A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM TERM 4

MY NAME IS JACINTA HOLMES, AND AS A YEAR 12 STUDENT I HAVE BEEN PART OF THE MUSTARD LUNCHTIME GROUP AT FIRBANK GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN BRIGHTON FOR SIX YEARS. I JOINED AT THE START OF YEAR 7 AFTER HEARING ABOUT IT AT A SCHOOL ASSEMBLY.

During my time at school and through my involvement in the group, I have seen God speak to people that may not have been Christian, in so much as they were no longer frightened or annoyed to discuss religion

and God but learned to open up to him and others. I have also seen God create wider acceptance for religion in a school that is sadly losing its faith.

My church, St. Peters Brighton Beach, is a quaint little church. It is small and has had an ageing community. This inspired me to attend Mustard so that I could hopefully connect with Christians closer to my age. I have to say that my involvement with Mustard and my leadership of one of the groups has not only inspired me in what is discussed at my

I have also seen

God create wider

acceptance for religion

in a school that is

sadly losing its faith.

Persevering With Faith Through Six Years of School

LAST YEAR’S TRINITY FAITH WEEK WAS REALLY BIG! NEVER BEFORE HAD A SCHOOL GIVEN MUSTARD SO MUCH TIME WITH STUDENTS, AND WE’D NEVER HAD SO MANY VOLUNTEERS COMMIT TO HELPING RUN AN EVENT! ON THE BACK OF SUCH A SUCCESSFUL EVENT THE SCHOOL REQUESTED THAT IN 2013 WE GROW THE TIME THAT WE SPEND THEIR YEAR 8 STUDENTS, FOCUSING ON FAITH, JUSTICE AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP.In preparation for this year’s event, we grappled with how to explore these themes and not default to ‘just try to be a good person’. Our hope was to focus on the central theme of belonging, exploring the nature of God and ourselves in light of our need to belong.

With the event now completed, I can’t help but think that it was an amazing three days! It was incredible to watch God stitch the different elements together, create an open and respectful environment for exploration and build some really strong relationships between the boys and our team. We were blessed with the support of 33 volunteers who generously gave their

time (some for all three days) and enabled us to really engage with the students in lots of small group discussions, activities and reflections.

On Day One the students worked together through a range of challenges, to earn pieces of a small house that they would construct together. Using the houses to focus on the notion of home, we looked at all of the places “where we fit in” and see how belonging seems to be a natural human inclination.With Day Two we hoped to establish “why belonging is important”. Students spent extended time in their groups where one of the main challenges was to write and film a short video that demonstrated

Continued on Page 2

Continued on Page 2

3 Days With 155 Trinity boys

Mus

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12 Jo

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tree

t K

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101

Affix

Stam

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ere

1. Cut this form out along the dotted line

2. Fill out the form as appropriate. Don’t forget to let us know your name and contact details

3. Fold the form in the middle ensuring that your details are on the inside of the fold

4. Seal the open end. You could use sticky tape, staples, or any of your favourite adhesives...

5. Put a stamp where indicated

6. Pop it in a mail box. They’re the red ones often found outside post offices

7. Celebrate! You could even have a little party with the postie...

Confused?

MUSTARD LUNCHTIME GROUPS PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN STUDENTS TO ‘GATHER’ TOGETHER, ‘EXPLORE’ THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS, AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER TO ‘LIVE’ OUT THEIR FAITH.

Probably the most challenging aspect is the ‘Live’ bit. This is where the rubber hits the road. This is where a relationship with God moves from being about relationships with our Christian friends in our Christian groups, to being about relationship with the world around us.

John 3:16 - 17 are some of the best know verses of the Bible. Yet how often have we read these verse as if they say ‘God so loves my Christian friends and I, that he gave His one and only Son. So that we, my Christian friends and I, can go to heaven’. When we get our heads around the truth that Jesus didn’t die to redeem us alone, but the whole world, the whole cosmos, the need to live out our faith with all of our lives becomes strikingly obvious.

Sometimes our Lunchtime Group leaders present little challenges for their students to attempt throughout the week between the group meeting. The exciting reality is

that we don’t do these challenges alone. When we have the Holy Spirit, God goes with us. What’s more we do it together: we follow Jesus together, we LIVE together.

That is what Mustard Lunchtime Groups are all about!

- Dan Nixon

the need to live out our faith with all of our lives

becomes strikingly obvious

church but has helped me when I have had to lead Sunday School or speak during our Family Services.

