Planted with Purpose, Growing by Grace, a Flourishing Future
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the CEN National Conference. Channel Christian School, through Christian Schools Tasmania (CST), is part of a broader organisation known as Christian Education National (CEN). CEN is a national, member-based network committed to a shared responsibility for the future of Christian education in Australia. Its member schools represent over 25,000 students from families across the country who have chosen to partner with their Christian school communities. CEN supports schools with governance, leadership, learning, and advisory services, helping them remain faithful to Christ while responding effectively to a changing world.
This year, we also celebrated CEN’s 60th anniversary. The movement began right here in Kingston, when families from Calvin Christian School established what was then known as the Parent Controlled Schools movement, a significant and encouraging reminder of our local heritage.
The theme of the conference was “Planted with purpose, growing by grace, a flourishing future.” It reflected both gratitude for the past and a shared vision for what lies ahead. As we listened to and shared stories, we were reminded that the story of Christian schooling ultimately belongs to God. It is a story of faithfulness across generations—marked by sacrifice, courage, conviction, and God’s evident grace.
One question posed during the conference was: What captures your imagination? In the book Becoming by Beholding, Lanta Davis suggests that we become what we behold. We are shaped by what captures our attention—the stories we embrace, the images we consume, and the people we admire.
May our imagination be captured by God’s faithfulness to His people throughout generations, as revealed in Scripture and reflected in the story of CEN. What a privilege it is to serve one another on these strong Biblically grounded foundations within our community. What hope we have to confidently know we have a flourishing future as our God is sovereign over all things.
Margaret Louw – Principal
