February 2011

MMM Tasmania, 20 Edward Street, Perth

Phone (03) 6398 2993 or 0409 018 628

Email: mmmtas@mmm.org.au

Page 1

GLO Training Centre Page 1 Upchurch Project Page 2 Honouring Associates Page 2 Prayer Requests Page 2 Projects, Prayer Fellowships, Annual Meeting, Annual Retreat Camp, Coming Events Page 3 Prayer Force Page 4

In This Issue:

Tim drops in for a surprise visit:

GLO TRAINING CENTRE

SMITHTON, Tas.

A point of interest. No smoke without Fire. A Lawyer bought a box of rare and expensive cigars which he had ensured

against, among other things, fire. The lawyer then proceeded to smoke his stockpile of great cigars and once the cigars were all duly depleted, he filed a claim against the insurance company. Indeed, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost “in a series of small fires”. Of course the insurance company refused to pay citing the obvious—the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fash-ion. The lawyer immediately sued the insurance company and won! Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. Nevertheless, the judge stated that the lawyer held a policy from the company, in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be an acceptable ‟fire‟. Thus the company was obliged to pay the claim. Rather than pursuing a lengthy and no doubt costly appeal, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for the loss of the cigars which had perished in the ‟fires‟. On cashing the cheque, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON! Using the lawyers own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case against him, the insurance company was successful in bringing about a conviction of burning insured property. The lawyer was sentenced to 24 months in jail and was fined $24,000. (A true story but one which could only happen in the U.S.A.!)

Off to an early start for 2011. This project was requested to be done whilst the „Centre‟ was vacant and students were off campus for the summer break, so MMM obliged. Work started on the 10th January with a Team consisting of Graham Scott (who offered to Team Lead), Wes Carpenter, Brian and Heather Morse and Ian Cox having to remove the vinyl floor-ing from the kitchen to allow for new covering to be laid and to then paint out seven units plus a hall-way in readiness for the start of the next semester. It wasn‟t really a big job, but a happy one. Heather did a wonderful job preparing food, having to improvise without a ‟kitchen‟ or other onsite staff for as-sistance, to feed those hungry workers. They completed the project in four ‟long‟ days. However, they were all rather surprised when our National Director, Tim Cranna and State Manager, Frank Tyers, dropped by to enjoy lunch with them on the second day. The visit was com-pletely unexpected and very much appreciated. We don‟t often get to see the ‟big fella‟ on the job.

Page 2

PRAYER REQUESTS The four Tasmanian Associate Families we should pray for this month (one per week), are Neville & Merilynne Byard, Wes & Judy Carpenter, Ian & Val Cox and George & Aileen Deveraux. We still need to keep in front of us as a State, those Nationally nominated (this year) for us to continually pray for: Noel & Marg Taylor, Kath Salomons and Peter & Muriel Dam. Please keep all these MMMers and their families before God in your prayers and offer them love and support as they continue in the growth of His Kingdom here on earth.

UPCHURCH PROJECT The 'Upchurch Building Project' is a community endeavour headed by Stan & Heather French and being driven by a select „Committee‟ to build a much needed extension to the home of Kerry and Sharon Upchurch's residence at 5 Jerling Street, West Ulverstone, Tasmania. Kerry has a long term and severe disability, having been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease some 14 years ago. He has difficulty in getting to their existing toilet, shower and basin. It is also awkward to manoeuvre his wheelchair into his bedroom and alongside the bed to enable him to be transferred on and off the bed. The extension located at the rear of their house will provide improved facilities for Kerry's ongoing care with specially de-signed master bedroom, complete with a lifting hoist, an ensuite (wet room with an open shower, toilet and hand basin) and external ramping facilities for easier ac-cess to the house. MMM were invited to assist with building supervision and co-ordination of building professionals and labour on a largely voluntary basis together with sourcing materials needed to undertake the job. Details of the proposal were ini-tially outlined at a meeting of the Ulver-stone Minister‟s Association in an attempt to attract interest from the Christian com-munity and therefore promote it as a Community Project.