Over my high school years I have grown in my faith and in my ability to speak about it. The Mustard group has made me realise that there will be times where I do not know what is happening but by reflecting and opening up to God I will always find an answer. I feel that I have gotten to know God, myself and the other members better.

Next year I am hoping to come back to Firbank to help lead the group and provide support to Steph Gotze, next year’s Chapel Captain. I can see myself either running smaller groups in connection with Steph or just providing support to Steph in organizing activities.

To those who help Mustard in any way I want to extend my thanks and gratitude. Whether it be a few hours a week, a few dollars a week or a simple prayer, everything you provide has enabled Mustard to become what it is today. I know from the faces of the girls when they enter each Mustard session, or the chatter of those leaving a Mustard Live event, everything that Mustard does is important.

- Jacinta Holmes

our need for belonging. As we explored this need, we showed that it can only be fully satisfied through connection & belonging to the God in whose image we have been created. On our final day we challenged the students to recognise and explore their responsibility to those they belong to, particularly as Global Citizens. It was great to partner with World Vision, Operation Mobilisation, Y-Gap and Urban Seed to help the boys think practically about the responsibility that they have to the communities that they belong.

As a whole, the event was fun, lively, deep, dynamic, engaging and intense!! Looking after 155 Year 8 boys for more than 12 hours was no easy task! But through the empowerment of God, and great team of faithful volunteers, once again God has shown that where we are willing to serve, He is able to do great things.- Andrew Kitchen

Trinity Faith Week

When I get older I’d like to be a psychologist or a preacher

Tell Us About Being a Young Person

Persevering With Faith Through Six Years of School

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

I’VE BEEN A PART OF THE MUSTARD LIVE TEAM FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW – AND SADLY MY TRANSITION TO FULL TIME WORK AS A MIDWIFE NEXT YEAR MEANS THAT THIS SEASON OF MUSTARD IS PROBABLY COMING TO AN END.

I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given to be part of such a wonderful community of people who are so passionate about seeing students come to life.

In the majority of the Mustard Live events that I’ve done, I have been enlisted as the MC of the program. I’m still in shock that the team trusted me enough to give me the microphone at each event! Whilst my jokes are ridiculous, my hefty knowledge of pop culture has served me well over the years, and I extended that knowledge by attending a One Direction concert

recently, under the guise that I was ‘doing research for Mustard’.

In all seriousness, I have really enjoyed running such professional, well-thought-out, and ultimately Spirit-filled programs at these high schools over the past few years. It is an absolute joy to see students feel safe and free enough to be able to open up about their fears and insecurities, and for us to be able to speak truth into their lives in ways that are relevant and real to them.

I will never get over the fact that we are able to share the best thing in our lives with these students and that they are so willing and eager to listen and receive. It has been an absolute honour, and I am so grateful to God for this incredible ministry that He’s allowed me to be a part of, and the Mustard team for their extreme brilliance!

- Tessa Clark

Who Gave this

Person the

Microphone?

ANDREW KITCHEN ASKS A FEW QUESTIONS OF SPENCER, WHO IS A REGULAR AND MUCH LOVED MEMBER OF HIS LUNCHTIME GROUP AT KEW HIGH SCHOOL.

Tell us about yourself Spencer

I go to Kew High and I am in Year 8. When I get older I’d like to be a psychologist or a preacher but in all I want to fulfill the future God has planned for me.

Tell us about how came to faith?

When I would visit my Dad in the holidays a loving Christian family opened their hearts out to me. After many years of their teachings and guidance they invited me to Church and I officially committed my life to Christ.

What difference does your faith make to your life?

Now, as a Christian I see everything in a different way. I can feel Jesus within me, and my eyes are developing to

see what he sees and to see the change that is needed, for the cause of Christ.

What’s it like being a Christian at Kew High?

In school people know you are Christian. When friends and people are near they treat you normally but if the subject of God or Religion etc. comes up, all eyes are on you and you are expected to have your input.

What do you think stops young people from finding faith?

I definitely think pride. They think they are bigger than God and the plans He has for them. And because they will never find full satisfaction they just keep indulging themselves in pride and things which make them feel good about themselves.

Gather. Explore. LIVE.

Mus

tard

12 Jo

hn S

tree

t K

ew, V

IC 3

101

Affix

Stam

p H

ere

1. Cut this form out along the dotted line

2. Fill out the form as appropriate. Don’t forget to let us know your name and contact details

3. Fold the form in the middle ensuring that your details are on the inside of the fold

4. Seal the open end. You could use sticky tape, staples, or any of your favourite adhesives...

5. Put a stamp where indicated

6. Pop it in a mail box. They’re the red ones often found outside post offices

7. Celebrate! You could even have a little party with the postie...

Confused?

