canowindra centre

the dean

Jon Giger

Back in 1987 an up-and-coming young DJ from Cooma sat on the verge of Christianity, with a sense that he ought to do something about it, yet at the same time wondering whether the church had any relevance to society. There he met a Cornerstone team and for the first time saw and was captivated by a Christianity that was real.

As a result of this, I made my way to the back-o-Bourke where I did my first year in '88 followed by three years on mission teams in Hay and Newcastle. It was a privilege to be in a position where I met other people like myself who had known something of God but not ever been discipled to make that relationship an integrated part of their lives.

I found the mission teams highly effective. It is certainly true that you can represent Christ wherever you are. I came to learn that the accountability and support of a team of people on the same missional adventure increases the effectiveness many-fold.

In Newcastle I embarked on a Bachelor of Education in Maths at Newcastle Uni. During the 3rd year of this I received both the Griffith Duncan award for Education and the Colin Doyle award for Maths. Not long after receiving these, the head of the Education faculty invited me to his office to discuss future options with the university. At that point, I had the option of adopting the life of an academic: high esteem, good pay and a fancy hat to boot. I decided at that point that my life would count for something much more important and real ‘though harder than university academia. A life of discipling people, not just teaching them: helping them to grow not just in mind, but in all aspects of their being closer to Christ. What higher calling could there be?

Having tried other mission organisations, I found myself drawn back to Cornerstone, where my wife and I did the Cornerstone leadership course and became staff in 2000. Whilst at Canowindra Cornerstone, I have done further study through ACOM and been able to apply this in the discipling context.

Over the past 8 years here, I have seen over 100 people discipled at this centre. When I look back, I know that these people have not just been students that have come and gone but rather people, with whom we have shared deeply and intimately. I see a group of people, who for the most part, are making the kingdom of God a reality in their own lives and in the lives of those around them. I am convinced that I would rather have been involved with these 100 people whose lives have become an expression of the Kingdom of God and who are genuinely representing Christ to those around them, than being involved in leading a group of 10000 who live 'ordinary' lives.