This year, we have the joy of celebrating the remarkable journey of our 2025 Headspace cohort, a group of young women who embraced challenge, community, learning, and cross-cultural mission with courage and humility.
Headspace, run by GC3, is designed to shape young adults for a lifetime of mission through spiritual formation, practical learning, and stretching experiences. This year’s graduates, Hayley Spencer (Bryndwr/Waikari), Isabella (Rosedale), Lizzie (Crossroads), and Sarah (Crossroads), demonstrated grit, growth, and deep reliance on God during one of the most transformational years of their lives.
A year marked by growth, challenge, and transformation
Across the year, each student engaged with Scripture, community living, ministry skill-building, and reflective practice. A central highlight was their eight-week cross-cultural mission placement in Cambodia, where they were supported by Christa and Tony, Carolyn and myself, and the team at Flame Cambodia.
The Flame staff were incredible in providing day-to-day support, cultural insight, and meaningful ministry opportunities. They spoke highly of the team’s attitude, adaptability, and willingness to serve.
Debriefing, reflecting and finishing well
The final three weeks of the programme focused on gathering the year’s learnings, spiritually, emotionally, and practically. Christa and I had the privilege of leading this time of debriefing, encouragement, and celebration, culminating in a simple but meaningful graduation on Saturday 8 November. It was a day filled with gratitude, stories, and shared meals as we honoured the journey each student had taken.
The students’ voices tell the story best
One graduate captured the heart of the year in her graduation speech, expressing both the intensity and the beauty of her experience:
"This year has been hard, exhausting, terrifying, and mentally challenging... but also the most growthful, encouraging, life-changing, and God-relying year I’ve had ... Thank you for not giving up on me and helping me find ways to push through... I’ll really miss you all. Thank you for an amazing year that I will remember forever."
Their reflections speak to the heart of Headspace, not simply a study programme but a life-shaping experience where students wrestle honestly, grow deeply, and discover that God meets them in every stretch, challenge, and unexpected moment.
A celebration of what God has done
As a mission support agency, GC3 exists to encourage, equip, and enable mission across the world. This year’s Headspace cohort showed us what that looks like in real time, young believers taking bold steps of faith, learning to serve, and allowing God to transform them from the inside out.
We give thanks for:
The dedication and leadership of the Headspace team: Christa, Tony, Jon and Mari. Thanks also to Carolyn, and our Cambodia partners, Flame Ministries.
The courage and honesty of the students as they navigated a year of stretching experiences.
The many churches, families, supporters, and prayer partners who stood behind these young women.
God’s faithfulness in every part of the journey, the highs, the lows, the breakthroughs, and the growth.
To Hayley, Isabella, Lizzie, and Sarah, congratulations. Your stories this year remind us of the God who shapes, forms, and sends His people. We celebrate all He has done in you throughout 2025.
With gratitude,
Michael Hanson Executive Director