Mr Graham Preston was the founding principal of Bethlehem College.
He had for many years dreamed of establishing a Christian School in the Tauranga area. In November 1985, Graham called a public meeting to ascertain support for the establishment of a Christian school and the following year the Bay of Plenty Christian Education Trust was formed.
Amalgamation with the Immanuel Trust of Auckland, who owned The Glade Motor Camp and Immamuel Conference Centre in Pauanui, and the sale of the Pauanui property enabled the new Trust to buy the school property freehold. We are all indebted to a group of Christian men and women who over a number of years sacrificed to build up the Pauanui Trust. The school property was purchased in 1987 and plans were immediately made to begin building.
In March 1988, some 400 volunteers converged on Elder Lane to co-operate together in a well-planned ‘Quickbuild’ that resulted in the building of ‘A’ block in 3 days.
Cyclone Bola, which caused so much devastation around the country, arrived at the same time so the conditions were less than ideal – very wet and muddy underfoot – but with an atmosphere of tremendous purpose and comradeship the building was finished by early on the Sunday morning which dawned with sunshine and blue sky and very tired but satisfied people. In the afternoon a time of praise and thanksgiving which was meant to be held outside the building was held in the new classroom as the rain decided to come down in torrents just as the celebration was to begin, but praise God we did anyway!!!
From small beginnings the school has grown to over 2000 students and the Trust have added in a number of other educational entities, accompanied by growing infrastructure and resources to aid in the delivery of biblically based, Christ-centered education from early childhood to tertiary level.
Keith and Margaret Relf.
Immanuel Trust founders
Christian Education Trust members
Bethlehem College benefactors.
Years of support: 1974-2020.
Keith and Margaret’s involvement with Bethlehem College and the Christian Education Trust began in 1974. It started with a relationship that developed with Graham & Vicky Preston, at Remuera Baptist Church. Graham was already carrying the dream of a Christian College. Recently married and living on the King’s School Campus on Remuera Road, he started attending the Baptist Church and Keith became his ‘spiritual’ father and mentor. With Vicky, he attended Keith and Margaret‘s home group for many years and joined in Christian programmes such as Promise Keepers, the Jesus Movement, and programmes that supported the Jewish people. Keith’s love for Israel was legendary.
Keith transformed himself from being a printer to an inventor and businessman. Keith was the first person in the world, I believe, to develop a fitting capable of mixing hot and cold water together in a controlled fashion. His ‘Fenton Shower Mixer’ started the ‘shower movement’ helping the planet by saving litres of water needed for each bath or shower. He prospered and his generous nature blossomed as he was able to release funds for many projects in Israel. Keith’s mother was Jewish, and although not practising, the ‘DNA’ was passed on and became stronger as Keith and Margaret matured in the Lord and their understanding of God’s heart and purpose for Israel.
Keith would say to Graham “forget NOT the ‘ancient path’ and don’t depart from it!’ The ancient path, of course, is the commands of the Lord in both the Old & the New Testaments. – Words of LIFE and Blessing.
Keith taught Graham to understand the OT so he could better understand the concepts that Jesus taught. Graham acknowledges that he is indebted to Keith’s love and father-heart.
While Graham was carrying his vision for a Christian College, Keith was used by the Lord to make a way for that to happen. Out of their long friendship the ‘dream’ grew. Margaret insisted that Keith purchase ‘The Glade Motor Camp’ on 7 acres of pine forest in Pauanui. The Immanuel Trust was formed with the objectives of supporting Israel and developing Christian Schools. After approximately 15 years, ‘The Glade’ was sold and the proceeds allowed the purchase of 120 acres of prime dairy farming land in Bethlehem. This is the land on which Bethlehem College now stands. Keith and Margaret were the settlers of the property, so without their vision, drive and foresight, the College would not have happened. In 1987, the CET now owning a freehold property, were able to develop a business case which Westpac could accept. The ‘quickbuild’ took place in April 1988 and on July 11th 1988 Bethlehem College opened as a Christian College. Some of the original Immanuel Trust trustees accepted a role in the newly formed Christian Education Trust.
A key part in the merging of the objectives of both Trusts’ lay in the enshrining in the College curriculum of the ‘Love for God’s Word’ and ‘the importance of Israel to Christianity’. This latter part was reflected in the College crest which places the ‘menorah’ in the bottom left quadrant of the shield. The Bible was to form the basis of the college’s educational philosophy and the students would understand God ‘s heart for Israel and would develop a prayerful and supportive stance towards the Holy Land, it’s people and for God’s purposes and its future.
The relationships between the Relf family and the Preston family continued for over 50 years. Both Keith & Margaret passed into ‘Glory’ in 2020 within a short period of each other. Vicky and Graham now live in the home Keith and Margaret built which overlooks Preston Park. Their memory will NOT be forgotten! For 35 years they supported and worked towards the establishment and expansion of the Bethlehem Campus. The fruits of their work can be seen by the successful ongoing graduation of students from the college!
Keith was a student all his life and he spent hours studying the Bible on his laptop or Apple computer with all the ‘Aps’ that allowed him to quickly cross reference and doublecheck everything. It had to be true and right!! Keith was an author who wrote books, detailed letters and long and comprehensive treaties on all sorts of things! Some ideas were ‘out of left field’. Nevertheless, they were always well-researched and well-written as he made his case.
We must not forget this man and this woman of faith – Keith with his Moses-like appearance and Margaret ‘the lady of the manor’, who had such a gentle, caring heart linked to a gift of hospitality.
They released their sons John and David to serve in the land of Israel as teenagers and become Israeli. We must not forget his generosity which allowed a vision that was far too bold for ‘man to fulfil’ to be birthed? By 2024 this land is only 20% used but contains buildings and facilities which have allowed over 3500 primary, secondary and tertiary students over the years to receive a quality Biblical and Christ-centred education and where Israel is prayed for and the Israeli flag flies constantly in the College centrum. Daily some 1800 primary and secondary students plus over a hundred tertiary students are in site. We are now education children of past students as the 2nd and 3rd generations take their place and what a joy to have the grandchildren of Keith and Margaret now on campus. We look forward to them all making their mark in the future.