GRAHAM PRESTON
"I was raised in a New Zealand family, with four generations of teachers on Dad's side. Although Dad chose a different path of educational service, that legacy of teaching and guiding others left a deep imprint on my life. My Dad, though an accountant by training, was appointed head of the Education Department and carried the responsibility of overseeing the building of schools in the north island of New Zealand during the post-war boom. I often accompanied him not realising then how God was already shaping my own life and direction, preparing me for the path He had ordained, the very path I was born to walk.
"I loved my life, centered around cricket, rugby and most sport, enjoying the games, the camaraderie, and my friends. School on the other hand, was a nuisance where sometimes I barely passed exams, even after a second attempt. I was not academic, but I was a leader. When it came time to decide on a career path before finishing high school, I chose education. Early in my teacher training and due largely to my Father's influence, I was asked to go into a country service school the Education Department used as a model for trainee teachers, to observe classroom methods. I needed to lead and run the school and was happy I didn't have to do any assignments. My education was purely intuitive, natural, fun and I found I loved teaching.
"Whilst dating my future wife, she took me to a small church gathering and when I went up the front, ended up on the floor in response to the power of God's love. I gave my heart to the Lord, and later as a young married man began moving school areas as ambition led me. I wanted to succeed and get to the highest position as quickly as I could, cause that's where the money was!
"At the age of 22, I experienced, for the first time, what I felt was the voice of the Lord. The voice seemed to be audible and I turned around to see who was speaking. There was no one there, yet it said 'Graham your destiny lies in creating a Christ centered school'. I thought it was logical but didn't know what the difference between a church school and a Christ centered school was. Hearing the voice, I couldn't help but ask -why? God's answer came clearly. My calling was 'to develop Godly young leaders'. With my calling clear, my journey led me from school to school, church to church, planting churches where ever I went.
"At just 25, I was a young Principal of a Lake Rotoma school, Rotorua, in the middle of what is termed 'no man's land'. There was no church influence, fully Maori and ancestral land. I could not understand why the kids would not relate. I'd had no problem with discipline before, but their aggression and fighting was something else. It was like war games! I was there about 8 weeks and one day as I walked the perimeter praying, I stopped outside the school gates. Revealed to me were these two huge sentinels, principalities, soldier like, guarding the entrance at the school gates. On their head bands one had death and the other suicide. They glowered at me. I said 'I come against you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ my Saviour'. Nothing happened and they continued to glare at me. I loudly declared 'I come against you in the power of the blood of Jesus that was shed and He overcame you by the power of His blood'. They simply disappeared. Vanished. Instantly things changed and at school activities other local principals would comment on the noticeable improvement in the students and families. I knew my salvation experience was real, my calling was real and my place in education was timely and I could trust Him. I then learnt how to cleanse the classrooms and cast out darkness from houses. What a privilege and important lesson on how to exercise my authority in spiritual warfare. Little did I know, I would need this to take into my future calling.
"My aim was to be the principal of the biggest New Zealand school, drive a prestigious vehicle and get to the top of the tree. I was driven, ambitious but not egotistical or prideful. God made it clear He had other plans and spoke to me saying 'this is your time, I want you to step out and trust me'. There were many lessons I needed to learn on this journey and the Lord had to deal with my pride. I have always had a hunger to honour and worship Him, read and study His word, but I was not fully submitted.
"I sensed the Lord leading our family to settle in Tauranga, so I accepted a position at the Mount, where I was later appointed Acting Principal. I heard of a revival in a local church and went along hoping to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The same power had first filled my heart when I made a decision to follow the Lord at age 20. It was the Holy Spirit who touched me as I repented, and the Holy Spirit who has continued to teach me all I needed to know. Yet, through this Baptism something shifted. My understanding moved from one or two dimensions to 4 or 5 dimensions. It became a busy time as many were led to the Lord through the waters of Baptism and I was part of discipling them as they grew in faith.
"At 34, I asked the Lord to show me how to step out as He had told me. I placed a small ad in a newspaper inviting anyone who had an interest in a Christian school being developed, to meet me at an appointed time and place. I was elated when 47 people turned up. I shared my testimony and the vision God had given me. I asked for those interested to join with me every Monday night to pray first for the land, the money needed and how to proceed. God sent a message by way of the late Elinor Elder, then Deputy Mayor who became a regular at our meetings. She said God told her to come and speak these words 'God wants me to tell you, what you are doing is His call on your life and don't be afraid'. As our relationship developed she shared with me, that she was one of 5 sisters who had recently lost both parents. They had 340 acres around the Bethlehem area jointly owned by all sisters, and they agreed that 120 acres was reserved for the Lord. As a newly formed trust, we had to raise $1.2 million of which we currently had $47 but within one year we owned the acreage, freehold".