MUSTARD LUNCHTIME GROUPS PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN STUDENTS TO ‘GATHER’ TOGETHER, ‘EXPLORE’ THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS, AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER TO ‘LIVE’ OUT THEIR FAITH.

Probably the most challenging aspect is the ‘Live’ bit. This is where the rubber hits the road. This is where a relationship with God moves from being about relationships with our Christian friends in our Christian groups, to being about relationship with the world around us.

John 3:16 - 17 are some of the best know verses of the Bible. Yet how often have we read these verse as if they say ‘God so loves my Christian friends and I, that he gave His one and only Son. So that we, my Christian friends and I, can go to heaven’. When we get our heads around the truth that Jesus didn’t die to redeem us alone, but the whole world, the whole cosmos, the need to live out our faith with all of our lives becomes strikingly obvious.

Sometimes our Lunchtime Group leaders present little challenges for their students to attempt throughout the week between the group meeting. The exciting reality is

that we don’t do these challenges alone. When we have the Holy Spirit, God goes with us. What’s more we do it together: we follow Jesus together, we LIVE together.

That is what Mustard Lunchtime Groups are all about!

- Dan Nixon

the need to live out our faith with all of our lives

becomes strikingly obvious

church but has helped me when I have had to lead Sunday School or speak during our Family Services.

Over my high school years I have grown in my faith and in my ability to speak about it. The Mustard group has made me realise that there will be times where I do not know what is happening but by reflecting and opening up to God I will always find an answer. I feel that I have gotten to know God, myself and the other members better.

Next year I am hoping to come back to Firbank to help lead the group and provide support to Steph Gotze, next year’s Chapel Captain. I can see myself either running smaller groups in connection with Steph or just providing support to Steph in organizing activities.

To those who help Mustard in any way I want to extend my thanks and gratitude. Whether it be a few hours a week, a few dollars a week or a simple prayer, everything you provide has enabled Mustard to become what it is today. I know from the faces of the girls when they enter each Mustard session, or the chatter of those leaving a Mustard Live event, everything that Mustard does is important.

- Jacinta Holmes

our need for belonging. As we explored this need, we showed that it can only be fully satisfied through connection & belonging to the God in whose image we have been created. On our final day we challenged the students to recognise and explore their responsibility to those they belong to, particularly as Global Citizens. It was great to partner with World Vision, Operation Mobilisation, Y-Gap and Urban Seed to help the boys think practically about the responsibility that they have to the communities that they belong.

As a whole, the event was fun, lively, deep, dynamic, engaging and intense!! Looking after 155 Year 8 boys for more than 12 hours was no easy task! But through the empowerment of God, and great team of faithful volunteers, once again God has shown that where we are willing to serve, He is able to do great things.- Andrew Kitchen

Trinity Faith Week

When I get older I’d like to be a psychologist or a preacher

Tell Us About Being a Young Person

Persevering With Faith Through Six Years of School

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

I’VE BEEN A PART OF THE MUSTARD LIVE TEAM FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW – AND SADLY MY TRANSITION TO FULL TIME WORK AS A MIDWIFE NEXT YEAR MEANS THAT THIS SEASON OF MUSTARD IS PROBABLY COMING TO AN END.

I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given to be part of such a wonderful community of people who are so passionate about seeing students come to life.

In the majority of the Mustard Live events that I’ve done, I have been enlisted as the MC of the program. I’m still in shock that the team trusted me enough to give me the microphone at each event! Whilst my jokes are ridiculous, my hefty knowledge of pop culture has served me well over the years, and I extended that knowledge by attending a One Direction concert

recently, under the guise that I was ‘doing research for Mustard’.

In all seriousness, I have really enjoyed running such professional, well-thought-out, and ultimately Spirit-filled programs at these high schools over the past few years. It is an absolute joy to see students feel safe and free enough to be able to open up about their fears and insecurities, and for us to be able to speak truth into their lives in ways that are relevant and real to them.

I will never get over the fact that we are able to share the best thing in our lives with these students and that they are so willing and eager to listen and receive. It has been an absolute honour, and I am so grateful to God for this incredible ministry that He’s allowed me to be a part of, and the Mustard team for their extreme brilliance!

- Tessa Clark

Who Gave this

Person the

Microphone?

ANDREW KITCHEN ASKS A FEW QUESTIONS OF SPENCER, WHO IS A REGULAR AND MUCH LOVED MEMBER OF HIS LUNCHTIME GROUP AT KEW HIGH SCHOOL.

