#3 2021
EMAG
quarterly publication for acc leaders
MENTAL HEALTH
Q&A
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY TRANSFORM LIVES
WITH OUR NEW
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
THE WORD ON WOMEN IN MINISTRY
FOR A CHANGING WORLD ACC21 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 1
LEARNING TO
LAMENT
#3 2021
EMAG
SIDE
quarterly publication for acc leaders
IN
The 2021 ACC National Conference was a wonderful gathering of the ACC Family, both in person at the Gold Coast and online. This edition celebrates the highlights, talks to our new Executive members and prepares for the road ahead.
LEARNING TO
LAMENT
Q&A
WITH OUR NEW
Cover photo: Amelia Dales EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
THE WORD ON WOMEN IN MINISTRY
In One Accord 3 By Wayne Alcorn MENTAL HEALTH
THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS
FOR A CHANGING WORLD
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY TRANSFORM LIVES
NEWS
ACC21 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 1
ACC Snapshot News 4 Chaplaincy Hotline 6 ACCI COVID Response 6 Supporting Churches in a War Zone 7 Ben & Angela Thorpe AC Graduates of 2021 8 90 Years With Jesus: Frank Mawler 30 Indigenous Bible Translations Underway 31
INTERVIEWS Up Close & Personal: Ally Cawthorn, Corey Turner & Mark Varughese Q&A with John & Francine Hunt
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FEATURES ACC National Conference 2021 Highlights 13 Theological Foundations for a Changing World 22 by Dr Jacqueline Grey The Word on Women in Ministry 24 by Catrina Henderson Learning to Lament 26 by Sean Stanton Indigenous: Faith & Reconciliation In Action 32 ACC Indigenous Committee The Power Of You 34 by Paul Bartlett Managing Your Church Effectively as a Workplace 36 by David Purnell Mental Health: How To Effectively Renew Minds 38 & Transform Lives by Dr Robi Sonderegger
RESOURCES
New Releases 41 Calendar 42 Courses 43
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IN ONE ACCORD O
ur 2021 National Conference exceeded all our expectations. We are so grateful to God that on the back of a year of lockdowns and restrictions, we could gather together in one place as the ACC Family. There was nothing like experiencing the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit as we worshipped together in one place, as one unified body. It was a significant conference, that has launched us into a new season with a spirit of faith and unity.
Honour and Thanks We took time at Conference to honour and thank those who have served our Movement: Alun & Joan Davies for their 32 years of leadership and service on the ACC National Executive; Shane & Georgie Baxter for 12 years, and Joel & Julia A’Bell for 6 years. We also celebrated the appointment of John Hunt as our new ACCI Director, taking over from Alun Davies who has built a strong foundation for our Missions and Relief to go into the world.
National Executive We congratulate and welcome our newly elected National Executive team who will take us forward:
Conference Business Our Conference Business session voted in support of the four Remits presented. These included updates made to the ACC Child Protection Policy and the Ministerial Code of Conduct. The reworded ACC Doctrinal Basis Statement of Beliefs and new Theological Supplement was also accepted.
Wayne Alcorn (National President) John Hunt (Vice President) Sean Stanton (National Secretary) Brad Bonhomme (Executive member) Ally Cawthorn Executive member) Joel Chelliah (Executive member) Matt Heins (Executive member) Corey Turner (Executive member) Mark Varughese (Executive member)
The theme for this Conference – ONE – is significant for us all. Let’s continue to pray that, as Jesus prayed in John 17, we will have one heart and spirit, so that the world will know Him and His love for all humanity. May our UNITY be a distinctive of our lives, our churches and our movement!
Get to know our new Executive members: Q & A with Ally Cawthorn, Corey Turner & Mark Varughese on page 10.
WAYNE ALCORN ACC National President
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NEWS
Alphacrucis graduation ceremony 2021. See page 8 for full story. Chaplaincy Australia – Congratulations to @anneiuliano and the team of ambulance chaplains for recieving their 5 year service medals.
Kids ministry – Calvary Sunershine Coast had a fun morning in @_calvarykids_ on Lego Masters Sunday!
Baptisms – Making discples in South Australia. “Therefore is anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.” (2 Cor 5:17)
Australian Christian Women – Women in Western Australia gathered for delicious food, inspired conversations and powerful prayer.
Community Care – Hope Centre delieved 250 gift boxes to the Queensland Children’s Hopsital for all the mums with kids in the ward for Mothers Day! 4
NEW TO FOLLOW
@australianchristianwomen were representatives among the forty women leaders from Australia’s leading church denominations and Christian organisations who met with Senior Ministers and MPS from both major political parties in Canberra in June.
ACCI – Congratulations to Katrina Gliddon, the first female ACCI Missionary to be named on the Queen’s Honour List and bestowed an OAM for her service to the international community of Cambodia.
@accindigenous – Ganggalah outreach team on their way to Arnhem Land. Gathering – Desert Life Church in Alice Sprigs hosted a bonfire and enjoyed fellowship together.
@acccommunityengagement – After the recent floods and wild weather in our area we’re so proud of Enjoy Church who have been in our community serving and heling.
Youth – The“Child Of Love” Youth Alive Conference in western Australia. “Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvellous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children.”
FOLLOW @accsnapshot for more ACC church life 5
NEWS
CHAPLAINCY HOTLINE
What if every Australian had access to 24 hour pastoral support and care? Chaplaincy Australia is working towards this bold goal and is intending to launch 1800Chaplain in November 2021. 1800Chaplain will be a 24-hour pastoral care line available to every Australian offering support and care to all, a listening ear and a skilled response to the presented needs at no cost to them. The CA call team will be equipped with specialised training and a vast referral network of Churches, Mental Health services, community support groups and other agencies to effectively triage and meet the ongoing needs. We currently have 500 Chaplains in our Network working across 26 sectors of the Australian Community and they are achieving amazing results – we are confident that they are going to rise to the challenge of stepping up to volunteer to provide the support our community desperately needs. Over time we know that hundreds more volunteer chaplains will step up and help us fulfil the possibilities that this ministry offers. We also believe that it will help every ACC church in Australia support and connect with their community. From November we will be launching the 1800Chaplain line, initially being open for 8 hours per day, but we will be moving to a 24 hour/7 day per week service model as soon as possible. We ask for your prayers and your support as together we make this happen. If you would like more information about 1800Chaplain or if you are a Chaplain who would like to be part of the call team or if you would like to help us make this vision a reality, please register your interest at www.chaplaincyaustralia.com/1800chaplain/ What if Chaplaincy Australia offered Chaplaincy to Australia? – Ralph Estherby, National Director Chaplaincy Australia
ACCI COVID response ACCI Relief is responding in various parts of the world to the current global health crisis of COVID-19. We are working closely with our field workers and partners as they outwork activities aimed at preventing the spread of the disease and providing emergency support to families in crisis. ACCI Relief have partners who have involved in responses in India and Nepal. The new COVID-19 outbreak that emerged in India –a country with a large and dense population – makes it the harshest COVID wave yet. With medical supplies and hospital beds running detrimentally short, tragically, India has had over 3,000 deaths per day. In a desperate measure to bring the situation under control, many states have announced curfews and lockdowns. With a complete lockdown comes job loss, food insecurity and economic vulnerability. This has caused significant challenges for millions of migrant workers and daily wage earners who have travelled from rural areas to earn livelihoods for their families. Having to return home to their families means a complete loss of income. Like neighboring India, Nepal has also experienced a devastating second wave of COVID-19. Daily cause numbers have reached nearly 10,000. However, due to low testing levels,
the true numbers of cases are unknown. Currently in Nepal there is a 44% positive rate of testing. The countries health system is currently overwhelmed due to the sudden spike. Lockdowns are in place, which have a huge impact on people’s ability to feed their families. There are strong fears that Nepal will very soon be facing the same catastrophic impacts of COVID-19 that are being seen in India. CLICK HERE to support ACCI Relief ’s appeal 6
Supporting Churches in a
WAR ZONE
BEN AND ANGELA THORPE have long had a heart for the people of eastern Ukraine. For five years, the couple – and their daughter Annalise – lived amongst its people, loving and serving them, and introducing them to Jesus. Then in 2014, war suddenly came to the city they called home. They lost their apartment, their car and all of their belongings. Seven years later, they’re still living in, and ministering from, nearby Scotland – unsure when they’ll be able to return. Q: Tell us about your ministry activities prior to the war. A: When we first arrived, we really got into learning the language and got involved in a local church. We helped set up programs that had never run before in the local churches – like a playgroup for mothers and toddlers, and an Englishspeaking class – all to help bring people into church. We also got involved with a local orphanage, doing life skills training with the kids who were ageing out – who were becoming adults but had nowhere to go. Q: What happened in 2014? A: In 2014, Russian separatists invaded the eastern side of the country of Ukraine, so the city that we lived in is no longer part of Ukraine – it’s now part of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Life in the occupied area is very hard as the war continues into its seventh year. There’s no open border between this republic and Ukraine, and only Russia recognises it as its own country. People living there can’t leave unless they do a 240-mile trip via Russia to get out and back into Ukraine. And it’s still a conflict zone; over 14,000 people have died since the war began.
