December 2011 – Eastward’s 8th Graduation Weekend
From the 9th to the 11th of December 2011, Eastward held its 8th graduation weekend and camp for the first time on the Eastward Property. The theme for this year’s graduation program was “Living out the Life” with our guest speaker Pr. Danny Milenkov. He had been the pastor of two of our local churches at Wauchope and Camden Haven, and regularly conducted evangelistic outreach programs for the local community.
The weekend commenced on Friday evening with vespers. Following a lovely song service, Pr. Danny shared a message about the cleansing of the leper found in Mark 1:35 - 45. Pr. Danny spoke about how this leper had heard of Jesus who had healed every disease and did not turn anyone away. As the leaper came to Him, Christ had compassion on him and healed him. Pr. Danny went on to say that we need to have the same compassion for others as Jesus did, which can only be obtained through spending time with God each morning, as was Jesus’ practice.
On Sabbath morning, Eastward conducted a praise and thanksgiving church program at the Wauchope Church. The program shared testimonies from our students and staff, describing how the Lord had led them throughout the year and what their experience at Eastward had done for their individual and family’s spiritual lives.
After lunch we attended the local nursing home to sing for the residents – a monthly Sabbath afternoon event we enjoy sharing with the Wauchope church folk. Then, when all the campers and day visitors returned to Eastward property, Rod Bailey shared the Eastward vision as they viewed the property together. As Sabbath closed, after a day full of blessings, we joined together in song, Scott Thomas-Tong shared some thoughts, and we watched a slideshow review of 2011 which finished the day’s activities.
Sunday morning broke out sunny, after cloudy weather on Friday and Sabbath - a perfect day for Eastward’s graduation service. The service started with the hymn “To God be the Glory” after which Rod reflected on the year. This brief glance was followed by a special video clip about the eight natural remedies involving the Eastward children, produced by Tina Krouse.
It was with great pleasure that the certificates were presented to the graduating students, with Rod and Desley Bailey then giving thanks to each of the volunteers who had made 2011 at Eastward a special year, offering each a gift of a paper yellow rose.
After a beautiful special item by the Krouse family, it was time for the graduation address. Pr. Danny, shared the story in John 4 when Jesus talking to a woman of Samaria and how our compassionate Saviour sought access to her heart by asking her for a drink of water. Although Jesus knew her past, He still offered her salvation. We all should seek opportunities to gain access people’s hearts in order to share with them the Water of Life, Pr. Danny encouraged. And just like Jesus had requested a drink of water, Pr. Danny illustrated how using natural remedies can act as an entering wedge to the hearts of humanity.
To close this special service, we sang a very appropriate hymn, “Seeking the Lost” after which Pr. Danny made an appeal for each one to go and offer the Water of Life to thirsting souls. Will you heed this call also?
Wojtek Janiuk
22 August 2011 - Solomon Islands Mission Report
For the past three years, Eastward has offered its students the wonderful and unique experience of a mission trip to the Solomon Islands. In July this year, a group of ten, students, staff and friends, returned to the village of Gounasu’u on the island of Malatia, where we lived with the people for three busy weeks.
Before we left Australia, we identified four main areas we wanted to share and work with these people. Steve and Rob were asked to lead out in a nightly evangelism series, based on the book Steps to Christ. Each night they would focus on the theme of one of the chapters in the book and explain it for the people. This was the perfect program for where the church was at the time. Many of the church’s young men were baptized last year and for them to be shown simply and plainly the steps to Jesus was a great blessing.
During the adults program at night, we conducted a kids program, which gave us an opportunity to really share Jesus with the children, as well as help the parents concentrate on the message without distraction. We found that the time and great effort involved with putting the programs together was definitely worth it. Teaching lessons and even just telling stories was very difficult with the language barrier, so instead we just tried to be their friend and show them about Jesus. It was so rewarding at the end of the programs to hear them singing the songs we had taught. We had known that we had won their friendship and confidence when, every time we left our house, they would flock around us.
The houses are all raised on stilts, which provides the village undercover meeting and storage areas. For us the area became the perfect hydrotherapy and natural remedies training centre. Often you would find either Josh or Jonathan giving someone a treatment, such as a fomentation on Moses, a hot foot-bath for one of the kids or a sweet-potato poultice on Chief Lenty. Every treatment provided opportunity for friendships and further work. One of Josh’s first patients was from another village and as a result of his treatment, Josh and Tina were invited to his village, where they spent a day teaching a few natural remedies and hydrotherapy treatments that they could perform on each other.
Betty and Kesia made a conscious effort to befriend the ladies and minister to some of their needs. One of the services they offered was Kesia’s massages. At first the women were shy and self-conscious, but soon Kesia was running around giving massages, one moment at one woman’s house and another the next. Betty and Kesia were also able to assist some of the ladies with meal planning for their families to help them eat a more balanced and nutritious diet.
