Fellowship and Wellbeing
“They shall eat and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord their God.” — Joel 2:26
There has been a noticeable change around our College in recent weeks and it can sometimes be heard before it is seen!
The excitement, laughter and shrieks of delight coming from students as they discover the choices available on our new canteen menu have been wonderful
to witness. Something as simple as being able to choose a meal they enjoy, sit with their friends and have their hunger satisfied is making a genuine difference to the atmosphere across the school.
There is something important about not being “hangry”!
Students who are fed, comfortable and cared for are often more ready to learn,
cooperate, communicate and engage positively with those around them. The
canteen has become more than a place to purchase food. It has become a place of connection, conversation and community.
This reflects something we see throughout the ministry of Jesus.
Jesus regularly shared meals with people. He ate with His disciples, accepted invitations into people’s homes and welcomed those who were often overlooked by society.
For Jesus, sharing food was about much more than satisfying physical hunger. The table became a place where people experienced belonging.
This is consistent with the writings of Ellen White, who frequently emphasised the
importance of hospitality, thoughtful care for others and creating environments where people feel welcomed and valued. She recognised that our physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing are interconnected.
When we care for something as practical as a student’s hunger, we are also communicating something much bigger:
“You matter. We have thought about you. You are welcome here.”
That message can change the way a young person approaches the rest of their day.
The joy surrounding the new menu items reminds us that school wellbeing is not
always created through big programs or complicated initiatives. Sometimes it
happens through simple acts of care.
These moments contribute to a positive climate where students are more settled, more joyful and more willing to engage with others.
Perhaps that is part of the lesson Jesus gives us about community: hospitality
prepares people to connect. When people feel welcomed, cared for and valued, they are more ready to listen, participate, learn and contribute.
(Image: Adelaide Seventh-Day Adventist School (Prospect College) circa 1971)