Q: How has your ministry changed since the war? A: We’ve built relationships with five local churches and provide ongoing mentoring to the pastors, including getting leaders together for training sessions about evangelism and discipleship. We help pastors who are near the front line – on the Ukrainian side – who are pastoring churches and working amongst those who have been displaced by the war. There are about 1.5 million people who are basically refugees in their own country and many of them are very poor. We’ve been working with the local churches, running soup kitchens and the like. We’re also helping with church plants – as there are pastors who are now planting churches in parts of Ukraine that have never had a church, or whose pastors have fled due to the war. We also continue to help and support one pastor who is leading his church inside the occupied territory. Q: What other opportunities have opened up since you’ve been in Scotland? A: I (Ben) am the chaplain to Stirling County Rugby Club; making me one of the first chaplains to a rugby club
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in Scotland. I’ve also been able to get involved in a local university, which is a sports university. We’ve had the privilege, this year, of leading one of the swimmers we’ve been mentoring to Jesus and recently baptised her. We started off just doing a Bible study at the beginning of lockdown, and that Bible study that was just the three of us has now become seven because she’s invited her friends along. Q: What do you think the future holds for you and your work with the people of the Ukraine? A: We don’t know how long we’re going to be in the UK. This war in Ukraine is going on a lot longer than we thought. We obviously could never predict it, just like we couldn’t predict COVID. We’re grateful we had those five years to build partnerships so we could continue to support the churches and the people from here. Once COVID has passed and the borders open, we’ll be able to get back into Ukraine itself and not have to do everything remotely. We’ve learned though that we can make our plans but at the end of the day, we’ve got to do what God wants us to do.
NEWS
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CELEBRATING AC GRADUATES OF 2021
The highlight of the Alphacrucis College calendar is the Graduation Ceremony, and 996 students completed their studies within the 2020 academic year. The Covid pandemic meant 2019 graduates had an online graduation experience last year, so there was great celebration on Saturday, 15th May as students, staff, family and friends gathered at the Sydney ICC theatre. Darlene Zschech delivered an inspiring address and Honourary Doctorates were presented to Pastor Russell Evans (Planetshakers) and Pastor Phil Pringle (C3). Awards were also presented to Ella Hickey and Hannah Chang for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, and Professor Denise Austin for Supervision Excellence. Alphacrucis has over 4,000 students across campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Auckland, and Online. Congratulations to all the AC graduates and those who received special awards for excellence.
WATCH
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UP CLOSE & PERSONAL CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEMBERS ALLY CAWTHORN, COREY TURNER & MARK VARUGHESE. LET’S GET TO KNOW THEM A BIT BETTER....
> Your kingdom come, Your will be done
COREY TURNER Neuma Church (formerly Bridge Church & Richmond AOG) Married to Simone with three children: Chelsea, Zack and Joshua
When I was a child, I wanted to be a... professional athlete. I first knew God was real was… when I got baptised in the Holy Spirit at six years of age in a little Salvation Army church in Kalgoorlie, WA. What makes me laugh out loud… is Fawlty Towers. The hardest thing I have ever done is… run from Sydney to Melbourne and answer God’s call to ministry. My life’s passion is… to follow Jesus. My favourite way to relax is… on magic Monday is to exercise and then visit a winery in the Yarra Valley with my wife. What makes me really angry is…spiritual apathy and complacency. My favourite food/beverage is…any breakfast item & latte. My next big challenge is…leading the redevelopment of our Neuma City property in Melbourne and planting Neuma San Francisco in a Covid restricted season. The scriptures that keep me on track is… Matthew 6:10 ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ Also, Psalm 27:4 ‘One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may 10
dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.’ What I love to preach about most is… the Kingdom of God, the central message of Jesus ministry.
> Introducing people to the beauty of Christ
ALLY CAWTHORN Urban Church, Perth Married to Steve, with three children: Declan, Abby and Maddy
When I was a child, I wanted to be a… singer or actress - but really anything that allowed me to travel and see the world. I first knew God was real was... when I had an intense awareness of God when I was child, which was quite unexpected, given I wasn’t born into a family of faith. I fell away from that relationship when I was a teenager and returned just before I turned 20. What makes me laugh out loud is…my husband trying to copy my daughter’s dance moves. The hardest thing I have ever done is…finishing my doctoral studies through an American seminary - more specifically travelling to California every year alone without my family and then traversing Los Angeles via the public bus network! My life’s passion is …to introduce people to the beauty of Christ and lead them discover their true self in Him. My favourite way to relax is…to read, watch a great movie and have dinner with friends. What makes me really angry is…projected expectations and unfounded assumptions. My favourite food/beverage is… I love curry and a really good oat milk flat white
> To know God and extend His kingdom
MARK VARUGHESE Kingdomcity Married to Jemima, with two boys: Zeke and Caleb
When I was a child, I wanted to be a... lawyer. I first knew God was real was… I was filled with the Holy Spirit at the age of 12. What makes me laugh out loud… X-Factor failed auditions. The hardest thing I have ever done is… quitting my legal career to join a church staff My life’s passion is… to know God and extend His kingdom. My favourite way to relax is… watching sport and time with my boys. What makes me really angry is… bullies. My favourite food/beverage is… Asian food and soda water. My next big challenge is…getting stronger and fitter in the decade ahead. The scriptures that keep me on track is… John 14:21 and Isaiah 55. What I love to preach about most is … Intimacy with God and unity in the Body. 11
(although not at the same time…that wouldn’t be a great mix) My next big challenge is…writing a book based on my doctoral studies. That’s my goal for 2022! The scripture that keeps me on track is…Colossians 1:28-29. I feel as though that passage is my life’s mission. What I love to preach about most is… the reality of the Jesus and His Kingdom and the way in which the Spirit of God is present within and around us to lead us into greater depths of encounter and wholeness found only in Christ.
