Hills Adventist College/Kellyville Church

Hills Adventist College and Kellyville Church in a joint venture with Greater Sydney Conference (GSC) have acquired new land in North Kellyville to establish a joint prep to year 12 school and church facilities. It is almost six years since the vision was proposed and the school, church, and GSC have been working together to overcome obstacles and turn their vision into reality.

In 2006, a five acre parcel of land on Fairway Drive Kellyville, zoned for educational use was purchased. They negotiated to purchase an adjoining five acres but when the Council informed the group that one acre from the attained property was needed for public roads they realised there were serious challenges ahead.

Originally the NSW Department of Education indicated they had no interest in the land purchased. Then late in 2007, the Department advised they had an interest in the Fairway Drive property and would compulsorily acquire it.

So it was back to the drawing board and a committee considered a variety of options. The Primary and High School experienced phenomenal growth, which added to the pressure of finding new land. There were no suitable properties on the market, until a park like property was discovered by Mr Rodney Long, a member of Kellyville Church who had been instrumental in the development of the project. “One Friday afternoon I was driving through the North Kellyville area thinking of the possibilities, the situation was concerning me and it was in desperation that I silently prayed for inspiration, direction … anything! On my way home, my attention was drawn to look at a beautiful parklike corner property. I hadn’t really noticed it before and it was in an ideal position.”

Mr Long then took the initiative and wrote to ten property owners in that area asking if they were interested in selling. Two days later, the owner of the ideal property called and scheduled a meeting; coincidentally he had conducted favourable business with Mr Long’s father many years before. In late April contracts were exchanged on two properties in the area, and the money that was tied up in the previous property was to be released from the Department of Education. The project can now be developed in line with the original vision, subject to the Gazettal of the land and appropriate development approvals. Later in the year, once the land is gazetted, there is the plan for the Conference Administration, together with church and school leadership to hold an information evening for interested church members to find out more details about the project and to be able to ask questions.

Principal Greg Hinze is encouraged by these recent events, “We believe this is a real God-given miracle for Hills Adventist College. Being able to conduct a major property acquisition with multiple owners whose properties weren’t even on the market in about two months is beyond our human comprehension. It must be God-inspired as it truly is a miracle.”

“Kellyville Church’s vision of having a mission school link with a church, on site, is slowly coming to reality. This joint project between Kellyville Church, the Conference and Hills Adventist College is exciting. Although we have encountered huge obstacles and barriers, we look back and clearly see God’s hand of providence, leading, guiding and blessing,” said Dr Alex Currie, Associate Pastor.

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