Blue Cross a meaningful mission

Manning Valley Anglican College (MVAC) has a long history of fundraising for a variety of mission agencies such as Anglican Aid Abroad, the Anglican Board of Mission and Samaritans (the Newcastle Diocesan Anglicare entity). Mufti days entailing gold coin donations, selling pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and take-home mission money boxes are some of the ways in which MVAC has generated funds for mission.

MVAC has a deep sense of belonging within our local community. One of our local mission initiatives is that of Blue Cross Emergency Relief. The program is named for the neon blue cross at the top of the tower of the local Anglican Parish Church of Saint John the Divine and is run by local parish every Wednesday. Recently our Year 12 MVAC students not only raised money for Blue Cross Emergency Relief, but went shopping with the funds raised to purchase tinned goods, toiletries and non- perishable items to stock the parish pantry.

The students also helped by working in the local Anglican op shop, the Blue Cross Shop. The income generated by the Blue Cross Shop goes to the Blue Cross Emergency

Relief as well as to other parish ministries and national and international missionary endeavours. This initiative makes a direct difference to our local families in need. It is important for our students to connect to community and understand how their service contributes to our community outside the College grounds.

Manning Valley Anglican College enthusiastically engages in these ministries of care and mercy as a way of expressing obedience to Jesus’ command: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew chapter 25, verse 40).