While in Gounasu’u we were privileged to meet a very special man named Joseph. He was from the village of Foibyeta, four hours walk from Gounasu’u. Joseph is a lay worker giving Bible studies and using his 6 months medical training to minister to the people’s physical needs as well as their spiritual. Joseph is also a father with five young children to provide for. His main struggle at the moment is paying for his children’s school fees, to the point that because he is so far behind with his payments, his children have actually been expelled.
Because he has no income, Joseph has to leave his mission field and spend some time working on his uncle’s boat when situations like this happen. So while we were nearby, Joseph came and told us that he was going off to work. One could tell he was disappointed to leave because he was having Bible studies with quite a group of people.
When he returned, Joseph again set about visiting his Bible study contacts. One Sunday morning, he caught up with one SSEC (South Sea Evangelical Church) man just as he was going off to his garden with his bush knife. “Why are you going to your garden on your Sabbath?” Joseph asked him. The man replied, “I am a Seven Day now. Yesterday was my Sabbath.” This man then brought 20 of his family with him into the church. Praise God!
There is a great work happening in the Solomons and we were blessed to have been part of it. God has given us a marvellous opportunity to be a blessing to our brothers and sisters in Gounasu’u, Honiara, Atoifi, Na’au, Abitona, Wyforlonga and the other villages. He gave us this time to grow closer to each other as a team through trials and triumph. But most of all, I think He has drawn each of us closer to Him as the One who is the Ruler of all the Earth and all the ways of men and angels. Glory be to God!
Kate Bailey
6th March 2011 - Commencement of Eastward’s 2011 Training
Today saw the beginning of Eastward’s first semester, with an Eastward family meal, shared with our 5 new students from VIC, NSW, and QLD. It was a great opportunity to meet the new students and start the year with a family spirit. After the meal, some of the new students played with the Eastward’s children, creating a family atmosphere from very start, while the rest of us socialised together.
Following this pleasant time, Rod Bailey, Education Director, welcomed the new students to the one month Introduction to Health and Bible Worker Course and commented that the whole Eastward family will continue to pray for them everyday. Each student was given the opportunity to introduce themselves, and how the Lord had led them to Eastward.
Tomorrow another student will join the group when classes begin with the subjects Step to Christ, the Culture of Eastward, and Bible and Spirit of Prophecy Interpretation. Please pray for Joshua, Jonathan, Kesia, Jia, Kay, and Tina, their teachers and the rest of the Eastward Family, as the students learn to minister to lost souls in their local community, as the Lord continues to lead them in His vineyard.
Wojtek Janiuk
30th November 2010 – Eastward's Seventh Graduation Weekend
From the 26th to 28th of November 2010 was our 2010 Graduation Weekend. The theme for the weekend was: "Be Christ Hands in Reaching the World" which saw 23 students receive their graduation certificates, this being the largest group of students to graduate at one time in Eastward's history.
Our guest speaker for the Graduation Weekend, was Pr. Gary Webster, Ministerial Secretary of the South Pacific Division. Gary's messages covered Friday night Vespers, Sabbath morning Divine Service at Wauchope Church, and the Sunday morning Graduation address. His messages were challenging for all.
Sabbath afternoon at Wauchope Church, the students and staff shared their experiences from their recent mission trips. Each team gave an visual presentation of their trip. One group revisited the Solomon Islands, while the second group undertook maintenance work at Shalem Health Retreat, WA as well as community outreach in the area. The reports were very inspiring of how the Lord is at work and highlighted the need for workers in 3rd world countries as well as here at home.
After this very informative afternoon, we all gathered at the Eastward Property for an evening meal of soup and buns after which Darren Vaotuua, led out in a closing Sabbath worship. To end this wonderful day there was a bonfire providing time for fellowship for young and old.
At the Graduation ceremony on Sunday morning, it was special to hear some of the students giving their testimonies of how the Lord has changed their lives while being students at Eastward. Also, we reviewed the many blessings the Lord has bestowed upon Eastward this year.
To end this beautiful weekend together, we all had a luncheon with the students, accompanied by a special graduation cake made for the students by the cook, Christie Higgins. It was a great weekend.
