Scotch College

Mission Week provokes Scotch

Mission Week for boys in Years Eleven and Twelve took place on March 3, 4 and 5. Working with senior boys separately was a new feature of this year's mission.

The Mustard Schools Ministry, an adjunct of St Hilary's Anglican Church in Kew, were our guest missioners. It was their job to confront the boys with the challenge to Christian discipleship. Their keynote speaker was Mark Leach, youth minister at St Hilary's. In three carefully prepared sessions he unpacked reasons for belief, explored the notion of the good life and suggested ways of thinking about evil and suffering.

Boys were invited to reflect on the various issues raised and share their perspectives in small group discussions led by one of the many youth leaders who were present each day. The youth leaders included

Tim Grant ('99), Michel Paton ('97) and Ben Saunders ('99). These small group discussions were another new aspect of mission week and were very worthwhile.

The program ended with a concert of radio songs and a challenge to follow Jesus Christ. Michel Paton, now a final year law student at Melbourne Uni told how, in his final year at Scotch, he became a Christian during Mission Week.

Response cards indicated generally strong reactions. Some boys felt confronted, others angry that their school diverted them from VCE studies to consider wider matters. However, more than forty boys chose to commit to Jesus and a similar number identified themselves as already committed. These boys will be invited to participate in a further lunchtime program.

Graham Bradbeer

Exhange Students

The School is currently hosting exchange students from King Edward's School in Birmingham. The Scotch students pictured will be going to the UK in term two. Pictured are, front row L to R: Vishal Baerjee (KE), Tom Murray (SC), Sameer Patel (KE) and Andrew Pyman (SC). Back row L to R: Jack Hambleton (KE), Tyson Yeo (SC), Charlie Hall (KE) and Simon Eales (SC).