Throughout the first half of this year, I have been reading through Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus with specific interest in the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses as the anointed leader was somebody who had 40 years of experience in Egypt as a member of the royal family and potential heir to the throne where he had access to a huge network of resources however he watched the Israelites, his people, suffer under the rule of the Egyptians. We must remember that Moses by biblical accounts was a man of slow speech, and in Numbers 12:3 it is said “now the man Moses was very meek, more than all the people who were on the face of the earth”.
So when Moses was told by God to lead the people out of Egypt we see a story of rejection from the Egyptians and then the resistance of his own people, the Israelites to follow the commands of God. After famine, plagues and natural disasters, the Israelites are released and Moses leads them towards the Promised Land which includes the incredible incidents of the parting of the Red Sea and the daily provision of food. I have been astounded to read how even with the leading of God, the provision of their needs, and the clear direction to move towards the Promised Land, how the Israelites failed to focus on the future and instead reflected on their past in times of trouble. For 40 years the Israelites moved towards God’s plan and in the process we see the birth of the 10 commandments, the Ark of the Covenant and many other of our Christian symbols, including the prophecy of Christ (Deuteronomy 18).
Human nature evokes a fear of change. In this process we can tend to think about the good things of the past and parallel this to the uncertainty of the future. This can be seen throughout scripture and history. Hillcrest is entering a time of blessing where we see wonderful new facilities, new programs, new families and a completely different educational paradigm. This uncertainty can cause parents to be anxious about the changes and reflect upon the Hillcrest of old.
I want to assure all members of our community that the current changes we are making will create a stronger community in all ways and that the current disruptions we are experiencing will be short term. The building programs will be completed in the main by the end of Term 1, the power issues should be resolved in the next few weeks and the parking situation will be significantly improved by July as will be the development of our new playground areas. I am grateful that the majority of our community are hugely supportive at this time of disruption and ask that we all remain focussed on the God-centred future of Hillcrest Christian College.
As an Executive Team we are well aware of the frustrations that pockets of our community are experiencing. Can I please assure you that as always we are available to discuss these issues in person and the staff are regularly listened to, supported and collaborated with to ensure they feel valued and heard, and that our learning platform remains at the forefront of our minds. As such I apologise for the electrical disruptions and the parking challenges we are currently experiencing and assure you we are doing all that we can to resolve these issues expediently.
As Moses led his people through the wilderness for 40 years, he also encountered many difficulties beyond his expectations. In these times he relied on God to help him through. Hillcrest Christian College is determined to become the ‘Best Christian College in the World’ and as such we are relying on our faith in Christ to move through these difficult times as we work towards achieving His goal. I would ask all members of our community to pray that this transition period is not one where we break community but a time where we enhance personal relationships and grow stronger as a community of people dedicated to providing our children with the best possible education that is available.
Yours in Christ, Jeff
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