2010 Graduates
Health and Bible Worker Certificate
- Betty Gibson (Taree)
- Daniel Watts (Casino)
- Eden Kim (Korea)
- Elysia Sawyer (Manjimup, WA)
- George Kelu (Portland)
- James Cowan (Taree)
- Jessica Bevan (Casino)
- Kelvin Sawyer (Manjimup, WA)
- Kimberley Kelu (Portland)
- Melissa Markey (Goonellabah)
- Rob Johnson (Canada)
- Scott Thomas – Tong (Padbury, WA)
- Steven Krouse (Maroon, QLD)
- Tanay Parsons (Wauchope)
- Tess Lambert (Gherang, VIC)
Cert. IV Presenting Community Health Education Programs
- Amy Aitken (Wahroonga)
- Betty Gibson (Taree)
- Daniel Watts (Casino)
- David Brown (Wauchope)
- Elysia Sawyer (Manjimup, WA)
- George Kelu (Portland)
- James Cowan (Taree)
- Jamiel Begg (Grose Vale)
- Jessica Bevan (Casino)
- Kelvin Sawyer (Manjimup, WA)
- Kimberley Kelu (Portland)
- Melissa Markey (Goonellabah)
- Michael Watts (Casino)
- Nathan Lancaster (Telegraph Point)
- Nicole Sawyer (Manjimup, WA)
- Paul Bennetts (Telegraph Point)
- Rob Johnson (Canada)
- Scott Thomas – Tong (Padbury, WA)
- Steven Krouse (Maroon, QLD)
- Tanay Parsons (Wauchope)
- Tanya Thomas – Tong (Padbury, WA)
- Tess Lambert (Gherang, VIC)
Wojtek Janiuk
5th July 2010 - Road Update
Many of you are aware of the road building project that is currently underway, and almost completed. What a significant difference it has made to have roads throughout! It has really opened up the property, and created greater potential at various sites. As well as the roads, we are doing the earthworks for the college site, the health retreat site, two house sites, and a 10x30m industrial shed site.
Many people have been involved in this project. You will remember that we have been blessed with the free use of road building machinery from a local Port Macquarie family. We have had one full-time volunteer truck/excavator driver on the project from the very start (a huge thank you Alex for that) working with the professional team of road builders. Special thanks also to Mick Avery our grader driver, who shows such dedication to a top quality finish.
Your contributions have also helped us greatly, towards the expenses we do have to pay, these being fuel and the wages of the grader driver, and an excavator operator. It has also been a grand opportunity for some of our students to be given experience on the dump truck and the roller. Even I had a bit of fun on the roller! These opportunities sometimes come once in a lifetime, so praise God for His leading in this project, and also in particular for the blessing of a unique educational experience for the students that are with Eastward during its developmental stage.
Paul Pannekoek
27th June 2010 - Certificate Update
Our 15 students who are completing the Health and Bible Worker Certificate are now well into their studies. Over the past two months, we have been privileged to have several guest speakers who have enriched the students' learning experiences because of their knowledge and expertise These have included Don Miller from USA, Johnny Wong from Gateway Melbourne, Bronwyn Mison and Dr Allan Lindsay.
The students have been going door to door weekly, as well as participating in Health Expos, cooking demonstrations, Sabbath Schools lessons and sermons in local churches in the Hastings District. As part of their work program, they have been busy working in the garden as well as helping out with road development. The Eastward family has been having a blessed and busy time!
Wojtek Janiuk
19th May 2010 - A Graduate Testimonial
Eastward Missionary College was the start of my "Christian experience." I was baptized three months before I started my Bible Worker training, and though I thought I was converted and walking with the Lord, I was a real spiritual babe. I praise God for patient teachers!
My learning experience at Eastward was revolutionary, and has shaped my philosophies for life. The well rounded course structure connected character development with health and spiritual growth, and called me to make some serious and essential decisions in all of these areas.
I really loved the learning style at Eastward, one that is "altogether different" from that of the education centers of the world, and one that sets Eastward apart. Here I learnt how little I knew, but then I learned how to learn. The training has indeed equipped me to be a soul winner by God's grace, plus I have been inspired and started on a lifelong process of education.
Another significant aspect was the Eastward family. The students, teachers and staff interacted in a very special way as we worked, prayed and studied together, and lasting and significant relationships were formed. I look forward to working with my Eastward family in the future!
I am now working for my local church as a Bible Worker, and seeing powerful results from the combination of the health message with that of the gospel... especially when door knocking! This is ultimately what Eastward taught me: "To reach the people, wherever they are, and whatever their position or condition, and to help them in every way possible - this is true ministry. By such effort you may win hearts and open a door of access to perishing souls." Ministry of Healing p.156
David Brown
28th April 2010 - Health Expo at Wauchope Show NSW
The rural town of Wauchope recently celebrated its 100th annual regional show and Eastward Missionary College were on hand (on behalf of the Wauchope Church), to run a Health EXPO based on the 8 laws of health, to bring health awareness to the people as they passed through the showground.
Seventeen students and a couple of past students and teachers were on duty to take approx 40-50 people through the free health assessments dealing with body fat %, weight, water %, lung peak flow, the Harvard Step Tests for cardiovascular health, and Your Health Age assessment. Lifestyle counselling followed, which included an invitation to Wauchope Church's monthly health programs, and 24 of these folk signed up for follow up programs.
One family that visited the Health EXPO also visited the Wauchope church the next day.
Catherine Howe (Wauchope Church, Communication Secretary)