The elders and board members of the church, despite lacking experience in school governance, were eager to learn and establish a Christian school. They aimed to create an environment not only for their own children but as a witness to the wider community. Mavis’ enthusiasm was high until she saw the site for this new school: a cinder playground, a small classroom within the church complex with two doors, louvre windows, and a church phone. The portable classroom, while suitable for one class, was insufficient for the anticipated demand, which would require two teachers and two rooms. Despite these challenges, both Mavis and Steve believed Philippians 1:6, that God would not abandon what He had started, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” To accomplish this mammoth task, Mavis and Steve used all their skills and incorporated absolute trust in each other and God. Steve remembers “every role was mine until I could replace myself with someone better suited and God provided wonderful people at every turn.” Throughout November to January, the church and board worked diligently to prepare the school. They sourced old-fashioned desks, some with inkwells, from a school that no longer needed them and teachers’ desks from a bank refurbishment. Despite the missing necessities, they believed that God would provide, as promised in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” During this period, there were a number of challenges, one of them being opposition from Hornsby Council. Steve vividly remembers praying in the council car park before a critical meeting. “I still remember the day that council first approved this school – It was controversial. The town planner thought it was not a good place for a school. There were a few objections to it, so we went up to the meeting to find it had been, by God’s provision, wonderfully passed by delegated authority.” Then, on December 2, just prior to the school opening, Mavis’ father suddenly passed away. As an only child, she was responsible for caring for her mother, and therefore needed to relocate her from Bowral to a unit in Hornsby. The support from the school mothers and members of Berowra Baptist Church was invaluable during this difficult 42
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1