As we funnelled into our seats, an energy filled the air—an electric atmosphere surrounded us. This enthusiasm did not fade. The hours ahead were filled with lively worship, challenging messages, and heartfelt prayer.

Grant Bouchard, one of our Faith and Fellowship prefects, shared from the book of Colossians. The passage calls Christians to pray for opportunities to spread the message of the Gospel through love, grace, and kindness towards others. This became a key theme for the day as we learnt how to effectively reflect Jesus’ character to our non-believing friends.

The frequent worship sessions provided powerful moments of energetic praise between events, as well as opportunities for quiet reflection. A Cedar student who attended highlighted the worship as an “opportunity for everyone to be strong in their faith.” Another added, “It was clear the Holy Spirit was there, changing young people’s lives!”

Encouragement and Application

A key part of the Not Ashamed experience is the workshops. Each student selects one of five sessions designed to address the challenges we face when sharing the Gospel. Personally, I had the privilege of taking part in the Tackling Tricky Questions seminar, hosted by our School Pastor, Jeremy Wright. The workshop was filled with teaching, discussion, and practical applications, encouraging us to find the deeper meaning behind the difficult questions we are asked about our faith. Other seminars explored how to start Gospel conversations, collaborate with youth groups, the overflowing Gospel, and running a Youth Alpha program. After the workshops, we ended the day with a powerful time of prayer, lifting up each school as they prepared to return to their campuses.

Not Ashamed is an event unique to Cedar College that encourages students across South Australia to be bold in their faith. The impact on those who attend cannot be understated, and the transformation in our school communities is clear. A shift in attitude towards one another is evident as we embrace our relationships with teachers and peers with love and respect.

It is through the shared prayers of both staff and students that the impact of Not Ashamed continues beyond the annual workshops, shaping our everyday school lives.

Matthew Priest – Year 11 student