Student Profiles
If you could drop into any one of the Torchbearer centres in the world at any time you would find a mixture of diverse cultural backgrounds coming from all parts of the globe.
What is the common purpose for young people to come half way around the world to Bible School? Some seek answers to questions, some sense a call to come and spend a concentrated time in the Word and some just to “Be With God”. We have 4 of these young people whom we have interviewed to find out why they have come down under to New Zealand.
Reuben Pickering
A Kiwi from Auckland, New Zealand is completing an internship at Monavale These are a few of his thoughts from answering the call to come..
How was your walk with the Lord Jesus before coming to Capers NZ? “I had been a Chris-tian, a believer, most of my life, but I wouldn’t have said I was a follower of Christ. I was very much just wandering about the world searching for some purpose in my life, mostly in looking for a career path, but also other areas in life like relationships. I had worked on two degrees and a job in hospitality. I was very much living for myself, and my relationship with God was something I didn’t often consider with much seriousness.”
What have you discovered since being here? “It’s all about relationship with Him. God wants us to have great communion with Him. My utter and total dependency on Him allows Christ to be Lord of my life and control my life as I submit to Him. As I abide in Him, the fruit produced is His and therefore all the glory goes to Him.“
How has this worked out practically? “During a ministry week here I was involved in performing an Easter play for a whole bunch of primary schools for a week. I played the role of Jesus. I didn’t have any clear expectations for the week of what I might learn from acting in a play. Acting is not the first thing I would put my hand up to do at all. This week was huge though. In most performances God would reveal more of an understanding of His love to me – and through that, my appreciation and awe has grown that much deeper. There were times I would be standing in my chains before Pilate looking individually at a sea of kids faces, and God would lay it heavy on my heart that He loved every one of them. I knew that in my head beforehand, but just the way that knowledge was transferred to my heart in that moment was huge, and then ‘I’ went and died for them.”
Paul Ferris
Paul Ferris is one such likely lad from the great state of Texas, USA. These are a few of his thoughts from answering the call to come....
Paul how was your walk with the Lord Jesus before coming to Capers NZ? “Well before I came to Capernwray New Zealand I was trying to grab an experience. I was trying to grab a hold of God and put Him into my box of what I think He should do for me. I thought that I could only experience God on youth retreats or some times during youth group”.
What did you discover? “I soon realized that God is not just an experience, but a person with whom I can have a relationship”.
OK, can you share with us what happened? “On quiet day I was reading through the gospel of John. I stopped right in my reading after reading John 3:30, “ I must decrease and He must increase.” My whole life up to the point of going to New Zealand I thought that God was here for me and to serve me. It did not occur to me until that moment that I am here to glorify God whether it be in my school work or out serving in Church or even during workday.”
You completed one semester at Monavale and then you came down to The Crossing, how come? "I decided to come down to The Crossing to be more involved in ministry and receive more input from the lectures. Capernwray at The Crossing is a great environment to be pulled aside from the everyday hustle and bustle to focus on God. Students from the school have had countless opportunities to serve through various ministries throughout the Geraldine community. The ministry opportunities and the lectures are a good balance to pour out the life of Christ to those who you interact with regularly. I challenge you to come and not only be poured into but give out what Christ has put into you!”
Why did you choose Monavale! “I was thinking of trying a Bible College – had thought about a few both in New Zealand and abroad. Then I tried a “taste and see” week at Monavale. I came here for the week to see what a Bible school is like with the intention of going to another Bible College somewhere. I loved the environment here immediately and came here 6 months later.”
What challenges did you come up against? “My biggest challenge has been the conviction of the truth. As I’ve immersed myself in God’s Word I have not been able to become anything but transformed by it day by day and seeing the renewal of my mind and what it desires. The nature of the Capernwray experience has illuminated areas of my life that require correction as God uses this place to sharpen me.”
Brenlee Loewen
Brenlee Loewen is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Brenlee came to do the Adventure Bible School (ABS) and stayed on to finish the semester at Monavale.
How would you describe your walk with the Lord before? “I was a strong Christian, but was too comfortable with where I was in my walk with Christ. I wanted/needed to be challenged and grow in my faith.”
What did you discover since being here? “Since being here I’ve discovered that it’s really important to live in the moment. I found that too often I would get caught up wishing for the future and miss what was going on in the present. It’s amazing what you can learn and see when you really stop and look around for a second. Life is so short, I need to enjoy every minute.”
OK can you share an experience with us about your relationship with Jesus? “An experience I’ve had with my relationship in Jesus is just confirmation that He really is there in any and every situation. Specially during ABS, if I was struggling or frustrated it was so reassuring just to talk to God and give it to Him. So many times I find myself trying to take things into my own hands when God is right there with me willing to take it. He wants to hear about the good and bad things, and for me, ABS confirmed that I can give Him all my hurts and joys and He’ll always be there.”
Why did you chose ABS/Monavale? “I chose to come to Monavale because I had a cousin and close friend come here a couple years ago. I saw how it changed their lives and they told me about what an amazing experience it was. Picking to come to New Zealand was easy because it was always a place I’d wanted to visit.”
What challenges did you come up against? “One of the big challenges I came up against was staying positive or joyful in tough situations. I learnt that sometimes keeping your mouth shut when you have nothing good to say is better than saying anything at all. Praying for God to change your attitude rather than the people around you. Joyful doesn’t mean being happy all the time, it just means looking at the situation in a different light, a postive light. When you look back you’ll realize how amazing that experience was just with a change of attitude. Every cloud has a silver lining.”
What would you say to others thinking about coming to School and/or ABS? “I would definitely recommend this school to people. No matter where you are in your walk with God, this place will stretch and challenge you. You get out of it what you put in. As for ABS, if you enjoy the outdoors or want to learn to appreciate it and experience something you never could at home, definitely try it out. You’ll have a blast as long as you’re prepared to be challenged.
Aaron Gregory
Aaron Gregory is also from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and also came to ABS and is now finishing the semester at Monavale.
Tell us about your walk with Jesus before you came? “It was good, I felt like I didn’t know enough about the Bible and I couldn’t share it with anyone, and I wanted to learn a bit more about myself and what God wants to do in my life.”
What have you discovered since being here? “Since I have been here I really have seen the affects of prayer and what it can do in my life and the people around me. Also just finding love for God’s word that wasn’t there before.”
OK can you share an experience with us about your relationship with Jesus? “Since I have been on ABS and now at Monavale for the rest of the term I have had a few things that have instigated change in my relationship with Jesus. Before I would always hear people talking about how the Lord answered their prayers and stuff and I had never really had that happen to me, until now. Before I came I didn’t really pray or talk to the Lord that much because I didn’t feel like He was listening or answering my prayers. I see now that I didn’t understand what prayer was, or how to talk to Jesus. I have learned a lot more about what prayer is and that it is directly linked to my relationship with Him. On ABS I reached breaking point. I couldn’t do anything by myself anymore, I had come to the end ! So I started to seek the Lord again and now I can see Him working in crazy ways in my life and with others. It just makes you want to learn more about Him and the Word so you can have a deeper relationship with Him. This has become my daily walk now at Monavale, I now see that by bringing everything to God in prayer just like the old hymn says I am amazed with the things he can do in me and through me.”
Why did you chose ABS? “I thought ABS would be a good challenge, I like the outdoors, and it is not something you get to do every day.”
What challenges did you come up against? “Just to trust in God and know in what ever he did he would have a plan and a purpose for me. In both my life and normal daily walk.”
What would you say to others thinking about coming to School and or ABS? “I would say do it and don’t hold anything back. Because I am sure in what ever you do you will learn lots from God if you let Him teach you.”