Q&A
with JOHN & FRANCINE HUNT, our new ACCI Directors JOHN: Our times are in His hands. When it’s His time, He positions the people, the heart, and the opportunities. We have sensed His hand all the way through.
Q: ACC has always been a mission-focused movement. Have you personally had a heart for missions and how have you been involved with missions in the past?
FRANCINE: You know when God is calling you on, it’s exciting. I decided to journal in the transition, and what God was saying to me. I called it ‘The Transit Lounge’. When you’re in the airport, in transit, you sit and wait, you read, you think. You can learn so much in transition, going from one place to another.
JOHN: My first missions trip was to India in 1990 and I have since taken many trips over the last 30 years. I served both Pastor Jack Hanes and Pastor Alun Davis as regional leader and board member respectively. FRANCINE: The church I was a part of for the past 46 years has always been a missions church. I remember our church buying a four wheel drive for the Marlows in PNG about 40 years ago. We have sent many teams on short term missions trips over the years which I have been a part of. We had a team in Vietnam with the Hilton’s when COVID hit. Centro church has always supported missionaries and also sent missionaries to the field.
Q: What is the most exciting part about leading ACCI for you and what are you passionate about seeing? JOHN: I think our whole movement knows that it is the custodian of something great and that we have the privilege of giving what we have been given to the nations. It is exciting to be at the forefront of that. FRANCINE: It’s exciting that we get to connect with those serving Jesus in our ACC movement across the nation and those serving around the world. A real privilege.
Q: Alun & Joan Davies have left a great legacy of leadership of ACCI in the past 12 years. How do you intend to take it forward, especially in the Covid world before us? FRANCINE: We are incredibly blessed to have such great role models such as Pastor Alun and Joan. They have put things in place that we can run on with. I have a heart to encourage, support and develop relationships with our field workers, particularly our women. Zoom is a wonderful thing in this COVID season. JOHN: It’s wonderful to build on such a strong foundation. During COVID, we will build on relationships and strengthen process and asses what our asset and opportunities are, once travel is readily available we want to be positioned to release my more young Aussie’s on the nations.
Watch
Q: Has it been a big transition to go from senior pastors of a local church to head of ACCI? How has God equipped you for this change of leadership roles?
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NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021
Highlights
Conference 2021 was a unique and special gathering of the ACC Family. Over 1800 delegates, comprising of church leaders, chaplains, community workers and counsellors from across the nation, gathered at the Gold Coast from 20-22 April. Hundreds more, who were unable to attend in person, joined online. There was a tremendous sense of unity in keeping with the theme of ‘One’. There was laughter as friends reunited; heartfelt worship and inspiring teachings, fervent prayer and shared communion. All this was interspersed with honour moments and the final evening’s anointing service for everyone in the room. Enjoy the highlights and memories of the following pages. >
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United as One ‘There is a deep desire in our hearts that we would be the people Jesus prayed about in John 17: “That they would know we are one.” He prayed for us that we would have relationships that are so strong and sincere that they reflect the relationship in the Trinity. We ask Him to answer a lot of our prayers but perhaps this is one we can answer for Him. When we commit to that level of unity – the world will know! Australia needs a spiritual awakening. The only hope for our nation – His name is Jesus.” – wayne alcorn Watch
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My faith ‘Faith is very much an ingrained part of my life and I just seek His wisdom in the same way you do each and every day and it’s important we do that.’ – scott morrison, prime minister of australia
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Dream Again ‘Seeing your dream fulfilled requires you to overcome disappointment. Choose to see your disappointment as a stepping-stone to your appointment. Don’t allow it to become a rock around your neck that drowns you; this is not meant to drown you. We are the house of believers and we have faith in the one true God.’ – shane baxter WATCH
Answers for Young People ‘Our young people come to us with deep questions and so often we give them superficial answers. Instead, we need to articulate a vision of Jesus that is so captivating and compelling our young people will never want to walk away.’ – jacquie grey WATCH
Intentional Invitations ‘We are called to make disciples, and we have to be intentional about invitation. Jesus did most of His miracles outside of the church. One in four Australians when surveyed say they would come to church. The problem is we are not inviting.’ – melinda dwight WATCH
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Go to the stream ‘To me the single most evident reason for people not finishing their ministry is that they stop connecting with God. When people’s relationship with God becomes distant, they don’t finish the race. We must learn to go to the stream before we go to the fight. David went to the stream in faith and when He came away from that stream, he was armed and dangerous. If you have faith, don’t take it to the giant unless you first take it to the stream. Your faith must not first drive you to the fight; your faith must first drive you to God.’ – alun davies WATCH
Thank you
Alun & Joan Davies for 32 years serving our Movement.
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Pathways for parents ‘If we are going to see kids passionate about the word of God, we need to be intentional. 96% of pastors and 86% of parents believe that parents should be the primary leader of faith development in kids. However, 65% of those families feel overwhelmed and don’t know how because only 10% of churches create resource for families outside of providing children’s church on a Sunday. It is our responsibility to be training and resourcing parents with the Word of God. We as a church need to start creating intentional pathways for families at home.’ – andy kirk WATCH
Focus on people ‘It is said that 90% of young people make a decision for Christ by their 21st birthday. It is a startling statistic that we know and say, but do we actually put our money where our mouth is and outwork it? The proven statistic among churches around the world who are seeing a massive move of God is that there is a focus on people.’ – cameron bennett WATCH
Community Engagement Panel
WATCH
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In Tough Situations ‘Three things to remember when you’re in a tough situation: Don’t be afraid. Stand firm. Be still. Hold on to your peace. When the Israelites stood at the edge of the Red Sea watching the Egyptians advance on them. Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’ (Exodus 14:10-14) – brad bonhomme
Thank you
to everyone who served as part of the amazing volunteer team at our ACC National Conference.
ACC21 photography by our talented team (from left) Gabe Blase, Amelia Dales and Marcus Oostenbroek 21
Theological Foundations for a changing world BY DR JACQUELINE GREY
THERE ARE TWO TASKS THAT I SEE AS VITAL FOR OUR PASTORS AND LEADERS TODAY. FIRSTLY, THE NEED TO STRETCH OUR THINKING ABOUT GOD. FOR US TO SEEK TO KNOW GOD, LIKE THE LOVER LONGS TO KNOW THE BELOVED. SECONDLY, TO WALK STEADFAST IN THE ANCIENT PATHS. THAT IS, TO STAY TRUE TO THE PATHWAY OF SCRIPTURE AS WE ENTER NEW, UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.
