Going from high school to university can be a daunting prospect, especially for those moving away from home to study. The Kew Student Residence provides fully catered accommodation to students coming to Melbourne to study. Most of them are from rural Victoria, with some from interstate or overseas. Living at the res helps them to adjust to city life and provides an enjoyable and welcoming community.
It was inspired by Reverend Arthur Wilkins and the Kew Baptist church who aimed to provide a “Christian home for young people." It was originally known as the Kew Baptist Youth Hostel located in the Moore Potter House in Canterbury. It was moved to Kew in 1963 to be closer to the church. There are around 50 students each year, with a balance between Christians and non-Christians. Their various courses include midwifery, science, engineering and creative writing.
The Res speaks into the next generation of Christians whilst they are in a formative and challenging time in their lives. For many, moving away from home and beginning university, it is a time when they start to question what they believe and what they are going to do with their lives. The Res provides a positive Christian environment for people to learn about Jesus and develop their faith, as well as being closely connected to the Kew Baptist church. Living at the res is also a lot of fun, with many late-night card games, movies, video game sessions or pranks (in good faith). During one of my visits I soon found myself amid a water fight, as people tried to drench each other with buckets of water!
Andrew Spence, a former ressie, stayed at the res whilst studying science at the University of Melbourne. He described res life as “fun and really supportive.” Lots of activities happened spontaneously like soccer matches, board games, and movie nights. The downside was that he struggled to find time to study amidst all the action! He also noted that living in a Christian community and being so close to church was “invaluable for my faith.” Both the res and church were “great environments for me to work out my faith for myself and to learn how to live for God.”
The current managers are Steve and Anouchka Chatelier. Steve noted that being a manager is “varied, challenging and rewarding and reasonably unique." Duties vary from "marketing to unclogging toilets to liaising with contractors to leading volunteers, financial things, pastoral care.” The role also involves forming deep relationships with the residents under their care. A lot of time is spent hanging out with people and talking with them, which Steve described as "a real privilege to be intimately involved in people's lives.” Steve noted that being a manager involves learning how to cater to a variety of needs and "how to provide a Christian home for an atheist, a Buddhist [and] for Christians of different persuasions.” This involves understanding "the different ways to communicate God's love in word and deed to different people.” The res students are also supported by people in the flat and in the house, located between the residence and church. They provide pastoral care and try to be a bridge of sorts between the residence and the church. Simon, one of the current house residents, said it has “been nice to get to know a big bunch of new people” and he feels it is a “privilege to help them in the journey."
Nicholas Tuohy, Senior Pastor of Kew Baptist Church, said that the Student Residence is a “vital part our ministry.” The key he noted was “being hospitable and making pathways for students to connect with others in exploring faith. We are very fortunate to have a great bunch of young adults who genuinely want to serve Jesus, several of whom are involved each year in welcoming the “Ressies” and sharing life and faith with them. By God’s grace we have seen many young people come to faith, or come to their own faith, which is wonderful.”
Over the many decades since the Res’ establishment, it has housed over 1000 students, creating an amazing legacy. Many of the Res alumni stay around and continue attending Kew Baptist. It is known as “a place where lifelong friendships are forged.” Steve described it more as a community than mere housing, even as a big family. Some residents come in as sceptics or nominal Christians, but become committed Christians through their experience of a loving and fun Christian community. As well as benefiting the students, the res enriches the broader church community and “provides a rich and exciting rhythm to our year,” as Nicholas noted. In an age where young people are being disconnected and less interested in church, Kew has a vibrant and thriving youth demographic. That is largely thanks to the many decades of service that the Kew Student Residence has provided.
For more information see: http://kewstudentresidence.com.au
By Benjamin Cronshaw
Credit to Brendan and Simon for the photos.
Source: BUV News