Connections

Steev Davis did not plan to study at Avondale College. He'd been drifting from the faith of his childhood. "I was going in the wrong direction." A car accident forced him to re-evaluate his priorities. "I took a closer look at my life," he says.

A communication major, Steev is now in his second year of study. He is one of more than 1200 students at Avondale. They come from all over the South Pacific and elsewhere. Most of them make lifelong friendships and, like Steev, come away changed after encountering Christ.

"I've been able to get back to God," says Steev. "A lot of that has been because of the people here. They build you up and help you realise you don't have to pretend to be someone you're not. I've never had a circle of friends I could pray with before, but here, I do."

Student Associated Ministries leader Lili Radziszewski describes the spiritual life at Avondale as strong and vibrant. "There are so many different styles of worship, so many different ways of expressing our faith." These include the bi-annual Festival of Faith and the Elevation 24-7 week of continuous prayer, Wednesday morning forums, small group Bible studies, the contemporary Friday evening and family Saturday morning worship services and on the Lake Macquarie campus, student-led Tuesday evening and Thursday morning worship services.

 The spiritual focus is essential to Avondale's identity. "It's the reason we're here," says president Dr John Cox. "Our aim is to deliver quality education in the context of Seventh-day Adventist world view, values, faith and lifestyle."

 An audit by the worldwide church's Adventist Accrediting Association in 2004 commended Avondale's commitment to "integrating the Adventist ethos pervasively and deliberately into college life" and for making Adventist lifestyle and values "tangible."

Dr Wayne French experienced this when he studied at Avondale. "I'd been a law-abiding Christian, but then I encountered grace and everything changed." He now helps guide students on their spiritual journey in his role as chaplain on the Lake Macquarie campus. The guidance includes emphasising the practical aspect of faith, which "influences our response to issues such as justice and service to humanity," says John.

Initiatives such as STORM Co, with more than 100 students volunteering in local communities during their midyear holidays, and One Mission, with 65 students serving on overseas mission trips over the yearend, help students understand they are part of a worldwide community of faith.

Overseas speakers do, too. Pastor David Hall and Herb Larsen, both from the United States, spoke at Festival of Faith this year. Wayne describes the response from the week of meetings in first and in second semester as encouraging--185 students rededicated their lives to God, 45 requested Bible studies and 20 baptism. David's message during Festival of Faith n first semester encouraged Steev to follow through on his decision. "I filled out one of the response cards and Wayne contacted me," he says. "It blew me away how friendly he was. He was willing to do anything so we could study the Bible. He just wouldn't give up on me."

Mykala Love, a second-year primary education student, also studied with Wayne, which led to her baptism this past year. "Something shifted from the centre and made a place for God," she says. Mykala remembers attending Sabbath school with her grandmother, an Adventist, and speaks of studying at several Christian high schools, "but I just didn't see how being religious could be enjoyable." She does now. Mykala volunteers as a student counsellor in the women's residences. The baptism marks her ongoing commitment to Christ. "It's about living the life--and remembering the reason why."

The best endorsement always comes from a third party, such as Colin Clark, the director of human resources for the Adventist Church in the South Pacific. He is the chair of a panel interviewing prospective graduates for denominational employment. The standard of the graduates impressed the panel, "however, we were particularly delighted with the large number who volunteered that the most significant thing that has happened to them in their stay at Avondale has been the spiritual growth they have experienced," says Colin. "Having skilled employees who are strongly committed to Jesus and the work of [the] church is the most valuable asset we have. Avondale's contribution to this is beyond measure."

Photo Credit: Ann Stafford