Chaplaincy

For those of you who didn't already know, God is on the move! Get this, just last year the Australian government has started paying Christian chaplains to work in the public schools. Thanks to John Howard, our old Prime Minister- for supporting chaplaincy, we now have 500 chaplains in over 600 schools around Queensland alone. I feel like we are sitting on a gold mine and that God is about to come busting out of this box He is so often put into. Daily thousands of students are hearing about Jesus in their schools and I am so privileged to be apart of this. 

If you didn't already know, I work part time as a chaplain in a primary school. I get this awesome opportunity to be Jesus to this hurting generation of young people. I have about 750 students in my school and I am seeing God at work. It is a hard, emotionally draining, take-everything-out-of-me, job (hey ez). But it is fully rewarding. Quick story: last week I had this cute little Italian boy come to my office for the 2nd time- his first time he popped in and just wanted me to know that he was sophisticated. No kidding, that is exactly what he told me. He said, "Miss Judi, kids just don't understand me. and i think that's because I'm sophisticated. And kids are afraid of what they don't know" Ha! I was totally laughing. Such a beautiful boy. So, last week he came in again. Sat down at my table and wanted me to know that he was switching classes. I was like- Mate you've got 8 weeks left of school, why are switching classes now? Long story short, he gets bullied and wanted to change classes to be with this girl. I seize my "teachable moment". I say something like, Matey i think you should hold out, you don't have long till the end of the year, and you've made it this far. I think you can do 8 more weeks. This was his response, "Miss Judi, I think you're right. It takes a strong man to stand up for himself, it takes a stronger man to stand up for others. And I'm a very strong man." I almost died. This little guy is in 5th grade and despite the hardship of being bullied, for probably most of his life, he has chosen to be a strong man. I got the opportunity to totally share Jesus with him. How Jesus was the strongest of all men, and how he was a servant of all. It was awesome. After a full hour of talking politics, religion and Jesus he skips off to class and leaves me in my office to think. 

I think because I'm from a country where church and state are so completely separate- the government won't even put money into private schools, let alone pay for hundreds of Christian workers to be Jesus in the public schools- I am just so overwhelmed by the opportunity here in Australia. I went to a church service today with a bunch of friends who also work with SU as chappies and got to hear all their stories of what God is doing. He is on the move. We are sitting on a gold mine that is about to explode. The harvest is ready and the workers are teaming up and aligning themselves with where God is already at work. And it's time to reap. 

For this past year I have sown my heart and soul into those kids at my school. I have prayed, cried, wept with students as they disclose horrific abuse and hurt, and I have seen God meet their felt needs and become real to them. I preached on Gideon to my girls last week. How he had such low self esteem and yet God chose him to save a whole nation. How awesome is that! They seriously had no idea what i was talking about- they've never heard a Bible story in their lives (I probably should have started with Jonah or something), but I'm believing that something resonated deep in their souls how God looks at the heart and not the external. How he calls us into our destiny despite our lack of confidence. How often I need to remember this. 

I wish I had the time to share all my beautiful stories, I have so many, but it is really late and my bed is calling me. Plus, I need to be up in the morning to give of myself to 750 kids, plus my own 2. That thought alone makes me tired :)

Thank you to all who are on this journey with me. Who pray for me, my school, my family. You are such an encouragement. I couldn't do this without you! And for those who want more details about SU or chaplaincy please let me know. 

Bless you! 

OH! and if you haven't already, click on that video on the right and brace yourself. You're about to be smoked by the Holy Spirit! I love Kim- I hope you do too :)