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n alternative title for this topic might be:“How to Stop your Young Adults from leaving church.” Because this is also what is at stake. Our young people come to us with deep questions and so often we give them superficial answers. Instead, we need to articulate a vision of Jesus that is so captivating and compelling our young people will never want to walk away. The Church today exists in a changing world. To build our theological foundations we must navigate these shifting sands. There are many ways we can describe the changes in our society. One way is that our Western culture has moved away from being honour-based to achievementbased. A.J. Swoboda writes, “Achievement, work, wealth accumulation, popularity, and education—these are how we find honor now.” This results in a sense that we earn our place in the world through hard work, and that we deserve all the success that comes our way. The reverse is that failure leads to a loss of honour. We must also ask, if our culture honours ‘achievements’ and ‘success’ as a marker of value, do we use the same criteria? So, in this context, how do we build a theological foundation?
being dissatisfied with our current, limited knowledge and reaching out to know God more. Paul calls it “renewing our minds” (Rom 12:2). This is not a one-off event. It is the pursuit of our whole persons for the whole of our lives. But the good news is that we have the Spirit of Truth to help us (John 16:13). 2. WALK THE ANCIENT PATHS This idea draws on Jeremiah 6:16. The prophet tells the Judeans to look for the ancient paths and walk in it. It’s not a return to the “good old days,” but the pathway of faithfulness to God. Christ fulfills this ancient path; He is the way, truth and life (Jn 14:6). Jesus, after His glorification, sent the Spirit at Pentecost, to empower and guide us (Acts 1:8). We need the Holy Spirit in our task of theological formation and our task of living out the gospel in this changing world. To use another analogy, NT Wright describes this idea like a FiveAct Shakespearean play. However the script to the last Act has been lost. So, the actors play out the first four Acts according to the script, which is like Scripture. But for the last Act, there is no script. The actors must play out the fifth Act being consistent with all that has gone before in the play (i.e. Scripture) but move the story forward—in the power of the Spirit—to its conclusion. We are living in this last Act. Our challenge is to live faithful to the Bible in our changing world.
1. ENLARGE OUR TENT This is based on Isaiah 54:2-3. The prophet was addressing the Jewish exiles in Babylon—talk about living in challenging times! God instructs the people to expand their tents. By stretching their tent a little further, the children and young people can find a home, and reach the nations. That is my appeal to us: To stretch out our theological tents. This is about
A LIST OF RESOURCES HAS BEEN CURATED BY ALPHACRUCIS COLLEGE TO HELP YOU GROW THEOLOGICALLY.
Dr Jacqueline Grey serves as the Dean of Theology and Professor of Biblical Studies at Alphacrucis College.
• CRUCIS Research & Commentary from leading Christian academics • FIND YOUR COURSE
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• INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT Special price of $300 for ACC pastors to do the new Introduction to the New Testament course (13 weeks)
THE WORD ON WOMEN IN MINISTRY BY CATRINA HENDERSON
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t’s funny how this ‘age old’ debate is not that old and not really even a debate; not in Scripture anyway. It doesn’t appear in the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus never spoke on it. None of the prophets, priests or Kings addressed it. But yes, Paul brings it up, sort of. There are two much debated Bible passages that have received a lot of attention, and even these have only been enflamed in recent centuries, due in part to cultural bias in, dare I say, patriarchal societies. It seems that across history (post biblical) we have drawn a very long bow from Paul’s two passages to church cultures that marginalise and disqualify women - something Jesus never did. Even Paul, in several other passages, writes as though women in ministry is normal. The questions most often debated, ‘Are women allowed to be involved in ministry or leadership? Can a woman have authority in a church? If so, how much and over whom? Can women preach or teach in church? If so to whom?’ if we are honest, sound a little reminiscent of an argument amongst the disciples (who is the greatest?) that Jesus 24
answered by referring to servant and a child (Luke 22:24-26). Let’s talk briefly about leadership. The word ‘leader’ did not exist in the English language until the 14th Century so has since been read back into Scripture, and used to refer a wide range of roles, many of which women are found performing in Scripture. There were women judges, rulers, disciples, prophets, apostles, teachers, patrons amongst others. Interestingly, ‘leader’ as a noun, title or position, is not as apparent in Scripture, as is the verb, “to lead,” an activity that denotes serving, guiding, protecting, going before people. ‘Ministry’ in Scripture is also quite different from how many of us view it today. We have narrowed it to refer to a position, a platform, and even preaching. The tussle seems to be over who can have these roles. Maybe this is a good time to recall Jesus referencing a child! Ministry in Scripture is largely about service and rendering services, such the distribution of food, aid or offerings as well as practical ceremonial service in the tabernacle and Temple. Jesus’ best examples what this kind of ministry
FOLLOW @AUSTRALIANCHRISTIANWOMEN ON INSTAGRAM
looks is when He de-robes and kneels before the disciples to wash their feet. Yet this is not what we are jostling for.
“There are no longer Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free,” (Gal 3:26-29).
Let’s stay with Jesus for a moment. He didn’t flaunt or misuse His authority, or demand to be allowed to use it. Nor did He disqualify others from having authority. In fact He delegated His authority to His disciples (without gender specification) when He commissioned them. He also didn’t disqualify women from following Him, listening to His teaching, funding His ministry or proclaiming the gospel. His longest recorded dialogue was with a woman; a Samaritan woman at that, and she spread the good news to an entire city. From His presentation as an infant, to the Prophetess Anna at the Temple, to His first appearance as the Resurrected Lord, to two women, Jesus demonstrated no gender bias or discrimination. The Holy Spirit that He promised would come, fell upon men and women in the upper room, anointing them all, sons and daughters alike. The gifts, and possibly more importantly, the fruit of the Spirit are available to all. Paul himself, declares,
From Eve’s inclusion in the creation mandate, through to women prophets like Hulda or Stephen’s daughters, Deborah the judge, Junia the Apostle, Priscilla the teacher (who taught Paul!), all the way to the women Paul writes to who have churches in their homes, there is a host of extraordinary women in biblical ministry throughout the Scriptures. While we are busy getting tangled in two, largely misunderstood, passages, we may well be missing the point. Maybe the point isn’t who can preach or lead or be the greatest! Maybe the point is that God’s Spirit has been poured out upon ALL flesh and as the Father sent Jesus so now we have been sent, as disciples to bear His image and His Fruit, to love God and love our neighbour and to be a light to the world, not just light up a pulpit. None of that is gender specific. I am aware that I did not directly address the two Pauline passages that many use to disqualify women from ‘ministry’. It was a deliberate omission. 25
Although, I likely gave it proportionately more attention than the Scriptures do, or even than Paul did! However, these are important passages that need to be understood and grappled with diligently. In light of that, here is a link to some excellent resources compiled by the very learned Reverend Professor Jacqueline Grey, and to a Masterclass on Women in Leadership she recently taught in. Many thanks Jacqueline, for generously sharing these with us. WATCH
Catrina Henderson is a self-confessed Bible nerd, usually found in a book or out on the road in her runners. She is also an ACC pastor who was Principal at Hillsong College, before pioneering and leading Hillsong Israel. Now back in Australia, Catrina is loving serving on the team at Alphacrucis College and being a part of the Glow Church family.
God’s pain. Our pain.
