MARCH 2010 1
fellow workersnews from around the presbyterian church of victoria
InthedaysfollowingChrist-masthepopulationofPhillipIslandincreasestenfold.TwohundredandfiftyyoungpeopleaddedtothenumbersastheygatheredatthePhillipIslandAdventureResort(PIAR)forthe2009/10PYVSummerCamp.Thiswasthefirsttimethecampwasheldhere,andafteraslow-erthananticipatedstart(duetotheVERYslowtrafficonthewaytotheIsland!)theFreedominChristcampgotunderway.Thiscampwasalwaysgo-
ingtobedifferenttopreviousyearsduetothenewvenueandthemega-cheapcosttocamp-ers.PIARisagreatvenue.Itsfacilitiesareexcellentandtheon-siteactivitiesmeantthatwedidn’tneedtogoanywheretohavefun.Havingsaidthat,whenyouareatenminutewalkfromthebeautifulSmithsBeach,anoff-siteexcursionwasamust!Campersonlypaidfifty-five
dollarsforthewholeweekduetothePCV’s150thAnniversaryCom-mitteegivingPYV$50,000towardsreducingcampcostsinourChurch’sanniversaryyear.PYVthanksthemverymuchfortheirgenerositybe-causeitenabledustoopenthecamptomanywhohadnotexperiencedaPYVcampbefore.Rev.PeterOwenspokeonFree-
dominChristfromRomans.Hedealtwithissuessuchas‘HowdoesGodrelatetomankind?’and‘Theobedi-enceofChrist’asitrelatestohisworkonthecrossandobeyingthelaw.PeterpointedoutthatnotonlyisChrist’sdeathonourbehalfcreditedtothebelieverbutalsohisobedientlife.ChristhasdoneeverythingtomakeusrightwithGodandweobeyHislawoutofloveandreverenceforGodandthankfulnessforHissalva-tion.Healsotalkedaboutthe‘shun’wordsinScripture!‘Justificashun’,‘Propitiashun’,‘Reconciliashun’......‘Redempshun’andperhapsthe
Editor Chiara Bilyj [email protected] Vol. 7 No.1 March 2010
Freedom in Christ–PYV summer camp
Continued on page 6
‘Seethattree?’askedmydriver,Chibambo.‘ThatiswhereDrDavidLivingstonemetwiththeslavetradersandfreedtheslaves.HecameuptheShirerivertotheplacenownamedBlantyreandmettheMalawislavetraders.HeexplainedthegospeloftheLordJesustothemandthejusticethatflowedfromthatgospel.’Hepaused.‘Whathappenedthen?’I
asked.Chibamboreplied,‘There
andthentheMalawislavetradersreleasedtheslaves.Theyhadbeenchainedandseparatedbyforkedsticks.Thegospelchangedthetradersrightthere!WewenttotheBlantyre
mission,andtheChurchofStMichaelandAllAngels.‘Interestingname,’I
volunteered.‘Yes,’cametheanswer,
‘TheyneededStMichaelandalltheangelswhentheywerebuildingthatchurch.Therewerenopro-fessionalpeopleengagedinthebuilding.Itwasdreamedtogetherstep bystep,andgrewintothecathedralyouseetoday!Ithasonlyhadonemajorrepairjobinits...