Revelation 12:11 "they triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony".
"When I first gave my heart to the Lord in 1968, I met Keith and the late Margaret Relf, while I was just beginning to date my wife, and that encounter grew into a treasured 50 year friendship. They bought a 7 acre camp ground in Pauanui and over many years, we ran it as a business, and later added a conference center. When I asked the Lord how I was going to get $1.2 million to buy the 120 acres of land in Bethlehem from the Elder sisters, He said to me 'the money is on the ground'. It took me a few months to realise the 7 acres at Pauanui was for this purpose and once sold, provided exactly the amount for the Bethlehem land. Our lifelong friends and partners were delighted to be involved in God's plan.
"Christian Education Trust (CET) was set up with Elinor Elder a founding member. To this day the Trust are still the guardians of the vision and own everything on the campus. I had the initiative to arrange the purchase of the land and get it going, so I was taken aback when asked if I would become Principal once built. I could see it needed a leader but I was a primary school teacher and not a secondary school scholar. My focus was still on simply building a school, but God's vision was far greater than mine. I felt comfortable with the idea of something small, never imagining the scope of what was to come. At first, I thought I could do it my way, yet the Lord had blessed me with a calm spirit and the ability to lead with both strategy and tact. Over time, I learned a far greater lesson, to seek Him first, hold fast to His plan, and trust Him fully.
"In 1988 I led the charge of the first, then second, then 3rd quick builds (3 day organised building effort from 6am till 6pm). 417 volunteers came on site and in the middle of the first build cyclone Bola arrived. It proved to us all that God can do anything even in the worst of our storms. We had 9 building teams, 3 electrical teams, a sound team, a landscaping team, a food team .... The completion of A block marked an important milestone, as 117 fee-paying students began their Christian education.
"Over that time I received a phone call from Professor James Miller, based in Illinois, USA. He said: 'You don’t know me, Graham, but I heard there was a crazy guy in New Zealand talking about building a Christian school, in a place called Bethlehem, on 120 acres of freehold land. I’m a Christian, and I give ten weeks a year to works I believe I’m meant to be part of. You can use my skill as an architect, though most of my forty-year career has been in campus design. God has told me to come to New Zealand. Would you receive me?' I picked up this tall, stately man from Auckland airport, and he stayed with us. Day after day we would breakfast together at 6am, and then he would disappear, not reappearing until dinner at 6pm. What was he doing? During his daylight hours he walked the land and in his words 'was seeking for the land to speak to him'. He kept drilling me: 'What is the vision, Graham? Talk to me about what is in your heart. Tell me exactly. What has the Lord said'?
"So many questions I had no answers for—but gradually I began to see more clearly what the Lord needed, wanted, and required. I told him the Lord said He wanted a Christ-centered school, but I began to believe it was more than that. It was to be a “cradle to grave” campus: a place that served families from the earliest years, and provided continuing education all on one site. I sensed the power was in the Word, and it must start and finish with Jesus. It must be Biblical, Christ-centered, calling children to be born again, fully educated, spiritually alert, alive, and open to the Lord.
"On the last day, Professor Miller asked to meet the Trust. Around the table sat accountants, lawyers, town planners, surveyors, educators, and intercessors. He introduced himself and said he had been involved in projects all over the world for over 35 years—but never had he seen anything so miraculous and impressive. Then he added, 'I don’t want you to blow it! This is God’s land, and you must let God speak to you'. We didn’t realize how deeply he grasped the vision. His vision was God’s vision. He even remarked, 'You placed the foundation for your A block before I was called, and you placed it exactly where I would have chosen!' He believed the land was sacred and so special that he gave his all to designing this campus “from cradle to grave.” He sensed the power and glory of God on that land—the expectation, the miracle. It became the delight of his life’s work, not because of size or architecture, but because it was from God. He was truly a gift from the Lord.
"The Lord built the school His way (not my way) and I was honoured and privileged to be a part of it. Yes, I lead the team for a number of years but as only God can do, now around 3,500 students receive a Christian education every day. It's all about what God can accomplish through each of us. He calls us to know our strengths and weaknesses, and to learn how to function as a team. He calls us to honour and submit to one another as unto the Lord.
"The story of this campus is about God's faithfulness, worked out through the hands and hearts of many. To every supporter, volunteer, and faithful servant who gave their time, energy and prayer, we thank you. You have been an essential part of building not just a school, but a community of faith. May the legacy of 'excellence through Christ' continue to shape lives for generations to come".
Proverbs 22:6 "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it".