Learning how to LAMENT BY SEAN STANTON
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Photo: Amelia Dales
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am a news addict with a compelling desire to ‘stay informed’ or be ‘be educated’. In recent times, I have found the incessant, unrelenting 24 news-cycle, replaying the same disaster or tragedy on repeat, with little or no new insight or information, to be something that erodes my soul and my hope! Now I find myself shrinking back from watching the nightly news reporting on our broken, fallen humanity and the tsunami of pain experienced in our world. I am not seeking to dismiss, minimise or be indifferent to other peoples pain, loss and suffering. When writing this, there are acts of wickedness being played out with guns and bloodshed in the Tigray province of Ethiopia, Myanmar and Mozambique. COVID 19 is out of control in the poorest nations. People’s hopes and aspirations for fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms are overlooked, mainly by we who live in more settled democracies. The poor are suffering beyond most of our experience or indeed our comprehension. I have observed that an overload of ‘news’ produces emotional and psychological exhaustion that permeates our souls, numbing our emotions, paralysing our minds, and crippling our ability to be moved with compassion toward others. The result is guilt-ridden inaction. We are left with no time to think, reflect, evaluate the information with which we are bombarded. It drives us to live with a feeling of perpetual dread as if our every living moment was accompanied by the musical score from the ‘Jaws’ movie.
able to explain what’s happening and why. In fact, it is part of the Christian vocation not to be able to explain—and to lament instead. BUT GOD! In the midst of this, my thoughts turned to God, all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-loving. I wonder how He must feel - watching us in our pain, in our hate and retaliation, in our selfishness and tribal smallness, but interspersed with moments of extraordinary and so-called ordinary acts of kindness, grace, and compassion. Perhaps this is why a loving, kind, and merciful God chose to centre all pain and suffering on Himself. He could no longer see our pain and suffering and simply tolerate it, so He centred all on Himself and took it. I am overcome with gratitude that Jesus turned His face toward and not away from our pain and suffering. He did so to suffer with and for us. (Is 53:3-5 (NLT) Before turning to a response, I observe that creation laments under the weight of our sin and brokenness with hope (see Rom 8:20–22 (TNIV). The Holy Spirit joins in the lament in and on our behalf. ‘In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans’. (Romans 8:26 (TNIV) I love this insight from Todd Billings in his book, “Rejoicing in Lament’: ‘It is precisely out of trust that God is sovereign that the psalmist repeatedly brings laments and petitions to the Lord. . . . If the psalmists had already decided the verdict—that God is indeed unfaithful—they would not continue to offer their complaint.’ Accordingly, Mark Veoegop draws this conclusion: ‘Therefore, lament is rooted in what we believe. It is a prayer loaded with theology. Christians affirm that the world is broken, God is powerful, and He will be faithful.’ The Bible is filled with songs of sorrow. Over a third >
OVERWHELMED BY SUFFERING Overwhelmed, we stand by, perhaps suffering from compassion fatigue. We have refined as an art form the ability to turn our back and look the other way. I have done it myself at times; it is all just too overwhelming, from the homeless on our streets to the massacres in Tigray, Myanmar and Mozambique. It is no part of the Christian vocation, then, to be
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of the Psalms are laments. The book of Lamentations is made up of five poems, each an expression of grief. Like a eulogy at a funeral, these laments are intended to mourn a loss. The purpose behind the book’s graphic depictions of sorrow and suffering was to produce hope in the God whose compassion is new every morning and whose faithfulness is great. Laments turn toward God when sorrow tempts you to run from Him. Lament prayers take faith (Rom 8:22). Lament is different from crying because lament is a form of prayer. It is an expression of sorrow or the venting of emotion. Lament talks to God about pain. It has a unique purpose – trust! It is a divinely-given invitation to pour out our fears, frustrations, and sorrows for the purpose of helping us to renew our confidence in God. We need to learn how to lament with hope and faith in God’s great love for us. “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him. (Lam 3:19–24 (TNIV)
WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO LAMENT WITH HOPE AND FAITH IN GOD’S GREAT LOVE FOR US.
PSALMS OF LAMENT BY DR JACQUELINE GREY
I
t may seem surprising that songs of lament find their place in the ‘greatest hits’ volume of ancient Israel, the book of Psalms. These prayers of lament, or complaint, are grounded in experiences of crisis, loss and pain. They reflect the realities of the mystery of life. Laments express deep despair, yet look to God to change the situation. Psalms of Lament can be either corporate (such as Psalms 44; 74; 83) addressing national situations, or individual (such as Psalms 3; 22; 38) addressing personal suffering. However,
they all direct their complaint to God. These psalms mostly have a common structure, which includes the four key elements of: • Calling out to God; • Lamenting or complaining about a situation or injustice; • Asking God for intervention and deliverance; • Confession of trust and praise of God. There are four primary observations. First, these psalms remind us that pain and suffering are realities of life and should not be denied but expressed in a
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healthy and safe way: prayer. Secondly, the pain and even anger of the lamenter is directed to God, not to people. God is big enough to handle our pain and anger, others usually are not. Thirdly, by following the structure of the Psalms of Lament, you can see that while they begin with pain, they end in faith. They orient the lamenter to look in hope for God’s intervention and transformation of their situation. Ironically, the situation may not have changed at the end of their prayer, but the lamenter has submitted their request to God and has confidence in God. They end in an attitude of praise and thanks to God. Finally, these Psalms can help us today to put into words our own experiences of loss. We can adopt and adapt these psalms as our own prayers.
FOUR ELEMENTS OF LAMENT In his book, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament, Mark Vroegop identifies four stages of lament from Psalm 13. 1.Turn To God Often a lament begins by an address to God: ‘How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?’ (v1). The point is that the person in pain chooses to talk to God about what is happening. 2. Bring your complaint Every lament features some kind of complaint: ‘How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (v2). More than a sinful rehearsing of our anger, biblical lament humbly and honestly identifies the pain, questions, and frustrations raging in our souls. 3. Ask boldly for help Seeking God’s help while in pain is an act of faith: ‘Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. (v3–4). Unremitting sorrow can create a deadly silence as we give in to despair (there’s no hope”) or denial (“everything’s fine”). But lament invites us to dare to hope in God’s promises as we ask for his help. 4. Choose to trust This is the destination for our laments. All roads lead here: ‘But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart
shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. (v5–6). More than the stages of grief, this prayer language moves us to renew our commitment to trust in God as we navigate the brokenness of life. ‘To cry is human, but to lament is Christian. The practice of lament is one of the most theologically informed actions a person can take. While crying is fundamental to humanity, Christians lament because they know God is sovereign and good. Christians know his promises in the Scriptures. We believe in God’s power to deliver. We know the tomb is empty, and Jesus is alive.’ Sean Stanton is the ACC National Secretary. References: NT-Wright on Coronavirus and Lament Todd Billings, Rejoicing in Lament: Wrestling with Incurable Cancer and Life in Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2015), 58–59. Mark Vroegop - How to Lament Well. Mark Vroegop is the lead pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis, and the author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament.
HE WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES, AND DEATH SHALL BE NO MORE, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE MOURNING, NOR CRYING, NOR PAIN ANYMORE, FOR THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY. REV 21:4 (ESV)
Photo: Amelia Dales
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Left: The Band: Frank Mawer sitting with his acoustic guitar, second from the left on the first row. Elizabeth Mawer is standing with her violin on the far left of the middle row. Fourth from the left is Pastor Philip Duncan, Chairman of the AOG (now ACC) movement from 1945 to 1950. While leading the movement, Duncan made the executive decision to start a ministry-training Bible college; in1948 establishing the Commonwealth Bible College, which is today Alphacrucis.