Livingstone’sLegacy
Continued on page 2
The Prince and the Pauper–made rich! p. 4
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PIM at Show p.5
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FELLOW WORKERS
...108yearsofitshistory.’Buttheamazingthingwas
thatitwasbuiltrightacrosstheslavetradingroute.Itwasinitself,astatement:‘Noslaveswillpassthisroadagain!’Eventhechurchofficeshaveoneroomthatusedtobetheholdingprisonforslavetradersawaitingjudgment.Igazedatthebars,anddrankintheamazinghistory.TheyknewtherestofLiv-
ingstone’sstory:twenty-twoyearsofserviceinAfricaforGod.Thelossofhischildren,hiswifeandhishealth.Heenduredseparation,malaria,tsetsefly,anattackbyalionthataffectedhisarmfortherestofhislifeandblindnessinoneeye.Hewasamanofprayer.HisprayerwastoGodforAfrica,thatsalvationwouldcometothesepeople.HehadbeensostirredasayoungmanbythemessageofDrMoffat,‘Isawthesmokeof1000villages,andthereisnomissionary.’DrLivingstonewastheirfirstmissionary,onlybythegraceofGod.WithintwoyearsofLiving-
stone’sdeath,missionariesbegantoarriveinZambiaandMalawifromScotland.Missionswereestablished…missionsthatincludedevan-gelism,theformationofachurch,thechurchbuilding,
schools,theclinic,industry,centresofcare.Thishap-penedatBlantyre,MulanjeandDo-masi.Andsothegospelspread,andthetruth,justiceandmercyofthegospelimpactedtheland.Andnow,in
2009,IhadtheopportunityofvisitingonbehalfoftheVictoriaAssemblyofthePresbyterianChurchofAustralia.Thewelcomewasthrill-
ing–anevidenceofthespecialpartnershipwhichisbeingforgedbetweenourchurchandtheirs.IlovedhearingpraiseoftheverygoodworktheVicto-rianchurchisdoingastogetherweserveGod.Sundaymorningarrivedand
IwasscheduledtopreachatStColumba.SixhundredandfiftypeoplegatheredforthefirstserviceofworshipintheChichewalanguage.ThatwasfollowedbytheserviceinEnglishwithover800present.Iwashurriedawaypriortothe3rdserviceinordertobeintimeforthefinalserviceattheLimbechurch.Atallservicesthenumberswereinthehun-dreds.
Atlunchtimemanyques-tionsflowed.’Threethousand,twohundredmembersinthecongregation,andfourPrayerHouses,’wasoneanswer.‘Tellmewhatyoumeanby
PrayerHouse?’TheyexplainedthateachcongregationhadPrayerHouses…orinourlanguage,preachingplaces,orHomeMissionstations.Whenfinanceswerestrongenough
Livingstone’s Legacy
continued from page 1
YoumightliketoreceiveavisitfromaPresbyterianchap-lain,ifonevisitsorisoncalltothatparticularinstitution.Thecurrentstandardised
hospitaladmissionformsoftenmakeitdiificultforPresbyte-rianchaplainstoknowyouarethere.Ifyouoryourfamilymark‘Christian’inthereligiousaffiliationboxatadmission,yourdetailswillgointohospitalrecordsas‘Christian–other’.APresbyterianchaplaininVictoriaisonlygivenaccesstopatientswhoregisterspecifical-lyas‘Presbyterian’.Itsasmallthing,butcouldmakeallthedifferenceinlettingavisitingchaplainknowyouareinthehospital.Pleasepassthisontoanyfamilyorchurchmemberwhomayexperienceahospitalstayinthecomingmonths.
Kathy JamesHealth and Community Chaplaincy
Committee
Goingintohospital?
TheStateNewsCommitteeisdelightedtohaveChiaraBilyjastheneweditorofourquarterlynewsletter.Shebringstothetasktheenthusiasmofyouthandtheexpertiseofediting,publishingandgraphicdesignforprintmedia.Thecommitteewouldlike
tocongratulateheronthefirstissue,whichcoveredmanydifferentareasofthelifeofthechurchinVictoriathroughtextandillustration.Sheisalreadylookingatwaystoimproveitsquality.Inherenthusiasm,she’screateda‘Facebook’page(www.facebook.com)andanemaildeliveryservice.AsBillLawrywouldsay(forthosewhoknowwhoBillLawryis)‘it’sallhappening!’P.S.IinsistedthatChiara
includethisparagraph.Neil Harveys Neil Harvey
Convener, State News Committee
It’sallhappeningatFW
‘we’llshowyouthekangaroomethodofcaring
forchildren!’
