Nepal Christmas Gift Stall

Transform the Nations

On Tuesday 21 October and during our Follow the Star event in November, we held a Market Stall in partnership with Transform the Nations. Many families stopped by to browse a wonderful range of handmade items—perfect for Christmas gifts—with all felt products crafted in Nepal. Parents visited the stall before and after school, and students enjoyed dropping in throughout the day.

Across all our fundraisers over the past year—including sausage sizzles, premium-prized pizzas, Samaritan’s Purse Shoeboxes, Follow the Star and more—we raised over $10,000 to support the work being done in Nepal. Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped make this possible!

Prayers for our Nepal Mission Trip Team

During our Christmas Assembly, we commissioned our Nepal mission trip team, with Mr. Grant leading us in prayer for each participant as they prepared to travel to Nepal in January. Each student shared their passion and reasons for wanting to take part in this mission trip. Participants then had a student or staff partner lay hands on them and pray alongside them. We remain deeply grateful for the prayers offered for their physical, emotional, and spiritual safety.

The team consists of staff members Mrs Majella Amarasingham, Mr Joel Palmer, and Mrs Shellene Pillifeant, along with students Samuel Cheung, Hannah Connolly, Shenali Kalpage, Edha Karki, Danny Kim, Sera Oktanio, Annabelle Tay, Gloria Tay, and Jonathan Yun. We sincerely thank our school community for their support and prayers as the team embarks on this incredible opportunity to serve and learn.

Year 10 Arcare Visit

Sharing Christ’s Love Through Service

Our approach to Mission Service Learning continues to grow at St Andrews Christian College. Guided by the insights and wisdom of our school leaders, we are reminded that meaningful service requires humility, attentive listening, and a willingness to share our faith journey.

With this in mind, our Year 10 students recently visited Arcare Aged Care in Wantirna South to share the Christmas story of Christ’s birth and the message of salvation. One of our students, Annabelle Tay, wrote and directed a Christmas skit that was performed for the residents, revealing some remarkable and previously undiscovered acting talents among our students.

The celebration continued with the singing of traditional Christmas carols, accompanied by Sera Oktanio’s expert skills on the keyboard. A highlight of the visit was the Christmas trivia organised by Margaret Gear, which was enthusiastically embraced by both students and residents, creating a wonderful atmosphere of shared enjoyment.

Each resident and carer received a small gift prepared by our students, consisting of a St Andrews pen and notebook, along with a laminated Bible verse. Our students made us proud as they mingled with residents, engaging in meaningful conversations and offering prayer.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the homeroom teachers who have faithfully encouraged students to continue to pray for the residents during their homeroom devotions. This visit was a beautiful expression of Christ’s love and a testament to the power of service in building community.