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This is Ministry: ASDAH Profile Story - Blessed With Peace

Posted on Feb 08, 2010

What would you do to make God a priority in your life?

The last year of schooling can be a very challenging time for any student. Very few young people choose to add stress to this process by changing schools for their very final year. But in 2009, Year 13 student Rhys Suaalii did just that. Wanting some extra help in his spiritual walk, Rhys decided to make ASDAH his school of choice.

Rhys quickly noticed a "massive change of atmosphere" from his previous public school. "It was such a help to me spiritually to have friends and staff around me who shared the same beliefs," he noted. Rhys threw himself into the academic, spiritual, sporting and social endeavours of ASDAH, quickly becoming a much appreciated force in the classroom, chapel, sports field, and playground.

By midyear, Rhys was ready to get baptised in his local church. He had been thinking about getting baptised for a few years but had kept putting off the decision because of a few problems in his life which had not been "sorted out". But now he had seen God tackle some of these problems and he felt ready to let God fully take over his life. The reaction from his friends overwhelmed him. "Everyone was really happy and supportive," he said, "and they all came to hug me!" He also shared that some people told him "it's about time" and how he should have done it earlier. "But they weren't aware of my problems," he added, "and I was only ready to have God in my life now".

Since getting baptised in September, he says his spiritual journey with God has continued to be really great. He also noted the incredible blessings that God has poured out on his family; "the problems in my family seemed really big before, but now the problems seem really small and I feel like God has blessed my family with peace". He also added that his Father has started attending church since his baptism and how awesome it is to have his whole family at church.

Rhys is planning to attend AUT this year and study a Bachelor of Sports and Recreation. He is aiming to major in management and would like to become a PE teacher. He shared a final dream; "I would love to return to ASDAH one day as a PE teacher". The school that served him for one year is now a place in which he would love to serve. Rhys' desire to move closer to God, and willingness to make choices to support this goal, has certainly opened up many blessings.

The work of our School Chaplains (including the ministry of Pastor Dyason Kuresa) and our current School Chaplain Pastor Lance Boulton has been crucial in supporting students making decisions for Jesus. In 2006, 7 young people were baptised, and again in 2007, a further 7 baptisms were conducted in the school and finally in 2008 a group of 5 young people gave their hearts to Jesus - a total of 19 baptised.

May we all also experience God's richest blessings as we learn to walk with Him more and more each day.

Fitu Ah-Young, Principal, Auckland Seventh-day Adventist High School