MARCH 2010 3
andaministerwasavailabletobecalledtothePrayerHouse,itwouldbecomea‘SanctionedPastoralCharge’,andthenwouldestablishitsownPrayerHouses.Andsothechurchgrows.Thereare5synodsinthe
ChurchofCentralAfricaPres-byterian(CCAP).BlantyreSyn-odhas1.8millionmembers.Zambiasynodhas60,000.‘WewillvisitMulanjeMis-
siontoday,’Meltonannounced.Thismission,establishedintheearlydaysofScotland’smis-sionaryoutreach,isnowthor-oughlyanindigenousmissiontoMalawifolk.Itcommencedwithawelcomeandmealatthemanse,andthenalookaround.Myquestionwas,‘Whatdoesmissionmeanhere?’Ibegantofeelitaswedined.Imetthelocalminister,anevangelist,aschool’sheadteacher,ladiescaringforwidowsandorphans,theSessionclerk,andasthemealcontinued,thehospital’sdoctorandhisadministra-torarrived.Thenwevisitedtheplaceswheretheyworked,andtheinitiativestheyweretakingtomake‘theMission’self-sustainingateverypoint.Theyevenhaveanindustrywhichprovidesemployment,anop-portunitytoselllocalproduce,andafactorytoproducenutri-tiousporridgemealtofeedtheirfamilies.Whenvisitingthehospital,Dr
RollandvanderVeir,withcon-siderabledelightsaid,‘Comeandwe’llshowyouthekanga-roomethodofcaringforchil-dren!’Weenteredthematernityward.WhereveryoutravelinAfrica,ladiescarrytheirbabiesontheirbacks.Butwhatifthebabyisbornprematurely,orisnotstrong?That’swherethe
Livingstone’s Legacy kangaroomethodofcarekicksin.Thesystemis‘frontloading’,skintoskin,asclosetothesourceofsupplyaspossible.‘That’sthewarmestplace,andyoudon’tneedtouseincuba-tors!’AllbecauseofourAustral-iankangaroomethod–apouchforbaby!AsIviewedtheapproachto
churchlife,itwassoeasytousetheword‘holistic’.Whatchurch,government,andallourcareagenciesdohere,thechurchdoesthere.Itwasveryimpressive.‘Africaisnowpolitically
independent,’saidDrFrim-pong-MansuinaspeechattheBlantyreSynodwhenacovenantofpartnershipwassignedbetweentheBlantyreSynodandthePresbyterianChurchofGhana.‘Increasinglyweareeconomicallyindepend-
ent,andweneedtostriveformoreeconomicalinde-pendence.Spiritu-allywecontinuetogrowinindepend-ence.Butweneedtogrowspirituallytothepointthat
thechurchbesoinfluentialinAfrica,thatgovernmentswillheedtheclarioncallofthechurch,andGodwillbeglori-fiedthroughthetestimonyandinfluenceofHispeople!’DrLivingstonesaid:‘The
hauntingspectreofthesmokeof1000villagesinthemorn-ingsunhasburnedwithinmyheart!’Wepraythatthegospelpassionsstirredbythatstate-mentwilldriveus,whateverthecost,tobreaknewgroundinoursociety,forintheLORD’swordstoJoshua,‘thereismuchlandyettobepossessed!’
Robert BennModerator General of the Presbyterian
Church of Australia
TheMinistryDevelopmentCommitteehasmadethreenewHomeMissionaryAppoint-mentsfor2010.OnthefirstofJanuarythis
year,CranbournewelcomedPeterRobertsastheirnewHomeMissionary.Peterbe-cameinvolvedinPresbyteriancirclesthroughstudyingforadegreeatthePresbyterianTheologicalCollegeinBoxHill,whileinvolvedasanelderinanevangelicalcongregationinOakleigh,insouth-easternMelbourne.Lastyearhecom-pletedastudentplacementatDandenong.PeterandhiswifeGailhave5children;Joshua,Elijah,Daniel,ElisabethandDavid,ranginginagefrom17to8yearsold.Thewholefamilyenjoyparticipatinginministrytogether,particularlythroughmusic.StevenArbucklehasbeen
appointedtoEaglehawk.Ste-venandhiswifeNoelenewerepostedatRochesterHomeMis-sionStation.TheEaglehawkcongregationwelcomedtheArbucklesenthusiasticallyatacommissioningserviceonthe31stofJanuary.InDecember2009,atem-
poraryarrangementatKanivaandNhillwasmadepermanent,withIanSmithbeingappointedasHomeMissionarythere.IanandhiswifeJanhaveunder-takenanumberofshort-termpastoralappointmentsinSouthAustraliaandVictoriarecently.
