Starting a Madison College in Australia

The purpose of this fundraiser is to:

1. Start a Madison College in Australia
2. Redeem and secure the special Abide Wellness Retreat facility (previously known as Highwood Health Centre & College).

What is Madison? Do we have what it takes to start a Madison College?


See how the Lord has led, and hear the Madison Story through these videos.



Abide Wellness Retreat & Academy — Property
(formerly known as Highwood Health Centre & College )

In 1988, two highly-dedicated and committed Seventh-day Adventist Christians, Colin & Cherryl Martens, purchased 103 acres of pristine land in Narbethong Victoria, just an hour out of Melbourne.

They dedicated the property to the Lord's work with the purpose to establish a missionary training college. Over the next three and a half years they worked tirelessly to build college buildings, student accommodation, a publishing house and staff housing. Many generous donors supported the construction and establishment of the college, then called Amazing Truth. 

Amazing Truth ran some excellent short-courses in Bible and health subjects. Many people were tremendously blessed and experienced revival and reformation.


Over the next 30 years. The property changed hands twice. First transitioning to "Remnant Ministries" and then to USA-based "Keep the Faith". Each time this special property was freely transferred at little-to-no cost and remained dedicated to God's work.

Time and space would fail us to write the full story of this property. Except to say that spiritual warfare has been fought here. The enemy of truth has sought to destroy this place on several occasions and in several ways.

Why? Because the potential here is absolutely tremendous. What this place could become as a witness to God is incredible. We believe it has never reached full potential as a missionary college and health facility.

Facilities include a health retreat with 13 guest rooms, treatment rooms, large steam sauna, commercial kitchen and more. The property also has three staff duplexes, a college building with attached manager's residence, a dormitory with 8 student rooms, a commercial kitchen, lounge area and two dean flats. Not to mention a large established garden with four hothouses, an orchard and grapevines and berry vines.



Now, after being dedicated to God's work for 30+ years the future of this property is in jeopardy.

The current owners (KTF) have made clear their intent to sell, if possible to a Seventh-day Adventist ministry. This is in order to recoup the investment they made here over the last 9 years.

The total asking price is $3.6 million

This fundraising campaign seeks to raise a minimum of $1million, which would enable us to enter a 5-year purchase contract in April 2021. $1 million would pay for the 10% deposit plus the first few years of re-payments. This gives us time to further establish and grow our industries and the ability to pay for the remaining.

It will not be easy, but God has blessed Madison Missions Australia with a young, self-sacrificing team who are totally committed to this vision.

About Eastward and Madison Missions

For 17 years, Eastward Missions has laid a foundation to start a Madison-like missionary training school. 

Over recent years the Eastward has been busy across Australia conducting:
- Youth Ministry
- Music Ministry
- Literature Evangelism
- Agriculture Ministry


At the end of 2019, Eastward birthed "Madison Missions Australia Ltd.". Madison commenced a lease of the operational Abide Wellness Retreat in Victoria, with the intent to enter a purchase contract at the end of the lease.

Due to COVID, the wellness retreat was closed, and we shifted focus to start Beehive Community Services. Beehive is a range of businesses purposed to support the mission financially. The businesses have done well, despite COVID and shown good potential.

We're not a ministry that will always rely on donations. We have taken real and tangible steps towards being truly "self-supporting".

However, urgent assistance is required at this time to redeem and secure this special property in Narbethong, Victoria, Australia.

For more information about Eastward and Madison please visit:
https://madison.org.au/
https://eastward.edu.au/ 

If you have any questions or would like to speak with one of the team please call:
+61 436 385 317
or email:
[email redacted].au 

Our Appeal

The possibilities are tremendous for what could be accomplished. 

This may be the last opportunity for this facility to fulfil the purpose for which it was established and for which so many people have made sacrifices for 30+ years. It has never yet reached its full potential.

Our promise is to never again allow this place to operate at a loss and take on debt.

By God's grace, hundreds if not thousands of young people could be trained here as missionaries to take the three angel's messages to the world before Jesus comes.

Time is short. Jesus is coming soon. Together with your help, and the help of your friends, this can happen! The results would be for eternity.

To see the full vision in greater detail visit: https://madison.org.au/vision 

Please consider making a donation to this GoFundMe campaign and supporting us in this noble endeavour.