Tell us about yourself Spencer

I go to Kew High and I am in Year 8. When I get older I’d like to be a psychologist or a preacher but in all I want to fulfill the future God has planned for me.

Tell us about how came to faith?

When I would visit my Dad in the holidays a loving Christian family opened their hearts out to me. After many years of their teachings and guidance they invited me to Church and I officially committed my life to Christ.

What difference does your faith make to your life?

Now, as a Christian I see everything in a different way. I can feel Jesus within me, and my eyes are developing to

see what he sees and to see the change that is needed, for the cause of Christ.

What’s it like being a Christian at Kew High?

In school people know you are Christian. When friends and people are near they treat you normally but if the subject of God or Religion etc. comes up, all eyes are on you and you are expected to have your input.

What do you think stops young people from finding faith?

I definitely think pride. They think they are bigger than God and the plans He has for them. And because they will never find full satisfaction they just keep indulging themselves in pride and things which make them feel good about themselves.

Gather. Explore. LIVE.

THIS EDITION OF OUR NEWSLETTER IS FILLED WITH THE STORIES OF MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO ARE CONNECTED TO MUSTARD. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT GOD IS IN THE PEOPLE BUSINESS AND HE HAS CALLED MUSTARD TO JOIN WITH OTHERS IN THIS WORK TO BRING LIFE TO THE PEOPLE THAT HE CREATED.

God has created a world full of colour and vibrancy, and it’s His followers that are taking up Jesus’ entreaty to bring out “the God-flavors of this

earth” and bring out “the God-colors in the world” (Matthew 5:13-16 The Message).

Someone who has brought much God-colour to schools around Melbourne and empowered others to do the same is Andrew Kitchen. He has served with Mustard Live for the past two years and has been a genuine asset to this exciting ministry. Andrew will be finishing his role at the end of the year. When telling me his decision to move on, he said: “I feel that God is asking my wife Kayte and I to take the biggest step of faith that we ever have and to step into 2014 entirely relying on Him for His provision”. We are grateful for Andrew’s faithful service and wish he and Kayte God’s blessing and provision.

We are blessed to be involved in the lives of so many people. Our prayer is that God will use our humble actions to bring life to every single person that we meet. May you and your family know this life over the Christmas period. Thank you for your support in 2013.

- Tim Clare, Mustard’s Director

CONTACT MUSTARD . 12 JOHN STREET, KEW, VIC 3102 . PH: (03) 9816 7131 . mustard@mustard.org.au . www.mustard.org.au

EARLIER THIS YEAR WE GATHERED INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHAPE AND FLAVOUR OF OUR LUNCHTIME GROUPS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL CENSUS. THE AIM OF THE CENSUS IS TO GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF OUR GROUPS, TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF GROWTH, AND BETTER TAILOR THE RESOURCES AND TRAINING THAT WE DEVELOP.

Consistent with the vision for our Lunchtime Groups as being places of encouragement and support for Christian students, 82% of those attending our groups identify as Christian, and of the rest, 10% are unsure. The students in our groups are spread over 51 different churches and 13 different denominations. The average group size is 8 students, and the most common year level this year has been Year 12.

We found that the students have learned a broad range of things about God and life,

including learning about God’s character as loving, powerful and trustworthy, learning how we can relate to God, how he teaches and guides us, learning about how to live as Christians, including the importance of prayer, and learning about how to grow in faith.

The practical outworking of this broad range of understanding resulted in 65% of students taking steps forward in their relationship with God; either strengthening or growing an existing faith, or starting to develop belief in God. Encouragingly, 58% of students said that sharing their faith featured in the practical outworking of their growth. Showing love in practical ways, meeting with other Christians and engaging in prayer were also results of students’ participation in a Lunchtime Group.

- Paul Pallot

God is in the people business and

He has called Mustard to join with

others in this work to bring life to

the people that He created.

Want Some Stats about Mustard Lunchtime Groups?

Recently during Mustard at McKinnon Secondary College a Year 12 student rocked up for the first time, responding to the notice in the morning news at school. She had decided to see what Mustard was about since she was a Christian. We ran a bible study and asked a few questions, and before we knew it, lunch was over. At the end of our time together she said to me “I never thought I would have read the bible here at school!” I was encouraged that it is God’s words that are a vital necessity for our Christian students at school in an age where society attempts to separate our education and faith.

- Andrew Ellis

Mustard at McKinnon

Secondary College