Rev Dr Robert CarnerMinistry Development Director
Threenewhomemissionaryappointments
PeterRobertsandfamily
FELLOW WORKERS
AsModeratorofthePCV,mywifeJoyandIreceivedaninvitationfromtheGovernorofVictoriatoattendarecep-tionatGovernmentHousetocelebrateAustraliaDayinthepresenceofHisRoyalHigh-nessPrinceWilliamofWales–weaccepted!Itwasasplendidocca-
sion!Therewere950invitedguestsandnumeroushousestaffpresent.Abrassbandandwindensembleplayedbeautifulmusic.Wearrivedat3.50pm,passedsecurity,andenteredtheballroom,wherewewereservedwithsavouryfinger-food.ThePrincearrivedfromaBBQlunchandatourofVictoria’sfire-strickentowns20minuteslate:plain-clothessecuritywasevidentbutnotovert.TheGovernormadea
speech,andthenwelistenedtotheonlyofficialspeechinVictoriafromthePrince.Thenweallmovedoutoftheballroomforagarden-party.ThemusicianscontinuedprovidingbeautifulmusicforourentertainmentunderthehugeMoretonBayFigtreesinflower,whilethePrincemin-gledwiththeguests.WhilstbothJoyandIwereonlyaboutthreemetresfromhim,wedidn’tactuallyhavetheop-portunitytoshakehandssuchwasthepressingcrowd!Weweredelightedtobein
attendance,andsoakeduptheatmosphereofeuphoriathatwassoclearlypresent.
ThebeautyandmagnificenceofGovernmentHouseistrulyagreattestimonytotheartisansoftheday.Inaworldlysense,the
PrinceofWalesisrightfully‘aPrince,’butasChristians,wealreadyenjoyawonderfulrelationshipwithaprince–thePrinceofPeace,theLordJesusChrist.EventhoughIhavebeeninthepresenceofthePrinceofWales,therewasnosuchrelationship–ifIhadtheopportunityforachatandshakeofhandsitwouldallbeverysuperficial,unlikethelastingrelationshipwecanhavewiththeLordJesus.
Inworldlyterms,compar-ingmyselfwithPrinceWilliamofWales,I’mapauper!ButIrejoiceintheLordJesusChrist,forinmypovertyHehasmademerichbeyondmeasure,thefullnessofwhichstillawaitsmeineternallifewithHim.Howaboutyou?What’s
yourgreatestaspirationinlife?IsittocomeintothepresenceofthePrinceofWales(orsomesuchcelebri-ty),orcomeintothepresenceofthePrinceofPeace,theLordJesusChrist?Yes,PrinceWilliamisafine,
handsome,wealthyyoungman,buttobeinthecompanyoftheLordJesusChristisfar,farbetter!
ThePrinceandthePauper–madeRich!AndrewandJoyBrayinGovernmenthouseballroom
Rt. Rev. Andrew BrayModerator, PCV
LastNovember,thePres-byteryofBallaratwasrichlyblessedwithawonderfultimeoftrainingfromtheRev.Dr.GregGoswellandtheRev.NelloBarbierifromthePresbyterianTheologicalCollege.OurLead-ershipDevelopmentseminarwasattendedbyabout30peo-plefromacrossthePresbytery.OnFridayevening,Nello
gaveaveryencouragingtalkon‘DiscipleshipDynamics’.Itwasahighlyinteractivesessionasdel-egatesweredividedintogroupsoffourorfivefordiscussions.Thenextmorning,theModeratorofPresbytery,Rev.IanHutton,gaveaninspiringdevotionon‘leadershipwithlove’.GregistheOldTestamentlectureranddeliveredanoverviewoftheOTunderthethemeoftheKingshipofGod.Hespokewithmuchpassionandclarity,whichmadeOTstudyinterestingandeasytofollow.Afterlunch,Gregspokewithmuchwisdomon‘leader-shipin1&2Samuel”,andNelloencouragedandchallengedeveryonetobe‘peopleofthewordandpeopleofprayer’.Ourseminarwasenrichedby
thehospitalityfromEbezenerSt.John,fortheladiesdidasuperbjobincateringforthesupper,morningtea,lunchandafter-noontea.Abigthankyoutothe
Presbytery’sClerk,theRev.Dr.JohnWoodward,fororganisingtheseminar.Iwouldrecommendalead-
ershipseminartootherPres-byteries,becauseitprovidesopportunitiesforeveryonetotalkaboutissuesthatmightbeotherwiseoverlooked.
