“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”(1 Peter 4:10-11)

‘Beyond Ourselves’ is a missional initiative/program that exists to provide students (and staff) opportunities to practically live out the message of the Gospel and extend the love of Christ through acts of service in our world. We desire our students to be actively involved in something bigger than themselves, in which they can actually make a difference.

At SGCS we want our students to have an appreciation of how fortunate they are and to develop a desire to serve others, particularly those less fortunate than themselves. The Beyond Ourselves program gives students opportunities to help others by serving the local community and those further abroad. The Beyond Ourselves initiative is targeted at helping students to develop a Biblical framework and lifestyle to contribute to helping those in need.

We want to encourage and develop a culture of service and unselfishness within the SGCS community (students, staff & families) in order to reach out to the local and wider community in order to build God’s Kingdom, while also developing young missional Christian leaders who are focused on demonstrating and sharing their faith in practical ways in order to make a difference for the cause of Christ.

In 2008 the Beyond Ourselves student team focused on regular visits to a group of older people at the Rockdale Community Centre. The visits at regular intervals throughout the year involved a day of indoor games (such as bowls, coits, darts, cards) and craft activities. The students shared some songs, stories and the love of Christ (through personal testimony) with the elderly patrons over lunch, as many meaningful relationships were built. The Beyond Ourselves student team were also able to assist in fundraising for “Open Doors” organisation, and their commitment to supporting persecuted Christians around the world, by participating in the “Walk in Their Shoes” fundraising and awareness campaign.

In 2009 a team of 21 students and 5 staff visited Vanuatu, working with the CSL Mission Base located near Luganville on the Island of Santos. The 11 day mission program consisted of ministry, programs and practical help to local primary and high schools as well as children with disabilities. A medical team led by a school parent was able to provide basic treatment, first aid and hygiene education for families in the Luganville area. The teachers and students were able to bless each school with donated gifts and resources such as basic school supplies, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soccer boots and other sports equipment.

Also in 2009 the wider SGCS community worked together to raise over $65,000 to assist in the building of a new school/clinic facility for children with disabilities. In September of 2009 a building team, led by a school parent, travelled to Luganville to build the new facility. This facility aims to be a centre for education, with ongoing teaching of basic life skills and giving remedial treatment to children with disabilities, in order to give the children more opportunities for the future.

In 2010 the ‘Beyond Ourselves’ team also held a ’65 Roses’ awareness and fund raising event day for the Cystic Fibrosis foundation. One member of staff is the aunt of one of Australia’s oldest CF survivors. She brought her young son with her to Assembly to express her appreciation for the School’s support of the cause. The team auctioned roses, barbequed and sold sausage sandwiches, cakes and drinks and also sold 65 Roses merchandise. Over $1100 was raised on the day to go towards further research into cure development and treatment of Cystic Fibrosis.

After two successful years, we now have an annual event called V-Day when we raise awareness about the ongoing Vanuatu Mission Initiative and raise funds to buy new gifts, resources and supplies to assist children and families in less fortunate situations. V- Day is organised and run by a volunteer student Beyond Ourselves team and is a festival comprised of food and drink, games, activities, music, competitions and a Gospel focused message. We have raised over $5000 in the last two years.

After a successful fundraising Trivia and Auction night combined with many generous donating individuals and businesses, the 2010 Vanuatu Mission team managed to raise over $5000 to assist in the beginnings of a new school classroom at Ban Ban Primary School. The team of 18 students and 6 staff members were able to bless Ban Ban school with a gospel focused program of games, sports, drama, song, art and craft, as well as a variety of educational gifts and resources.  It is encouraging to now be developing an ongoing “sister” relationship with this school community. This was a successful, challenging, empowering and encouraging mission trip for all involved.

The future for SGCS mission adventures in 2011 (and beyond) is looking bright and exciting, as we desire to continue developing strong partnership relationships with CSL, Ban Ban School, and Frangipani School while also looking for new opportunities to reach out to the wider ni-van community on the Island of Santos. Our aim is to keep sending teams of students, staff (and parents) on annual mission trips to continue being generous with our resources, time, hands and hearts in order to meet the deep physical and spiritual needs of the community in Vanuatu. We will continue to go ‘beyond ourselves’ with the message of love, hope and salvation through Jesus Christ.