The Start of School!

Well, this week was the start of school stuff. After Orientation on Tuesday, we had enrolment on Wednesday, where we enrolled in classes (obviously) and got our student cards. Thursday and Friday were Intensives. Basically, we had a couple of our classes those two days. They just kind of introduced the class, and I guess got started with it a bit. We also had chapel those two days, which is my FAVORITE part of the day! I have been to two other Christian schools in my life, and I have never been able to say that Chapel was my favorite part of the day. Usually it would have been lunch. hehe. Chapel at the Christian schools I have been to were usually pretty dull. Now, I will say that when I was younger, I really did look forward to Chapel at Charleston Christian School (the school I grew up in...from K5 to 8th grade). I think when I was a kid, it used to excite me, because they would gear it toward kids. They would have kiddie games, and sometimes my favorite teacher, Mr. White, would make it alot of fun. But Chapel at Hillsong College is unique. It's not just fun, or the entertaining part of the day; it's such a real time that we get to spend in fellowship with the entire school (only the Hills campus, not the City..they have their own Chapel), and it's an amazing time to spend with God. I love how at Hillsong they really just want you to be who you are. They want you to worship God how you worship God. We don't go around waving flags and stuff (not that any of that is bad or wrong...that's totally cool actually). Basically what it boils down to is there is no spirit of judgement here. I know that I can be free in my worship, because everyone else is. I know that I can jump around in God's presence in worship, because so many others are jumping, and raising hands. It's not that I feel I have to be like them, or that I just want to do what everyone else does, but it's that I have always wanted to worship God wholeheartedly and freely, and just not care what others think. This is the atmosphere where you don't feel intimidated at all by that. I just love how much everyone loves God.

Here at Hillsong, they have some things in the church that they value. Yesterday at Chapel, we had a lady (I don't know her name) speaking, and it was awesome. She basically was explaining to the new students what Hillsong is all about. The message was called "Fast-tracking into Hillsong Culture". Here are the values of Hillsong culture:

1) We want you to be yourself.
2) We believe in positive confession.
3) Loyalty is important and valued.
-Your gift doesn't make way before your loyalty and trustworthiness does.
-Have a philosophy of yes, within healthy boundaries.
-Longevity is valued. Show up.
4) Atmosphere.
-God is attracted to an atmosphere of hunger.
-Be the atmosphere (meaning, don't rely on others to bring a positive, hungry spirit to create the atmosphere. be that atmosphere yourself. be a leader.)
-Build the atmosphere. (be an asset)
5) Weekend church services are the main event. Weekend services are highly valued because:
-It's where families gather.
-Every weekend people give their lives to Jesus.
-Fellowship, discipleship, communion, etc...happen under this one roof.
6) There is ONE VISION. (This one is one of my absolute favorite things about Hillsong!)
-The ministries within the church aren't viewed as separate from each other. Everyone is united in one cause. For example, the high school ministry, middle school ministry, women's ministry, worship ministry, etc. all have ONE VISION. There is no separate high school vision, women's vision, worship vision, etc...
-The vision summed up, is to reach and influence the world by building a large Christ-centred, Bible-based church, changing mindsets and empowering people to lead and impact in every sphere of life.
-There is one vision in order to provide unity.
7) Volunteer spirit.
-Serve the Lord with JOY.
-Servanthood is a privelege.
-Do everything with a joyful heart, not a complaining heart. (ties in with the value on positive confession)
8) Value upon women.
-There is a belief in women in ministry.
9) Personal Devotion to Jesus.
-Following Jesus is more than coming to church, or the college. It means spending PERSONAL time with Him.


There are so many more values that the church has, but these were some key ones. I know this blog is already super long, but I would also like to enclose Pastor Brian & Bobbie Houston's vision for the church. This was written when they first started the church. I read this now in amazement of how every single part of it has come to pass. We discussed this in our Intro to Worship Ministry class. So I am going to break it down a bit after you read it:

THE CHURCH THAT I SEE

The Church that I see is a Church of influence. A Church so large in size that the city and nation cannot ignore it. A Church growing so quickly that buildings struggle to contain the increase.

I see a Church whose heartfelt praise and worship touches Heaven and changes earth; worship which influences the praises of people throughout the earth, exalting Christ with powerful songs of faith and hope.

I see a Church whose altars are constantly filled with repentant sinners responding to Christ's call to salvation.

Yes, the Church that I see is so dependent on the Holy Spirit that nothing will stop it nor stand against it; a Church whose people are unified, praying and full of God's Spirit.

The Church that I see has a message so clear that lives are changed forever and potential is fulfilled through the power of His Word; a message beamed to the peoples of the earth through their television screens.

I see a Church so compassionate that people are drawn from impossible situations into a loving and friendly circle of hope, where answers are found and acceptance is given.

I see a people so Kingdom-minded that they will count whatever the cost and pay whatever the price to see revival sweep this land.

The Church that I see is a Church so committed to raising, training and empowering a leadership generation to reap the end-time harvest that all its ministries are consumed with this goal.

I see a Church whose head is Jesus, whose help is the Holy Spirit and whose focus is the Great Commission.

YES, THE CHURCH THAT I SEE COULD WELL BE OUR CHURCH - HILLSONG CHURCH.

Brian & Bobbie Houston,
Hillsong Church

(taken from the church website: http://www2.hillsong.com/church/default.asp?pid=7)

This vision for Hillsong Church is a living testimony to the power of casting visions. The first paragraph talks about the size. Not all churches have to be huge, but I love imagining Pastor Brian and Bobbie sitting there one day writing all of this, not realizing today just how much it would come to pass. Since I am not from Australia, I know from experience that Hillsong has impacted so many people around the world, so many people outside of their own sphere of church. In the US alone, people are touched by God in ways they have never been touched through Hillsong's worship songs alone. I love how the songs they write and sing here in Australia send an echo throughout all corners of the earth that melts people's hearts right into God's and radically transforms their lives. I have seen it happen. I have experienced it. Continuing about the first paragraph, one of the things he talks about the church struggling to contain the increase. That happens here. The number here of people that come to the church is so large, sometimes it is hard to find enough building space. Why else do you think they have so many different campuses around the world, extenstion services in Australia, and service times at each one?

Well, I've pretty much already covered the second paragraph.

The third paragraph is my favorite. Every week, people come to the altar at church to be saved. Last night I went to the high school church service, called Wildlife, to check it out. It was fun and entertaining and all that good stuff, but one thing I loved is that they never lost the heart of why they were there. At the end of the message, they asked if anyone wanted to be saved, and I watched as a few hurting and desperate teens raised their hands. Imagine being in high school and making that bold move in front of hundreds of raising your hand. These teens must have been really desperate to know God. That excites me. Everyone longs for something more. Well, about 3 or 4 raised their hands. Then he gave everyone another opportunity, encouraging the teens in love, and more raised their hands. When they got finished praying, I watched a whole mass of teens (the future of the wold, mind you) walk toward the foyer to receive free Bibles. I was blown away by the number of teens I saw walking that had just been saved.

This also ties in with the 6th paragraph. Notice "impossible situations". I love it. God can save and transform ANYONE.

Skipping a few paragraphs, the 8th is definitely true in my life. The college is a testimony to this paragraph. In this season, I am being trained to be a leader in this crazy world; to be a light in this dark earth (that is getting darker day by day). Words cannot describe how excited I am to be at Hillsong. Thank you to everyone who is making this happen!