Hui LimBallarat Presbytery
Learningtobeleaders
‘ComparedwithPrinceWilliam,I’mapauper!’
MARCH 2010 5
cladding,andworkstartsagain.Carpentryworkdoinginternalsubdividing,installingnewwindows,externalre-claddingandmakinganewentrance.Electricalworkcomesnext,withinstallationofsafewiring,plentifulpoweroutlets,efficientlighting,andthemoderntech-nologicalrefinementsthatwillallowtrainingandadministra-tionactivitiestotakeplace.Afterthat,replasteringwillbringtheendinsight!Currentfundswillnotseethe
projectcompleted.Fundsareneededforthekitchen,bath-room,heating,cooling,carpetsandsoon.WehopethatAssembly
Committeeswilltakeanotherlookandperhapsrelocatetheirstaff,holdeventsormeetingsatHHsometimeinthefuture.Godhasbeengoodinnotal-lowingustodemolishabuild-ingthatisprovingusefulinhisKingdomwork.If you can offer help, whether financial, skilled labour or even as a volunteer to clean up, or would just like some more detail, please contact Andrew Venn, Minister at Heathmont, and project manager - ph.9870 5182 mob.0422 414 942.Photos are on the Heathmont website - heathmont.pcvic.org.au.
Pictureadecrepitweather-boardhousewithitspaintpeel-ing,timberrotting,androodrusting.HeathmontHouse(HH,asitisnowcalled)lookedlikeademolitionjob.It’sthebuildingyouseewhen
youpassHeathmontPresby-terianChurchonCanterburyRoad.TheHeathmontBoardofManagementwasplanningtodemolishthehouse.ThenGodsteppedin.InJanuary2009,thePYVfounditselfwithoutanywheretorunitsoperations.TheymovedintoHeathmontHouse.Problem:havingthrownthePYVthiseleventhhourlife-line,Heathmontchurchlackedanyfundstoredeemaderelictbuilding.Buttheydidquicklycatchavisionforwhatitcouldbe.WhatifHeathmontHouse
couldbecomeacentreforourdenomination’scommitteesandsavethemmoneyoncommer-cialrental-whichtheycouldthendevotetotheirministries?It’srightonEastlink,nearama-jorsuburbancentre(Ringwood)andhasaverybenevolent‘landlord’-HeathmontPC.WewrotetoallAssemblyCommit-teesseekingexpressionsofinterest.Notakers.Perhapsthey
wereallscaredoffwhentheysawthepictures.However,withanapproachtoMaroondahPresbytery,thingsbegantomove.Lastyear,PresbyterygaveHeathmontPCmoney
tobeginwork.Firstcamere-stumpingandre-roofing.Itwascomplexwork:therewerewrangleswiththepowercompany,theresidentpossums(they’restillthere!),scaffolding(O.H&Srequirements),androofframingissues.Next,ahiatus.Moneyis
runninglow.Paidworkcomestoatemporaryhalt.Volunteerscontinue,sendingawayrubbishreadyforthenextstage,andthelong-sufferingPYVstaffandvolunteersmakethebestofit.HeathmontBOM,meanwhile,seeksmoneyandhelperswhocatchthevisionforitbeingacentreforPCVandHeathmontPCactivity.Thenaplasteringcompany
agreedtodocutpricework,adonationcameinfroman-otherPCVcongregation,atrustgaveasizableboostoffunds,anotherCommitteedonatesfreelabourforsomeexternal
Heathmont house–a centre of activity
‘Areyouskilledincabinetry,tiling,hangingdoors,installingskirtings
andarchitraves(boring,butnecessary),orfixingplinths
aroundstumps?’
TheNooratPresbyterianChurchhasbeenrunningastallattheNooratAgriculturalSocietyShowforthelasttwoyears.Thefocusofthestallistopresentthegospelthoughbothchildren’sministryandre-latingtothepeopleoftheland.Theformerisdonethrough
craftactivitiesandgivingawayballoons,andthelatterthroughtheministryofPIM,inparticu-larRev.RudiSchwarz,whospeaksofhisministryintheMallee.ThefarmersappreciatethePIMandaregladtoseesomeonedoingthis.PriortotheNooratShow
therewasmuchprayerandplanning,withMrPeterWalms-
leytakingakeyroleinthelogisticsofthestall.Weranastallthepreviousyearattheshow,learnedsomevaluablelessons,andimplementedthesetomakeitagreatsuc-cess.Wehadmanywillinghelpersonthedaywhosharedinthejoysofspeaking,sharingandblowingupmanyballoons.
