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Inspiration

"Such an education provides more than mental discipline; it provides more than physical training. It strengthens the character, so that truth and uprightness are not sacrificed to selfish desire or worldly ambition. It fortifies the mind against evil..."

- Education p.18

The Vision

Eastward's vision is to provide evangelistic and vocational training in a thoroughly Adventist context that prepares you for work, family, ministry and eternity. We do this is response to God's call:

"The Lord calls upon our young people to enter our schools and quickly fit themselves for service. In various places outside of cities, schools are to be established where our youth can receive an education that will prepare them to go forth to do evangelical work and medical missionary work." Testimonies volume 9 p.170

 

 

But for any education to be effective, it must have a broad scope and a high aim - to develop the whole person. At Eastward you will be trained according to the Lord's plan of growth and development, and will experience the power of His unique educational program that has 3 essential elements.

The Elements

Knowledge

God is the source of all true knowledge and real development. His plan is for you to become acquainted with Him and His love, His thoughts, His principles, His methods and His wisdom, and to make them your own. Inspiring instruction from dedicated and experienced teachers will give you the knowledge essential to prepare you for a successful life and ministry. This is head work and heart work...

Practice

God designs that students should live in the country and be usefully occupied. You will be practically involved in the day to day running of Eastward, in the kitchen, garden and orchard, on the building site and in the workshop. This life, with its opportunities for labour, for teamwork, for study and meditation, will expand the mind, strengthen the body and develop the character. This education will make you a master and not a slave to circumstances! This is hand work...

Witness

Unselfish service underlies all true development. Eastward's Grass Roots evangelism program opens up daily opportunities for you to apply Christ's love to members of our local community. Using Christ's distinctive methods of ministry, you will discover what brings true success in reaching the people, and experience their rich rewards. Here your knowledge and practice will come together to make you an effective witness for your Saviour. This is His work in you, and through you...

Our Mission

To Inspire

To inspire Seventh-day Adventists with a vision of their incredible potential for happiness and usefulness that God wishes to develop, and to inspire them to choose to submit to that development through a deep relationship with Jesus.

To Equip

To equip Seventh-day Adventists to be missionaries by providing an education that builds character, knowledge, and skills through practical faith building experiences.

To Serve

To serve their God and fellow men, to lead by example in serving church members and the general community, and to encourage others to join them in Christ's service.

To Save

To save anyone that will choose to be saved from the coming destruction by following Jesus! This is the mission that drives all Heavenly Beings and all of God's human servants – the restoration of fallen humanity.

Our Appeal

Eastward exists to help you make the most of your life and your opportunities. This means maximising all of the gifts, talents, intelligence and skills that God has given you, and utilising them for your joy and His glory. Eastward is about helping you become like Jesus.

God is calling you to experience restoration into His image, and to give this same message to others. Jesus said, "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest." Luke 10:2

Are you not one that is listening to His call? Will you go?

Central to your happiness is how you spend your time and energy. As a Christian living in the last days of earth's history you have no time to waste. Every moment counts, every move counts.

There is nothing more rewarding or exciting than seeing people accept Christ as their Saviour and embrace the truths of God's Word. Many Christians long to effectively witness for God, but they lack the training that will enable them to be successful.

"One worker who has been trained and educated for the work, who is controlled by the Spirit of Christ, will accomplish far more than ten labourers who go out deficient in knowledge, and weak in the faith. One who works in harmony with the counsel of God, and in unity with the brethren, will be more efficient to do good, than ten will be who do not realize the necessity of depending upon God, and of acting in harmony with the general plan of the work." Evangelism p.109

It is our prayerful hope that God will use Eastward Missionary College in a mighty way to help inspire and train you for His cause.

Our Philosophy

Trust in God's Promises

Success in anything, and indeed everything, depends upon God doing what He says He will do, and the human agent claiming His promises and clinging to them. Eastward is a faith experience that inspires you to take risks for God – after all He risked all for you in His Plan of Salvation.

Eastward's confidence and expectation is entirely built on His instruction and His promises. Note the following promises.

"Human expectations may fail, but there is no failure in the promises of God." (E.G. White Sermons and Talks Volume Two p.150)

"To everyone engaged in this work Christ says, I am at your right hand to help you. As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings." Christ's Object Lessons p.333

"We are to establish schools away from the cities, where the youth can learn to cultivate the soil, and thus help to make themselves and the school self-supporting... All the different lines of work that the situation of the place will warrant are to be brought in. Carpentering, blacksmithing, agriculture, the best way to make the most of what the earth produces – all these things are part of the education to be given to the youth." Letter 25 1902 p.8-9

"Many schools, large and small, are to be established in country places…" Letter 243, 1903

We believe Eastward will succeed because:

• God has ordained its existence
• God's promises are sure. Students and staff trust in God's promises
• Eastward follows God's educational blueprint
• Each aspect of the program is God ordained
• Staff and students have a spirit of willingness to do what it takes to make this project a success
• We know God will inspire others to use their expertise and means to strengthen this project

The Educational Blueprint

The founders of Eastward Missionary College were inspired by God's call to Seventh-day Adventists to "educate, educate, educate."

Heaven's educational principles and methods are outlined in the Holy Scriptures, where they can be traced through the education of Adam, Abraham, Moses, the Children of Israel, the prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul's teaching ministry, etc. These principles help every individual to maximise their happiness and fulfilment in this life, and prepare them for the life to come.

These principles and methods were expanded and explained in a dynamic way in the educational counsel given through Ellen G. White, and applied in her involvement with early Adventist education. We believe this counsel is timeless, and we strive to make every aspect of Eastward's program meet God's standard - educational best practice. Students educated according to this blueprint receive an experience ordained by God.

Supporting Ministry

Eastward is the first Australian self-supporting college to be an endorsed Supporting Ministry of the SDA Church. Our approach is unique in Australia, and gives us opportunities to supply educational programs to individuals and to churches in a totally complementary manner. We seek to emulate Madison College and other institutions that have had a positive impact on SDA mission by working closely with local Conferences and churches to provide training and outreach opportunities.

Environment

Eastward's small group classes in a rural setting provide exactly the environment God designed for the learning mind. Away from all distractions, students can focus on preparing for their lifework. And their active involvement in the agriculture program provides a practical grounding that can profoundly influence their future usefulness in every field.

Self-funding focus

Paul's tent making ministry leads us to inspire our students to develop skills and expertise needed to support themselves in ministry. As an institution we must lead them by example. While we appreciate gifts and donations towards our program, we are vitally interested that students train in useful labour and work together with staff to provide vital cash flow for the ongoing development of the college.

Work/study program

The work/study program enables students to achieve significantly better outcomes in all areas of their lives. The physical exercise facilitates study, the students retain more information, health and efficiency improves, practical usefulness and general knowledge is boosted.

As we develop our agriculture program and business units, we look forward to offering our students the opportunity to work to pay their tuition fees. This will be a great help to many students, and the practical training in a 'real world' environment will quickly help them to become effective workers on entering the field.

Trades Education

Eastward's plan to provide Adventist pre-vocational and vocation training is unique – there is currently no SDA institution that offers an alternative to TAFE. We are excited about this developing prospect, and believe this will become an important service in the near future. We have our first nationally accredited training subject already, and look forward to adding more as able. Please contact us if you are interested in this aspect of our work – especially if you can help us bring it to fruition.