000-Present Grandparent 2020-Present

A Praying Community I have had the privilege of praying at the College since 1993 when

my eldest son commenced in Kindergarten. In 2000 I was employed as the first (and, so far, only!) Principal’s Secretary, and was so happy to discover that students and staff started each morning with devotions and prayer, meetings and gatherings began with prayer, and that every strategic decision was made after prayerful deliberation. On the day I commenced in my role, I walked down G Block corridor and heard God tell me that my assignment was to pray for the school. I can tell you that, honestly, that assignment is often more challenging than my actual administrative role. However, God has proven Himself faithful and enables me every day. Over the past 20 years I have continued to pray for every child who has ever been enrolled at the College: for those enrolled from the first day in 1981 to today - that each student (past and present, 5 years old or 50 years old) would encounter the love of God, accept Jesus as Saviour and invite the Holy Spirit to indwell their lives. We have often talked about the 3-legged stool image: Church/Home/School and how we all work together to support our students. Of course our parents and carers have always prayed for the school, and the Tuesday morning parents and carers prayer group met for over 30 years, usually sitting on student chairs in an unused room, surrounded by toddlers or babies in prams. Several of our parents attended and prayed for the school each week for over 10 years. This covert ministry is so powerful, and I still think about the dedication of those prayer warriors and what a privilege it was to pray with them. The fruit of their intercession is evident today. Of course, our parents and carers continue to meet for organised, on and off campus prayer groups, including a group of Korean mums who find it easier to pray in their first language. Thank you! I pray for the College - staff, students, parents and carers - most mornings, by the Primary play equipment, with the company of our local magpies, rainbow lorrikeets, ibis and kookaburras, while simultaneously trying to avoiding David Fletcher and his enormous leaf blower. I cannot think of a better way to start my workday and often mention to God that I hope my legacy at the College will be a portal (like Jacob’s ladder) from the College playground to heaven. This anniversary is a reminder to us firstly to be grateful that we have the freedom to pray at School, and secondly that everything in the College - staff, students, buildings, equipment – is a direct result of God’s goodness and faithfulness, and a response to the prayers of His children. Thank you to those courageous pioneers at Toongabbie Baptist Church who stepped out in faith to build what had been first envisioned in a place of prayer. Their desire to establish a school which, at its heart, was a Christian community and a ministry, created an environment where hundreds of staff members and thousands of students have been given the opportunity to Grow Up Into Christ. May I encourage you to continue praying the following passages over the students, staff, and parents and carers of our College Community:

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