Rev. Miles Fagan
PIMattheNooratShow
FELLOW WORKERS
throughtheministryofPYV.WhilethefocusofPYV’s
campingministryistohelpyouthbetterunderstandthegospelforuseintheirhomechurches,campsarealsoforfunandrelationshipbuilding.Wemadegooduseoftheflyingfox,giantswing,canoes,pool,airconditioning(playingvari-ousboardgamesandtheatresports),basketballandtenniscourts.WealsohadgreatoutingstoSmith’sBeach,fora150-persongameofCapturetheFlag,surfinglessons,swim-ming,andgeneralbeachfun.APYVsummercampwould
beincompletewithouttheNewYear’sEvecelebrations.ItwasabigaskfortheorganiserstotoptheCarnivalfrom2008/9,buttheyranafantasticWhen I Grow Upgameshow.Camperscompetedinvarious‘growingup’challengessuchas‘learn-ing’toeat,crawl(completewithnappy),speak,spellandsing.Itwasahilariousevening,andeveryonehadafuntimeaccompaniedbyafabulous
Freedom in Christ–PYV summer camp changes lives
mostcomfortingoneofall;‘Adopshun’.WhilewechuckleatsomethingsPeter’sNewZealandaccentdoestotheEnglishlanguage,examiningthesecrucialareasofdoctrinewasdoneinaseriousandhelpfulway,completewithvisualaidsusingsomemem-bersoftheaudiencetoquiteliterallyseethepointPeterwasmaking.Manycampersfoundthestudiesandsubsequentdiscussionschallengingandpracticalintermsof‘Howdoesknowingthesetruthschangemyattitude,behaviour,evange-lismetc?’Atleasttwocampersfoundthemessageslife-chang-ing;infacttheymettheSaviourofwhomPeterspoke!PraiseGodthatHeworksthroughthepreachingofHisgospeltobringpeoplefromdarknesstolight,andthatHekeepsdoingthis
Continued from page 1
three-coursemeal.Midnightsawstudygroupsgatheredtogethertoprayforthecomingyearbeforealittlemoredanc-ingroundedoffagreatnightandcamp.Thanksareduetomany,
abovealltoGodwhoansweredthemanyprayersthatwereof-feredforcamp.Theconvenor,NicBilyj,didanexcellentjoborganisingthecampandkeep-ingitrunning,ablyassistedbyhisfiveco-ordinators.AnindicationthatthiswasoneofthebestcampsPYVhasruninrecentyearsisthattheresortmanageraskedtoaddressusonourfinalmorning.Hecom-plimentedeveryoneontheirbe-haviourandcourteousattitudetothestaff,sayingthatitwasacredittousandawonderfulwitnesstohisnon-Christianstaff.WegivethankstoGodforthis,forsafetyandfortheliveschangedbyHismessage.
Dean CarrollPYV Councillor
PYVhadtheirAnnualGen-eralMeetingonFebruary6th.Theydiscussedfuturepos-
sibilitiesforregionalministryandelectedthisyear’sPYVCouncil.Pleaseprayforthem.Theyare:MartonMurany(Presiden)JoyVenning(Secretary)RussellGraham(Treasurer)Rev.DeanCarrollJoeDunningBradRonaldsAlexVenn
Andrew Vines PYV Youth Worker
OtherPYVnews...
