This year marks an amazing milestone – 25 years of SU QLD school chaplaincy in Queensland’s government schools.
It all started in 1990, when the first five SU QLD chaplains were appointed. Fast-forward 25 years, and we now have more than 600 chaplains working in over 800 schools.
Here’s a snippet of how our school chaplaincy journey started…
There are key characters in all great stories. And Keith Drinkall is just one character who authored the first chapter in the story of chaplaincy.
Keith’s life was altered when a shocking event occurred that would change his life and the course of SU QLD…“A young man from our church was killed in an accident. As a teacher, it made me think of my students and if they were to lose their lives prematurely,” says Keith.
At that moment, Keith decided he wanted to do anything he could to make a lasting difference in young people’s lives. “A week later I received a call from Jim Rawson (former SU QLD CEO) offering a position in schools work.”
“I decided to move from teaching to join the SU QLD Inter-School Christian Fellowship field in 1974. I had a dream to do Christian work in high schools, and I was given a month to explore if this was possible.”
With the Queensland Education Department’s approval, the program ‘Christian Option’ began in 36 schools.
“It became obvious, that with more than 160 Queensland high schools at the time, we would need more people and funds,” he says. “We received a large cheque from a local church involved in the program with a note saying ‘put chaplains in schools’. That was 27 years ago. I went to the department and asked if they would allow chaplains to operate in schools. We were approved, and in my time, we placed the first chaplains in 12 schools.”
Over the last 25 years, thousands and thousands of kids have received hope, and I think that’s pretty special.
It’s been incredible to watch how chaplaincy has been embraced by all government levels. But I think it’s important to remember that chaplaincy was dreamt up by local communities who saw a need for their kids to be supported. Before we started receiving much-needed government funding in 2006, everything was fundraised by community members. Chaplaincy exists to support the community, but it also relies on the community to operate.
No single person has made school chaplaincy possible – it’s been a whole team of people who have invested their lives into spreading hope to children and young people. By choosing to become a chaplain, or by volunteering on an LCC, you have ensured chaplaincy strengthens, year on year.
Thank you!
God bless,
Peter James