The Ulverstone Baptist Church, where the Upchurch‟s are members, responded quickly with an offer of two thirds of all material costs. This was a massive start to the campaign and has since been followed with offers for as-sistance and contributions from Engineering Professionals (surveying, drafting and design, building surveying), the local Lions Club, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, locals Trades-people (builder, plumber, earthworks contrac-tor, electrician, tiler and others still being negotiated) plus a number of smaller cash contributions at this stage.

A „garage sale‟ held over the weekend of the 29 & 30th January provided a further $5,500. So all in all it has been a tremendous effort from this relatively small community. Additional funding (approx. $9,500) is still required to enable the project to proceed. These are to cover the balance of the material costs, trade costs and insurance liability issues needed to pro-tect those working on the site. We pray that churches will rise to the occasion and see the opportunity that the Lord has given his church in Ulverstone.

We would still dearly love to re-introduce the segment “Honouring Associates” to our Tas Team News. So if you would like to send in an article, a testimony or even an update on yourself as an Associate, or for an Associate that you consider deserving, that could be shared by others, we would gratefully receive and con-sider it. Principally we Honour God through our Lord Jesus Christ and we have many who have gifted of their time doing just that, Honouring God. They have a story or stories which are not boasting or even pride driven, but are sharing of times or events that they have longed to tell, please let us share in them. Maybe this could be a way of continuing in fellowship with one another rather than just being referred to as an „also ran‟.

Page 3

Date Name Location Description Workers needed?

Accom. Available?

Meals Available?

21/02/11 through 11/03/11

Riverbend Campsite

Smithton Upgrading the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, estab-lish an ensuite and associated works in a caretaker‟s cottage.

Carpenters, Joiners and Handymen. A plumber maybe.

Yes. Ample campsite/units if you haven‟t your own van.

Yes All meals.

28/02/11 through 25/03/11

Penguin Uniting Church

Penguin New Toilet Block ex-tension and entry to Hall.

Carpenter, Plumber, Painter and Handymen.

Yes. One Unit if you haven‟t a van.

All daytime and some evening.

14/03/11 through 31/03/11

Missiondale Evandale Replacing damaged weatherboards and external painting of Manager‟s residence.

Team Leader, Carpenter, paint-ers and Handy-men.

Room for own vans.

?

7/02/11 through 25/02/11 Deferred

Community Christian Acad-emy

Newstead External painting of whole of Primary School.

Team Leader and Painters

Room for own vans.

?

Probably March. TBA

Upchurch Build-ing Project

Ulverstone. New Bedroom, en-suite (wet room) and disabled entry ramp onto exist. premises

Team Leader, Carpenters, Joiner, Brick-layer, painter and handymen.

Nearby caravan park. Fees sub-sidized

Yes. All daytime.

Please contact Frank Tyers if you can assist on any of these projects.

mmmtas@mmm.org.au 0409 018 628

PROJECTS

PRAYER FELLOWSHIPS

Devonport/Sheffield—Monday 7th Feb.

Contact Stan Jones 6491 2511

Launceston—Tuesday 1st Feb.

Contact Doug Townsend 6327 1972

Ulverstone—Monday 14th Feb.

Contact Alan Beswick 6425 6412

COMING EVENTS 4th February: State Committee Meeting—3pm at the Perth Centre. 4th March: State Committee Meeting—3pm at the Perth Centre. 11th March: White Card Training at the Perth Centre. 1st April: Annual Meeting—3pm at Camp venue, Camp Clayton. 1st—3rd April: Annual Weekend Retreat—Camp Clayton, Ulverstone. 26th November: Annual Dinner—Venue TBA.

ANNUAL MEETING — STATE COMMITTEE To be held in conjunction with the Annual Camp. Nominations are being called for, for membership

of the Tasmanian State Committee. One of the existing committee is due for retirement,

but may wish to nominate for re-appointment. Two were only appointed until the next annual meet-

ing so both of these are due for re-election should they wish to continue.

The position of Deputy Chairman is currently vacant. The position of Minutes Secretary is currently vacant.

ANNUAL RETREAT CAMP For Associates and Friends.

1st — 3rd April, 2011.

Bayside Lodge, Camp Clayton, Ulverstone

Guest Speaker: Ivan James.

RSVP Frank Tyers; 0409 018 628 by 28th March.