PYV Volleyball 2010Saturday 27 March
9.30-6pmPlayers $7
Spectators: gold coin donation
Message by Rev. Martin de PyleYouth leaders, head to pyv.org.au to download your info pack & register your teams by
Monday 15 March. Contact David Bruce on 0408 321 677 or email [email protected]
Mens, Womens and Mixed Divisions
State Volleyball Centre, 270 Stud Rd, Dandenong
MARCH 2010 7
InhighlypopulatedareasofourvastcontinentGodisgivingusunprecedentedopportunitiestomeetpeoplefromallovertheworld,sothatwefindhehasbroughtamulti-ethnicMissionFieldtoourdoorstep.Melbourne’swesternsuburbiaisnoexception
tothesewideopendoors.Weshouldcontemplatethepossibilitythatthedoorsmaynotstayopenindefinitely.What,therefore,ishappeningintheWest?Sometimeswemeetpeoplewhogivetestimony
towhatGodisdoingthroughthemintheWest.AtaMelbournegatheringIwasblessedtodiscoveramanwholivedtoministersolelytohisIslamicfriends.Irejoicetomeetpeopleinmycitywhopracticecontinualoutreach.Iusedtowishwecouldputleafletsineveryletterboxinthecity,butIdiscoveredthatonechurchhadalreadystartedthis.Ireadthesmall,unpretentioustractverycriti-callyandwasdelightedtodiscoverthegenuine,theologicallysoundmessagewhichwasbeingshared.SunshinePresbyterianChurchhasbeen
singularlyblessed.Throughonehundredyearsofexistence,GodhasgivenusfaithfulpersonswhobeartestimonytohisamazingGracethroughvariousmeans.Acaféchurchserviceisheldregularlygiving
spaceforfellowship,spiritualgrowth,mentoringandoutreach.AnotheranswertoprayeristheMen’sFellow-
shipgroupwhichhasbeenfunctioningforoveradecade.Wehearthatlaughterisaprevalentfeatureattheirgatherings.Agreatlyappreciatedactivityisthefortnightly
CommunityKitchenCafé.Ateamoflocalcom-munityworkersfromaCommunityHousejoinourchurchteamandprovideamealinthechurchhalltowhoeverwalksinoffthestreet.Christianliteratureisavailabletogetherwithopportunitiestodiscusspeople’sworldviewsandpersonalconcerns.InthesedayswhenSundaySchoolsseemto
bewaningweareblessedinthatGodisgivingusmorekidsandmoreteachers.
SomepeoplearebeingtouchedbyGod’sSpiritintheRetirementHostelswhereweconductchurchservices.Theytalktotheirfamiliesabouttheirdiscoveries.AsweseetheLordencourag-ingpeopletopracticetithingandincreasetheirgivingtomissions,wetestifytoalloftheaboveasevidenceofhisworkamongstus,anunwor-thyassemblyofbelieverswhoareprivilegedtoexperiencetheamazinggraceofGod.Welivein
theLIFEofalivingLordJesus!OurlocalStreetMinistrybeganasaregular
activityatthebeginningof2001.Thiswitnesshasbeenmaintainedoverthelasteightyears,takingabreakonlyfortheFranklinGrahamFestival.Ap-proximatelyfivethousandencountershavetakenplacewhenlocalcitizenshavereceivedBibles,NewTestaments,JesusDVDs,tractsandmean-ingfuldiscussions.Averysmallhandfulofpeoplemaintainthewitnessandprayerpartnersinthechurchconstantlylendsupport.UndertheleadingoftheHolySpiritgreatcareistakentoshowtheutmostcourtesy,withnopressureoncontacts,noobstructionofwalkwaysandnoinvasionofpriva-cywhenpeopleareshoppong.Weareoftheviewthatasweprayearnestly,exercisingthefaithGodhasgivenus,wecantrusthim100%toleadustothepersonshehasbroughtacrossourpaths.Ifsomerejectourapproachweknowthatnexttimetheyareofferedwordsoflifetheymaylistenandwecanprayforthem.Attimesweareencouragedwhensomesay
thingslike:‘No-onehaseverspokentomelikethisbefore’,‘MychildrenwilltakethisDVDtoschool’,or‘We’llcometoyourchurchonSunday!’Godlypeoplegrievethattherearechurchesdy-
ingacrossourbeautifulcountry.Whatcanwedo?MaybethewordsofMaryattheweddingfeastgiveusaclue:‘WhateverHesaystoyou,doit!’
Isabel G. BellSunshine Presbyterian Church
Whatever he says to you…
PTC Media now has attractive gift cards!Great gift for your minister or college or University student!
Great idea for Presbyteries to give as a book grant for their students.
Want helpful material to listen to in the car or on the way to work or while
jogging?
