Important details below
Update March 2025
Since our last communication in October 2024, we have had a number of contacts and discussions with both Christwood School in Chennai and Ida Scudder school in Vellore. Both schools are keen to partner with us in arranging GCSN Gatherings in their communities.
However, because:
We are reluctantly postponing both the Adult and Student Gatherings until 2026.
Some schools indicated to us that they had some hesitancy about being involved with Gatherings in India, particularly with regard to safety. A team of students, from Pacific Hills Christian School, along with a number of teachers/supervisors undertook a trip to India in December 2024. They visited a number of places including the two locations where we are planning for GCSN Gatherings to occur. They had a wonderful time and a very brief report is attached, which hopefully will provide some reassurance.
In 2026 spaces for both adult and students at the gatherings will be limited. Registration of interest will therefore be an early requirement.
We will communicate again within the next few weeks with more updates and seeking registration of interest.
Blessings – the GCSN Planning Group
Dr Ted Boyce Brian Cox Jens Geiger Judy Walker
A Group of students and Adults from The Pacific Group of Schools visited various place in India in December 2024.
Their experiences may encourage you as we plan for 2026
India is a wonderfully vibrant country and a popular destination for travellers.
We visited Bangalore, Vellore and Narasapur, and were hosted by local believers in each location. We found these locations to be largely safe, and we were encouraged by hospitable and welcoming people.
We visited a ministry caring for those addicted to alcohol and drugs, and another empowering single women by teaching sewing and craft skills enabling them to provide for their children and older family members.
We enjoyed time with Leprosy patients and children with HIV Aids at Bethesda Leprosy Hospital.
We were privileged to interact with young people, and teachers. Many of these students come from underprivileged backgrounds, their lives shaped by poverty, HIV and a lack of opportunity. Yet, their faces reflect the care and love they enjoy from staff at the Hostel and Leprosy Hospital, reminding us of Jesus words in Matthew 19:14-15:
“Let the children come to me, don’t stop them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these children. And He placed His hands on their heads and blessed them.”
Each member of the team had the opportunity to do as Jesus did, pray and bless those who had leprosy and HIV the ‘untouchables’ in Indian culture.
Holding a scarred and deformed hand of a leprosy patient bought some to tears as well as joy, as we witnessed students and adults being overwhelmed by compassion and love for those who rarely experience a compassionate hand holding theirs.
Our time in Vellore focussed on the Christian Medical College and hospitals. Our team was overwhelmed by the kindness, the unwavering faith and perseverance of the people we met. We witnessed first-hand how God is at work in India, and how over many years His people have faithfully served Him and fully relied on Him to provide for their needs. Time and time again we heard stories of their complete reliance on God to provide all their needs.
The Adult Gathering is to be held on October 21 – 28th, 2023. It is a 6 day event for Christian educators including leaders, mission coordinators and board governors of schools. The focus is to develop a deepening knowledge, and practice, of Christian education with an emphasis on redemptive engagement, mission and service.
The GCSN Planning Committee is committed to bringing you a Student Gathering that is God honouring and for His purpose.
Our hope is that young people would return to their own school communities equipped to encourage fellow students to have a heart for mission and service, and to engage redemptively wherever they may be.
The Student Gathering is a twelve-day program, which encourages students and their supervisors to exercise their gifts by serving in a variety of locally planned mission projects. The aim is to engage students in cross-cultural diversity and to reinforce a passion for service and mission.
The adult Gathering will take place in Vellore and have a substantial engagement with the Christian Medical College.
Spaces for adult attendees will be limited – registration of interest will therefore be an early requirement. We hope to provide major details with regard to accommodation, program and costings by the beginning of December.
The Student Gatherings will take place with one-week placements in each of the two locations. The two groups will changeover after the first week; thus, providing two significant experiences.