90 years with Jesus A conversation with Sydney’s oldest living man
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rank Mawler can often be seen on a Sunday morning at Horizon Church, Sutherland Shire; wearing a Tweed jacket, button down shirt and smart trousers. With some help from a walking-frame and his son Barry (Horizon Church Elder), he is full of life and no less passionate about the things of God as the day he accepted Jesus as his Saviour in the 1930s. Born on 15 August 1912, Frank is heading for his 109th birthday and is the oldest living man in Sydney. At the age of 18, while working as a builder at a factory, his manager asked him if he attended church. It turned out his manager was a pastor of a Pentecostal church, named Philip Duncan. Despite Frank’s reservations, he went along one Sunday night to that pastor’s church, at the invitation of a girl named Elizabeth, who would years later become his wife. When the invitation to accept Jesus as the Saviour was given Frank said he, “went down to the front of the church” and accepted Jesus. That church would become Petersham AOG, the first Assemblies of God (today Revive Church) in NSW and the third oldest church in our movement. That was just the beginning of Frank’s 90 years of walking with Jesus.
by Aziza Green
Q: What was the church like when you were a younger man? Frank: The Pentecostal church was so different to the traditional form of church. There was a lot of very bright singing and clapping of hands. The pastor preached interesting subjects from the bible, so I became very interested. Q: What do you appreciate about the church today? Frank: They are always encouraging a lot of young people to come to church, which is a good thing. I believe they are on the right track. Q: How has your faith helped you to overcome difficulties over the years? Frank: I have passed through various good and bad times. I can remember when I was at a very low time in my building experience. The little scripture came, ‘Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.’ (1 Peter 5:7) It was a little text the Sunday School gave to the children, I can remember that clearly. It really helped me. I came out from a financial loss. I had to build my finances again and it took a long time, but God has rewarded me. Q: Why do you come to church on a Sunday morning? Frank: If I can’t get out of the house, I find it encouraging to watch Horizon on the computer. It is a bit better when you can get to the church, because you are surrounded by people; it makes my spirit come alive. The activity and the voices are uplifting. Q: What are you grateful for? Frank: My family are very supportive of me. My children were brought up in the Pentecostal church. Some are more keen than the others, but I would say, most of my children are believers. It comforts me to know they have a belief and background that has been solid for them. Frank was married to Elizabeth for 71 years. Together they had 6 children, 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
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Indigenous Bible Translations underway Two translators share their personal stories of what it is like to bring God’s Word into their own heart languages – for the first time. More than half of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Christians.* Only one Indigenous language in Australia, Kriol, has a full Bible translation. The vast majority of First Nations brothers and sisters in Christ do not have God’s Word in their heart language. That’s a precious gift so many of us simply take for granted. While 22 Indigenous languages have at least one complete Old or New Testament book, there are about 120 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia today. Bridging this gap in access to Scripture is why Bible Society Australia remains intent on backing translations in Indigenous languages. NEW PUBLICATIONS FOR THE ADNYAMATHANHA Recently, the Adnyamathanha people – from the northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia – had a breakthrough. A hymn book of church songs, a children’s book and CD, God’s Story for the Outback were all published in Adnyamathanha for the first time. Critical to both was sole translator Lily Neville. “Once you put your mind to it, you can really translate anything into Adnyamathanha,” says Lily, who grew up speaking it with her parents. A lifetime church goer, Lily feels a sense of pride about being able to put
Christian resources into her people’s own words. “I find it easy to translate anything. I do my best. I travel by the grace of the Lord and that’s how I’m getting that work done.” TRANSLATIONS IN THE NYOONGAR LANGUAGE More translation work is coming Lily’s way, now she is known for doing it. Having done the song book and kids book, Lily is confident in her skills, something Tom Little – an elder of the Bindjareb/Bibbulmun people – also has developed into a powerful tool for God’s work. Little says that since God’s Word began to be translated into the Nyoongar language (from southwest Western Australia), two books have been completed. The first, the Gospel of Luke, took about 20 years due to the “exhaustive process” of language work that “became the template for later translations.” The second biblical Nyoongar text was the book of Ruth, which Little completed single-handedly last year – in just four months. “I was extremely lucky that about 98 per cent of the language I needed for Ruth was already embedded in Luke,” Little says. “I’m working on the Sermon on the Mount at the moment – Matthew chapters 5 to 7,” reveals Little, adding that Bible Society Australia has got behind this translation. “I will go back and finish Matthew completely. Then, I want to go back to the top and start again.” WATCH
Adnyamathanha translator Lily Neville holding the Adnyamathanha Hymn book (‘Tyurtya Udiapinha’) and children’s Scripture engagement resource ‘God’s Story for the Outback.’
Nyoongar speakers Dena Gower , Tom Little, Kerry-Ann Winmar (pictured left to right) at the audio recording of Ruth that took place in Western Australia in November 2019. 31
FAITH &
RECONCILIATION IN ACTION
The vision of the ACC Indigenous Initiative team is to continue building pathways for churches and community.
National / NSW Directors
VIC Reps
Merrilyn Billing
Darryl & Edwina Lingwoodock
Grant & Kim Hay
I am excited to help bring awareness and connection points for truly ‘hearing’ stories from the past, dreams for the future, and understanding our shared cultures as a nation. I believe churches have an incredible opportunity to avoid ‘token’ attempts or platitudes and demonstrate genuine reconciliation that’s bathed in prayer, honour and respect. United we stand.
Reconciliation is not something we do and speak about for only one week every year. Reconciliation is a daily occurrence; in our relationship with God, our family, our community, our church and our workplace. Are we game enough to take the first step? We were thankful for the opportunity to make the first move towards reconciliation.
We are excited about planting more Indigenous churches and seeing Indigenous people play a significant role within their churches. We are also excited about training up Indigenous leaders to be released into the mission field, and teaching and training in Indigenous culture and perspectives. Our heart is to see all nationalities reconciled together as one and see them reconciled to God through a relationship with Him.
William & Sandra Dumas We have made reconciliation a personal mission to not only participate in, but to gather others and inform them of the power of unifying and partnering with God who is reconciling the whole world to himself. We know God has mandated our lives and ministry to “raise” up the next generation of Indigenous leaders who know their identity in Christ, and will take their places as leaders in the Church.
TAS Reps
John & Robyn Murray We can all live together respectfully acknowledging the diversity that God has given to us individually. We must reach outside the church doors. I’m not talking about a tent crusade into local community; rather praying and asking God for revelation for your area of influence. Seek out your Aboriginal representatives to help walk you through a respectful, meaningful engagement and dialogue.
South East QLD Reps
WA Reps
Clayton Anderson We are seeing churches and community groups wanting to engage more with the local Indigenous community and gain a better understanding of cultural awareness within the Church. We are educating and equipping local police and street chaplains that work in precarious situations where compassion and sensitivity is important. God is doing incredible things in WA and we are excited for the months to come.
SA Reps
FOLLOW @ACC.INDIGENOUS ON INSTAGRAM 32
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THE POWER OF
YOU BY PAUL BARTLETT
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e can all agree that it is God who gives power to all we do as churches and leaders. We sincerely want to do God’s will and purpose, particularly when it comes to where we get involved in our Communities. What about you?
Do you understand how important YOU are?
I want to encourage you not to dismiss having a community strategy because your language is “God will do it”. It’s my understanding that God could do anything without us, but He actually chooses to do it with you. Can I suggest that serving your community doesn’t happen because of God; it happens because of you. Are you a sheep or a goat? The best community engagement scriptures are found in Matthew 25 where Jesus shared the parable of the sheep and the goats. Today everyone wants to be the G.O.A.T (‘greatest of all time’) but trust me, in Matthew 25 you don’t want to be the Goat! This is how Jesus describes how important you are to your community, when He speaks to his sheep in Matthew 25:35-36 (NLT): “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Jesus is saying to His Church: “It’s because of you people are fed, clothed, cared for and visited in prison.” This passage ends powerfully when Jesus said when we do this to the very least, I (Jesus) actually experience this myself! I used to think this scripture was bout good people (sheep) and bad people (goats) but, what if it’s really about this: People with Faith and Action (sheep) vs People with Faith? (goats) As leaders, we aren’t meant to stand glaring at heaven, waiting for a supernatural sign to serve our communities. Joyce Meyer said recently, “we can be so heavenly minded we are no earthly good”.
FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH:
Join us for the Community Engagement Online Summit at 1pm on Thursday, 19th August.
DIPLOMAS AVAILABLE: Every church in the ACC should have one person trained in this area of Community Engagement. ACC Community Engagement can help you get more involved in your community, and qualified and accredited. Check out the Diplomas of Community Services RPL and other courses available at Alphacrucis. For more information: ac.edu.au/awards/diplomacommunity-RPL/ Email community. engagement@acc.org.au
FOLLOW @acc. communityengagement ON INSTAGRAM
Paul Bartlett is the National Director of ACC Community Engagement
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ACC Community Engagement Director Paul Bartlett met with his new team of state representatives on the Gold Coast in April. MATT BOULTON was announced as Community Engagement Coordinator, a role which involves assisting the state leaders in outworking Paul’s vision for churches and their communities.
COMMUNITY UPDATE ‘The most spiritual thing churches do is not on Sundays. It’s actually when they’re engaging people in the community and leading them to Christ.’ – Paul Bartlett The energy in the room was palpable when Paul Bartlett shared his passion for community with us. Like the rest of the team, I leaned right into this bold idea and felt grateful for this exciting era in the history of our movement. It was my first day as Community Engagement Coordinator. As I listened to each state leader sharing stories of local churches doing us proud, my heart and head were pounding in unison, “This is so great – people have to hear about this!” You can follow our new @acc.communityengagement Instagram account that is a great inspiration of stories of what other local churches and ministries are doing in their communities to love their neighbours. A fresh update of the ACC Community Engagement website with further resources for churches will be launched in the near future. Hearing what our churches have been bringing to the table through their service and generosity is just one part of our community care inittiatves. Through our partnership with NAYBA (formerly Cinnamon Network), we have been able to participate in Community Faith-Action audits; allowing civic leaders for the first time to measure in dollars and cents exactly what churches are contributing to their cities. In a recent faith-action audit, leaders in NSW’s Illawarra region were stunned to learn that churches contribute over $9.7 million in social impact value, while serving over 140,000 people in that region every year. – Matt Boulton, Community Engagement Coordinator PARTNERSHIP WITH NAYBA ACC is proud to partner with NAYBA. They share our passion for community engagement, with Jesus at the centre of their mission. NAYBA is not about taking the place of the local church, but doing whatever they can to empower churches to bring community transformation. In addition to NAYBA’s Faith-Action Audits, they’ve also developed a menu of NAYBA Recognised Projects (NRPs). When it comes to community engagement, churches no longer have to reinvent the wheel. Instead, the NRP menu is there to help them with best-practice projects which are replicable, and already have the runs on the board when it comes to transforming people and communities. Visit the NAYBA website: nayba.co/locations/australia 35
Managing your church effectively as a workplace BY DAVID PURNELL
M
anaging people working in a church environment has become more complex in recent times. The global pandemic, working remotely and the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse have added to the expectations for leadership excellence, so that managing our people should be our top administrative priority. Here are some key areas that can create a healthy, positive work environment: • Do the basics well Ensure staff and volunteer role descriptions are provided and discussed so clarity exists for the performance of the role. Regularly follow up with conversations about work delivery and spiritual welfare to ensure a healthy work environment. • Effective Oversight Independent supervision oversight of Pastors and church ministry staff is an expectation from the Royal Commission. Having written (or electronic) process to demonstrate effective oversight provides reliable information that can be produced for audit purposes. • Training and development Building simple training plans tailored for each person in leadership roles strengthens your human resources. • Employee contracts and agreements Clear employee agreements/contracts reduce the risk of future misunderstandings between the church and employees, as well as volunteers. These documents should be produced in line with current legislation.
Good governance of staff-related information will make it easier to manage when it comes to compliance, risk management or when staff or volunteer members are employed or leave the church. It makes sense to utilise technology that enables you to run a low cost, simple management platform to manage the administration of these needs. Bastion Systems is an Australian software company founded by Christians who understand church operations and the need to improve team capabilities in compliance, risk management and governance. Bastion Systems provides no fuss church administration software solutions for churches and denominations across Australia, allowing you to focus on what matters most - fulfilling the vision for your church and community. Find out more: https://www.bastionsystems.com/ David Purnell is the CEO of Bastion Systems
No Fuss Church Administration
Find out more at https://www.bastionsystems.com/
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MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
How To Effectively Renew Minds & Transform Lives BY DR ROBI SONDEREGGER
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THE ESSENTIAL THINGS EVERY MINISTRY LEADER MUST DO TO EFFECTIVELY HELP PEOPLE IN A ‘POSTPANDEMIC WORLD’.
J
ust when you thought things were slowly but surely getting back to normal, think again! Following on from the past 18-months of border closures, lockdowns and restricted church gatherings, anyone would be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief and thinking, “Now that church is back, we can all get on with our lives”. However encouraging and optimistic such thoughts may be, this sentiment may be a form of ‘survivorship bias’; a common logical error that leaders tend to adopt either during or immediately following crises. It may sound counter intuitive, but the lifting of restrictions will not only bring delight, but also despair. The reason why is that the release of heavy burdens also tends to trigger the release of pent-up emotions. Amid crisis, people tend to bunker down and brace – waiting for the storm to pass. But as the dark clouds of calamity start to part, people start to get a glimpse of the devastating impact and consequences of COVID. The process of reflecting on the ‘outer pandemic’ can, in turn, trigger a kind of ‘inner-pandemic’. This is typically when ‘the wheels fall off wagon’ for people. For this reason, ministry leaders need to get prepared now to know how best to work with people who may struggle in a ‘postpandemic’ world.
BRACE FOR IMPACT Even before COVID, mental health issues were already ranked as the second leading contributor to the global disease burden, with depression listed as the world’s leading cause of disability. Yet surprisingly, 35 to 50% of people weren’t receiving effective therapeutic intervention for their concerns. Even as awareness and spending on mental health increased in recent decades, mental health problems have continued to escalate. And now with COVID, the world is facing a new pandemic. In what should have been a warning to the rest of the world, as soon as the world’s first lockdown was lifted in Wuhan, China, applications for divorce surged (doubling in number from the previous year). As a result of COVID restrictions, Relationships Australia also found the number of couples experiencing relationship-distress soared by 42%. Combined with the closure of schools and childcare facilities, increased stress is also being linked to an extraordinary rise in family and domestic violence. In Australia, reports of physical and sexual violence, coercive control, emotionally abusive, harassing or controlling behaviour in the home, has skyrocketed (both during and following lockdowns, with 2020 being the worst
Domestic violence is now being described as ‘a pandemic within the pandemic’.
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Clinical modelling (following COVID) now predicts an increase rates of suicide as high as 145% year on record). States with the most extreme or prolonged social restrictions now report some of the worst statistics in Australia’s history, with the Department of Communities in Western Australia unofficially declaring a ‘state of emergency’. In fact, domestic violence is now being described as “a pandemic within the pandemic”. If that’s not challenging enough, the British Medical Journal has recently reported on the serious deterioration in population mental health. The full picture is still unclear, but clinical modelling (following COVID) now predicts an increase rates of suicide as high as 145%. Australia is bracing for a mental and relational health crisis on a scale that’s never been seen before.