HOW ABOUT A
Contact Mignon Goswell on 0400 880 515 [email protected]
GIFT CARD?
‘WeareawarethatwithoutthedivineprotectionoftheHolySpiritandhisenablingitwouldbe
impossibletodothiswork.’
GotothePTCMediacatalogueatwww.presbyteriancollege.org
forourrangeofCDs.
FELLOW WORKERS
The Christian Education & Nurture Committee (CENC) is keen to support churches who are holding Sunday School classes. We know that many churches struggle to choose material. To help with this, the CENC is keen to provide a meeting point on the web where you can
read reviews and comments from current Sunday School teachers about the material they use. You’ll also find contact details so you can speak with these teachers.
For more, go to www.cenc.org.au.
What’shappeninginyourSundaySchool?
In part one, Nello Barbieri began answering the question: ‘how do you train an elder?’ If you missed it, you can find it online at www.fellowworkers.pcvic.org.au.
3. Train through discussing and planning ‘personal-walk-with-God’ projects and ac-tivities that will meet personal and spiritual needs.Theteachingeldercouldplanaweekendsessionretreattodiscuss,andencouragetheothereldersintheirpersonalwalkwiththeLordJesus.
4. Train through discussing and planning ministry projects and activities based on specific needs.Workonanevangelisticstrategytogether.Considerthefollowingsuggestions:•Inactivechurchlist:Evenbeforetheteach-
ingelderaskssessionmemberstohelphim,heneedstotaketheinitiativeinsharinghisfaith.Anexcellentsourceofcontactsforhimandtheothereldersisthechurch’slistofinactivenames.•TenMostWantedList:Iftheteachingelder
hasacoreofelderstoworkwith,hecouldaskeachonetolist10friendsthathewouldliketoseereceiveChrist.Theteachingelderthencouldtoplanforeitherhimselforothersessionmem-berstotakeamemberofthecongregationtowitnesstothosefriends.
•PersonalTestimony:Encouragethesessionmemberstosharetheirtestimonywiththeentiregroup.Theirtestimonymightstimulatepeoplewhohaveaspiritualinterestbutalowcommit-ment.•Brainstormonwhatwaywecanministerboth
inwardandoutward.Encouragesessionmem-berstobecreativeandthinkbig.•OutreachProgramme:Involvesessionmem-
bersinputtingtogetheranOutreachProgramme.Delegateresponsibilities.•GrowthGroup(biblestudyandothersmall
groups).Involvesessionmembersinvariousrolesofresponsibilityorspecialactivitieswiththegroup.•YouthGroupSpecials.Specialeventsinthe
generalyouthgroupsuchascamps,socials,daytrips,workprojectsetc.•Visitation.Takethesessionmemberson
visits.Theteachingeldercouldtrainsessionmembersinhowtoevangelismanddiscipleviathismeans.•SocialActionInitiatives.Servingpeoples’
physicalandemotionalneedsinthecommunity.Ongoinginvolvementincrisisaccommodation,streetcontact,visitinginstitutions,helpingtheSalvosetc.
4 ways to train an eldership–part 2AtwopartseriesbyNelloBarbieri,PCVTrainingOfficer
Joint Mission Sixteenth Anniversary Service, St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, Flemington on Sunday 18th April at 3pm. All welcome!
TheScot’sChurchMissionhasbeenatStStephenssince1994,servingthepeopleofFlemingtonandthesurroundingareaswithfoodparcels,clothing,blanketsandbedlinen.SinceDecember2008themis-
sionhasmovedfromtwiceamonthtoweekly.Thefoodassistanceisstillonatwiceamonthbasis,butallotherforms
ofassistanceandsupportarenowavailableatthemissionhalleveryTuesday.Theservicewillbeconductedby
Rev.DouglasRobertson,fromScots’Church,andtheguestpreacherwillbetheRtRev.AndrewBray,ModeratorofthePCA.MembersofPresbyterianLa-diesCollegeChoirhavebeeninvitedtotheservicetopresenttwomusicalitems.Followingtheserviceafternoontea
willbeservedinthemissionhall.Robert Lowe
Committee member Scot’s Joint Mission
ThePresbyterianandScots’ChurchJointMission
A client of the mission at theChristmassausagesizzle
