Our Story
Eastwest College was established by WEC Aotearoa New Zealand in 1996 specifically for the purpose of training Christians for cross-cultural service. The ground on which the college is built was donated by a local Christian farmer. It has grown to its present size as the college staff and its supporters have trusted the Lord without appealing for funds.
Potato paddock into a thriving missions’ college! How? read on...
Over the past 27 years, God has turned a potato paddock into a thriving international missions’ college, completely free of all debt, with graduates serving across cultures in countries right around the world. The prayers of faithful supporters, the generosity of donors, the labour of volunteers, the ministry of professional teaching staff who have poured their time and energy into lecturing, the support staff who provide the needed infrastructure that assists students and staff-this has been the testimony of just one way In which God has taken ordinary people with their gifts and skills to serve the world.
A Gordonton farmer donated 33 acres (approx. 13 hectares), an elderly lady sent a cheque for $10, and in July 199%, 4 brave students enrolled in a college that wasn't even there. The only buildings onsite were a small re-located weatherboard library which was later to become staff offices and is now a small gym and just one staff house. The small team had a huge vision and so lectures were held, free of any rental, in the local Gordonton Presbyterian Church (now Oaks Christian Centre). By the second year, the roll had more than doubled to 12 students and has progressed ever since.
In 2001 when the college had grown to a dining room, 2 accommodation blocks and 4 staff houses. one supporter donated for a chapel to be built. The college currently consists of 6 purpose- -built accommodation blocks and 7 staff residences, as well as modern administrative, catering and library amenities. We are especially proud of Rainbows, a quality Early Childhood centre that serves families across the wider Gordonton community.
As student numbers grew, so did staff numbers. There has never been a shortage of staff despite staff members drawing no salary and living “by faith".
But of course, God's miracle is not only about bricks and mortar but about the effect the college has had on people's lives around the world. There are many books and resources about living and working in multi-cultural groups and communities, but these are no substitute for actually living it day to day, sharing classes, work and meals together. Eastwest College is a multi-cultural community which lives, works, studies and prays together.
Over the years, students from New Zealand have been joined in their studies by people from all around the world. such a mix of nationalities yet it is a place to understand our own worldview and appreciate the perspective of others.
27 years of graduations have witnessed students move to over 50 countries on every continent (except Antarctica!) in a wide range of professions and fields. In many countries in the developing world, a graduate from Eastwest College can be found.
When Eastwest started up a low-powered radio broadcast to give the students radio training experience, the frequency we were assigned was 107.3 FM. This made us pause to look at Psalm 107.3 in the Bible. It says, "...those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south". A fitting word for us as Eastwest, situated in rural Waikato, is a place of gathering from the four winds (ngã hau e whã) and then a scattering to serve and to bless the four corners of the globe.
Ko te ringa me te aroha o te Atua to tatou waka! The hand and the love of God is our waka!