Churches on the frontline of ministry are now upskilling their leaders to help congregation and community members make a resilient comeback. To help equip ministry leaders with the most essential knowledge and skills to effectively help people in a ‘post-pandemic world’, we have put together a special online training for ACC church-teams nationwide. This intensive 3-part online training for ministry leaders examines God’s blueprint for transformation. Specifically, ministry leaders will learn how to mobilize and motivate, set realistic objectives and work towards helping cultivate the kind of kingdom mindset that results in sustainable change. This training will also showcase the latest innovative ‘pastoral-care’ solutions developed by industry experts (in collaboration with churches around the world), and unveil what ministries are now doing to empower the congregations and communities they serve. If you’re a ministry leader, this is a training you don’t want to miss.
DON’T MISS THIS How a person reacts to adversity has less to do with the actual adversity and more to do with their pre-existing thought process. The way a person responds to hardship, financial pressure, social restrictions, illness, loss, or frustrations is for the most part pre-programed. That’s why, as the mental and relational fall out of COVID continues to unravel, the Christian church is presented with a tremendous opportunity to help renew minds and transform lives.
Dr Robi Sonderegger is an internationally recognised Clinical Psychologist known for taking psychology ‘from the frontline to the home front’®. Dr Robi has worked with governments, corporations, churches universities/schools and humanitarian organisations in more than 25 countries.
ESSENTIAL 3-PART ONLINETRAINING FOR MINISTRY LEADERS presented by dr robi sonderegger
COMMENCING 12TH JULY 2021
ENROL NOW
FREE registration for ACC churches nationwide Suitable for Pastors, department heads, chaplains, connect-group leaders, teachers, prayer counsellors.
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NEW RELEASES
A BURNING IN MY BONES
The authorised biography of Eugene Peterson, translator of The Message ByWinn Collier This essential authorised biography of Eugene Peterson offers unique insights into the experiences and spiritual convictions of the iconic American pastor and beloved translator of The Message. ‘This hunger for something radical something so true that it burned in his bones - was a constant in Eugene’s life. His longing for God ignited a ferocity in his soul.’ Encounter the multifaceted life of one of the most influential and creative pastors of the past half century with unforgettable stories of his lifelong devotion to his craft and love of language, the influences and experiences that shaped his unquenchable faith, the inspiration for his decision to translate The Message, and his success and struggles as a pastor, husband, and father. Author Winn Collier was given exclusive access to Eugene and his materials for the production of this landmark work. Drawing from his friendship and expansive view of Peterson’s life, Collier offers an intimate look into a rare, remarkable life that is at once artful, sacred, and earthy.
DON’T GIVE THE ENEMY A SEAT AT YOUR TABLE
It’s Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind By Louis Giglio
Louie Giglio helps you find encouragement, hope, and strength in the midst of any valley as you reject the enemy voices of fear, rage, lust, insecurity, anxiety, despair, temptation, or defeat. Scripture is clear: the Enemy is a liar who will stop at nothing to tempt you into poor decisions and self-defeating mindsets, making you feel afraid, angry, anxious, or defeated. It is all too easy for Satan to weasel his way into a seat at the table intended for only you and your King. But you can fight back. Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table outlines the ways to overcome those lies so you can find peace and security in any challenging circumstance or situation. With the same bold, exciting approach to Scripture as employed in Goliath Must Fall and his other previous works, pastor Louie Giglio examines Psalm 23 in fresh ways, highlighting verse 5: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” You can find freedom from insecurity, temptation, and defeat-if you allow Jesus, the Shepherd, to lead the battle for your mind and heart. This spiritual warfare book for those who are leery of spiritual warfare books will resonate with Louie’s core Passion tribe as well as with Christians of all ages who want to live a triumphant life in God.
50 PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC LEADERS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW By Dean Merrill Throughout history, inspiring leaders have stepped out in faith, stirring many to renewed strength and purpose. With sparkling writing and fascinating detail, Dean Merrill captures the bold, often surprising stories of 50 notable Pentecostal, charismatic, and Spiritempowered leaders. Dean trains his journalist’s eye on the lives of Spirit-Filled leaders who blazed the trail, including: Smith Wigglesworth, bold as a lion William J. Seymour, igniting Azusa Street John G. Lake, making room for the Healer Aimee Semple McPherson, everybody’s sister David du Plessis, bridge-builder Leonard Ravenhill, sounding the alarm John and Elizabeth Sherrill, scribes of the renewal Jesse Miranda, up from the barrio David Wilkerson, straight shooter Cindy Jacobs, the ‘general’ and more. By taking you into the private worlds of these men and women of God, Merrill helps you feel the quickening pulse of fearless obedience to the Holy Spirit. Let their stories fill your own heart with courage for the road ahead.
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CALENDAR AUGUST
PANASIA 2021 3 – 6 August 2021 Virtual Conference
KIDSHAPER 2021 17 – 19 August 2021 Gold Coast, QLD
PanAsia brings together field workers, pastors and anyone passionate about missions and justice. It will give you a comprehensive view on all that is happening in the world of ACCI Missions & Relief.
Kidshaper gathers leaders from ministries around the nation to be inspired and challenged in their call to reach children in an atmosphere of faith and fun onthe Gold Coast.
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SEPTEMBER
CHAPLAINCY AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE 2021 2 – 3 September 2021 Terrigal, NSW
ACC NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CONFERENCE 3 – 4 September 2021 Tweed Heads, NSW
The Chaplaincy Australia Conference - Bridging the Gap - will equip, empower, inspire, and challenge you in becoming a Transformational Asset in your workspace and community. We will encourage you to learn beyond your field or interest and to explore opportunities that will be presented to you.
The annual ACC Indigenous Conference returns, bringing together our Indigenous and Non-Indigenous leaders to promote cross-cultural ministry and partnerships, whilst raising awareness for the indigenous culture.
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STATE CONFERENCES TASMANIA State Conference 16-18 September 2021 Enjoy Church, Kingston
SOUTH AUSTRALIA State Conference 21-22 September 2021 Lifepoint Church Modbury
NSW/ACT State Conference 4-6 Oct 2021 & 6-8 October Port Macquarie
VIC State Conference 20-22 September 2021 Planetshakers, Melbourne
WESTERN AUSTRALIA State Conference 28-30 September 2021 Kingsway Christian College
QLD/NT State Conference 11-14 October 2021 Sunshine Coast
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COURSES
ISRAEL TOUR LEADER COURSE
KESHET JOURNEYS LAUNCHES ONLINE ISRAEL TOUR LEADER COURSE Israel has great tour guides, but not enough Messianic/Christian guides, so sometimes the Biblical or at least the spiritual input is lacking. Keshet is aiming to make tours less dependent on the tour guide, and equipping the tour leaders with practically the same content. On top of that, inspiring them with Biblical messages by well known pastors from all over the world at more than 40 sites in Israel (e.g. Mark Varughese, Glyn Barrett, Catrina Henderson). This course is not just to inspire tour leaders, but most of all pastors, Bible teachers, and any one who wants to experience the Bible in its context and 3-dimensional by our 360-virtual technologies. ACC pastors can use the special discount code to register. Preaching will never be the same anymore after this course.
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COURSE INFO
COST: $250 (USD), DISCOUNT CODE FOR ACC PASTORS: ITL20-AGDI042
